Look at that! Got another one out before a whole year went by? What'd'ya know!

Okay, so I know that this isn't an exceptionally long chapter, and I know we're all super excited for Optimus and Hunter to be reunited—especially me—but I had the idea of this chapter planned out for a long time and I knew I needed it in here just to show exactly how desperate Optimus is and how far he's willing to go in order to get Hunter back. So we had to have it, and it felt only right to have it be its own chapter. Fear not, though! I foresee the much needed reunion within—at most—two more chapters, and I'm having a strong feeling it will happen within one chapter.

Hopefully the next chapter will come out even faster than this one because I've been planning the rescue operation since the beginning and have a set flow for it and what happens. This one—while I had the idea for it—I struggled a bit with how to carry out the dialogue and I tried it several different ways with several different versions before something finally stuck and felt right. So that took some time. I've also be struggling with some stuff that's really taken my mind away from any writing for anything at intervals and it's just been… ugh! It hasn't been the easiest past couple of months mentally—we'll leave it there.

But, how about a little good news here too, huh? I AM NOW AN OFFICIALLY PUBLISHED AUTHOR! MY CHILDREN'S BOOK IS NOW OUT AND AVAILIABLE FOR PURCHASE! I'll try to remember to add the links to my profile but you can find the book trailer on Youtube and the book for purchase itself on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and I believe you can also purchase a digital copy from iTunes (I know nothing about digital books—I'm an old school book girl). Just type in 'Cale the Corgi Learns Common Sense' and you're on your way to finding a copy! I cannot tell you what a trip it is to google 'Cale the Corgi' and find entries for my book as well as a picture—it just doesn't seem real! So please, if you have little kids in the family, or know people with little kids, or know people that are having kids, or even if you enjoy kids' books yourself spread the word! I'm trying to get it turned into a series since I've already got three books of it written, and some decent book sales on the first one might help to get that going. I'm also going to try and advertise it in as many places and ways as possible, so this is just one more place checked off the list. XD

Now with the self-advertisement out of the way, on with the story!

REMEMBER, I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT MY OCS AND THE HYBRID PEOPLE.

"Into the darkness… we are one. Into the darkness… we all must run. Into the darkness… we'll burn a light. Into the darkness… we all must fight. We all must fight…." The Phantoms; Into the Darkness

28

Acris Mensuras In Acris Momenta

(Drastic Measures in Drastic Moments)

"I have no idea whether to be amazed because it's so pretty or completely terrified," Ally muttered to herself as she stared out Optimus' windows at the spinning vortex of colorful light around them.

They had just reached the bridging coordinates outside of the Denver city limits and were now traveling through the groundbridge back to Autobot Outpost Omega One.

"I can assure you that you have no reason to fear, Ally," Optimus guaranteed his passenger. "The groundbridge is quite safe."

"If you say so," Ally said, but she didn't sound completely convinced.

But Ally didn't have long to feel nervous, because sooner rather than later they were exiting the bridge and entering into the Autobot base.

Optimus just barely caught the soft "wow" Ally murmured as they fully came into the main room of the base. The Prime slightly smiled. "Alchemy Prescott," he said, coming to a stop and opening his passenger door and allowing the seventeen-year-old exit, "welcome to Autobot Outpost Omega One."

Slipping out of Optimus' cab, Ally gazed around her in sheer awe. The place was utterly massive! It looked as though it would even be huge when she was in her Cybretronian form! But, of course, that was to be expected if it was being used as the home of giant alien robots. The teen clutched her stuffed animals closer to her, feeling a tad bit intimidated by her surroundings. She had the feeling she could get lost in a place like this if she wasn't careful.

Hearing mechanical whirring and clanking coming from behind her, Ally turned around to see that Optimus and Bumblebee both were transforming into their true forms. She watched on in amazement as what were once a semi and muscle car began to rise up into bipedal forms, countless parts shifting and rotating and locking into place until, finally, two robots towered before her. All the girl could do was stare gob stopped. She had guessed Optimus was tall but… she'd never expected that he would be that tall! And as for Bumblebee… well, he was quite a bit shorter than the Prime, but he was rather impressive himself—especially with that paintjob. It looked even better on him in this form than it did in the other.

"Somehow I expected this is what would happen."

A sudden, gravelly voice caused Ally to jump and whip around in the direction of it. Another mech was standing not too far away beside a controller that must have went with the groundbridge; he was stocky in build and somewhere between Optimus and Bumblebee's height, and his armor was white and dark amber colored. He seemed to be the oldest of the three.

"Ratchet," Optimus addressed the mech, "I would like for you to meet Alchemy Solaris Prescott." He motioned a large hand to the girl. "Ally, this is our scientist and medical technician, Ratchet."

"Greetings," Ratchet hailed the teen in a gruff tone. Somehow he managed to sound unfriendly and… well, not really friendly, but amicable at the same time.

"Hi," Ally responded with a small smile, her spirits starting to lift a bit. Okay, so if Optimus was Hunter's dad and Bumblebee was like her brother, this guy was probably like her cantankerous, old grandpa right? She could see the family dynamics already.

The sound of roaring engines and a horn honking, caused everyone to turn around and look in the direction of a dark tunnel at the other side of the room. Three lights were coming through the dark, only to be quickly revealed as a blue and black motorcycle being driven by a leather-clad driver, and a large green SUV. The two vehicles came rumbling to a stop, the driver on the motorcycle vanishing like a shadow, and then they, too, began to change forms. Soon a large, bulky green mech and a small, sleek blue and black femme were standing there with them. Their eyes were immediately on the Hybrid.

"So, let me guess—you're Hunter's cousin," the femme spoke. There was a tone to her that wasn't unfriendly, but said she wanted to cut directly to the crux of the matter.

Ally raised an eyebrow at that. "Hunter's cousin"? It was going to take a little getting used to being called that—she'd never been referred to as anyone's cousin before. "Yes," she answered. "I'm Ally. Pleased to meet you." Instinctively, Ally held out a hand to the femme but then paused, blushing slightly. Oh, that was right. She was still in her human form and it would be a bit inconvenient for the Autobots to have to bend down and shake hands.

Ally smiled sheepishly at the 'bots. "Hold on just a sec?" Pressing a hand to her medallion, the teen closed her eyes, brought up the long abandoned image of her Cybertronian form to the front of her mind, and concentrated for a moment. This was the only way she could change from organic to Cyber. form right now, as she'd never transformed but once in her life and was very unused to it. Once she'd done it more often and become used to it, she would be able to change at the snap of a finger, but for now it would have to be done slowly.

It was strange, all the sensations of her body expanding, shifting, and hardening into metal alloy, but it wasn't nearly as painful as it had been when she'd first transformed three years ago. In fact, it wasn't painful at all, and it was over surprisingly quickly.

Opening her optics, Ally quickly looked herself over. It had been a long time since she'd seen her pink armor with mint offsets, and she rather wished that she could look in a mirror and see herself fully, just to know exactly what she looked like again. There were the obvious changes that she could tell; like how her armor had shifted and changed to accommodate and match her grown-up body (she liked how the flowy—how the heck could metal be flowy like that?—part of her armor was actually flattering to her curves now, as opposed to just hanging around her lower torso and hips like a pink, metal bedsheet). But she wondered if her headset fit her better now—she remembered it looking almost too big for her at fourteen. She'd have to find out later.

The Hybrid turned her attention back to the Autobots to find them all gazing at her, every expression different. Optimus was slightly smiling and he dipped his head a bit as they met gazes, as if to approve of her. Ratchet looked completely unmoved about it all. The blue and black femme (whom Ally was a bit relieved to find out she was taller than) was looking a bit… repelled and Ally guessed her color scheme was probably the reason for it—this femme didn't seem the pink type. The big green mech was smiling much like Optimus was. And Bumblebee… well… suffice to say he looked dumbfounded—completely enthralled. Ally found herself blushing a bit at that and hoped that he was looking at her like that because she looked okay and not completely weird or revolting.

"Uh…" she stuttered after a moment, not quite sure what to say, "… so yeah… this is my Cyber. form… I guess." She cleared her throat and turned her attention back to the femme and big green mech. "Like I said, hi," she rushed out, seizing up their hands in turn and shaking them, wanting to get beyond the introductions as quickly as possible now so the attention could be on something else. "I'm Ally—nice to meet you."

After the introductions of Bulkhead—the green giant—and Arcee—the femme—the conversation quickly moved on to the important thing: Ally's information.

Ally wasted no time in briefly explaining to everyone about how she'd acquired the information—i.e. she still had a brother in the cult and she could enter people's dreams and that's what she'd done tonight—figuring doing this would save time in questions. Then she told them what they needed to hear most:

"They're in Egypt," the teen stated with certainty. "I only got, like, a brief glance of it when I was in Steel's memories, but I know they're in Egypt."

"Do you have any idea where in Egypt?" Ratchet questioned.

Ally looked a bit dejected. "No," she admitted glumly. "Luna's got estates hidden in every country on every continent and only she and Ray know exactly where they are. I just know Egypt—I'm sorry."

Optimus gripped the girl's shoulder and shook his head. "No, Ally, that is a great help to us," he assured her sincerely. "It narrows our search considerably."

"Just not enough," Arcee remarked drily.

"That's still thousands of miles of sand and desert to look through," Bulkhead added. "And if it's hidden it'll be nearly impossible to find."

/How are the estates hidden exactly?\\ 'Bee buzzed, his attention on Ally.

"Shield generators," Ally answered. "They keep the estates in a controlled environment as well as hidden, and your energy signature is hidden when you're on the inside of them." Ally became quiet for a moment as something crossed her mind—something about one of Steel's memories. "They didn't start out in Egypt, though," she said after a moment. "I think they were up north somewhere—there was snow and mountains in one of Steel's memories."

"Wonder why they moved," Bulkhead remarked. "If it was me, I'd wanna stay in one place."

"I don't think they had a choice," Ally stated. "Apparently Hunter tried to escape when they were there—she actually got out of the manor before they got her cornered to stop her. And then…" Ally dropped off as she recalled watching that beam stream down from the sky and into Hunter, feeling Steel's rising dread and he disappeared to safety right before something undoubtedly horrible happened. She recalled him going back to Hunter and finding her unconscious in a wasteland being covered with snow. "Hunter did something," Ally continued on. "It was something super big—big enough to take out the entire estate and completely destroy the shield. They had to move after that."

/Then that means Hunter would have been in the open and able to be detected!\\ 'Bee exclaimed.

"If her energy wasn't completely depleted," Ratchet pointed out gloomily. "And if Hunter had done something strong enough to do what Ally claims, I would say her energon levels would most certainly have been nearly diminished. I've had the scanners running since she was taken and they've picked up nothing. If they didn't pick her up at full energy level they wouldn't pick her up otherwise. There might be something out there powerful enough to detect Hunter, depleted energy or not, but I haven't access to whatever it may be."

"I believe I know who might have such a thing," Optimus suddenly commented. His voice was dark and sounded anything but happy, which was fitting, considering the idea running around inside his processor was anything but uplifting. The Prime didn't like it—he was completely repulsed by the idea—but what other choice did he really have? It was their best chance of finding Hunter. Their only chance. Like it or not they were going to have to bite the bullet and take it.

Everyone's attention had turned to the large red and blue mech.

"What are you thinking, Prime?" Arcee asked earnestly.

Optimus met her optics gravely. "Starscream has access to weapons and technology and other items that Bombardier left behind—weapons and technology and items that are designed specifically for hunting Hybrids."

Heavy silence fell over the room as all of the Autobots stared at Optimus in some degree of incredulity and horror.

"Optimus," Ratchet said quietly after a moment, "you can't possibly be saying-"

"I am, Ratchet," Optimus cut him off, giving the medic a hard look.

"But goin' to the 'cons?" Bulkhead asked in disbelief. "Really? Boss 'Bot, there's gotta be another way!"

"I only wish there were," Optimus replied sincerely.

"Optimus," Arcee cut in, walking up to the large mech and gazing harshly up into his face, "this is Starscream we're talking about. He can't be trusted, especially not with anything Hunter related."

"Wait, I'm confused," Ally said, looking around at them all in sheer befuddlement. "Who are the "cons" and who's Starscream?"

/The 'cons are Decepticons,\\ Bumblebee stepped forward to explain. /They're the enemy of us Autobots, and Starscream is their current leader.\\

"Oh, okay. … So why can't he be trusted with anything Hunter related?"

All the 'bots feel silent again and looked at each other uncomfortably.

Ally raised an eyebrow, getting a sense of what they answer might possibly. "Did he, like, do something to her or something?" she pressed, not quite sure she really wanted to know and yet wanting to know at the same time.

"Do you recall," Optimus spoke up, meeting the Hybrid's gaze, "that I explained to you Hunter has perished once already and that was how we discovered her identity as the Fuser?"

Ally nodded.

"Hunter was killed by a Hybrid bounty hunter, Bombardier… and Starscream was the one who hired him and his team."

Ally's two-toned optics widened as she touched a hand to her spark-chamber. "Oh, my god…."

"And, to add insult to injury, 'Scream's… developed sort of an obsession on her since then," Arcee added vaguely.

Bulkhead snorted. "No "sort of" about it—guy's flat out crazy about her."

/Borderline stalker,\\ 'Bee threw in for good measure.

"… Ew…" Ally whispered, her optic twitching. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so disgusted. And she definitely understood why everyone was thinking why getting involved with Starscream and his 'cons wouldn't be a good idea. The teen looked up at Optimus again. "Would Starscream, like… try to take Hunter away too if we went and asked him for help?" she asked. While she could now understand everyone else's feeling, she didn't want to pick sides yet until she'd heard Optimus' side of it.

Optimus' mouth drew into a thin line. "He might," the Prime answered. "I believe it would be safe to say that—were we to go to him for aid in finding and rescuing Hunter—Starscream may very well feel he is entitled to take her."

Ally was completely appalled. "That is so gross!"

/But the thing is Hunter can handle 'Screamer and the 'cons,\\ 'Bee pointed out.

"That's true," Bulk agreed.

"Yeah," Arcee said drily, "assuming she'd be in any sort of state to handle them to begin with. And assuming she can handle Starscream's new toys; the last two he used on her weren't exactly anything to joke about.

"It is not a risk I am happy to take, Arcee," Optimus stated firmly, "but as it is I see no other way. It is very likely that Starscream may have tools for finding Hunter that we do not possess, and the Decepticons have numbers that we do not but will need when we confront the Lunation. I will also have to consult with Atlas on potentially asking the assistance of the Hybrid military, but we can do none of that until we have located the position of the cult. Going to Starscream is our best and only option, and I will do whatever it takes to find Hunter and bring her back—no matter the cost."

"Well," Ratchet muttered, "considering his feelings for Hunter, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to believe Starscream would see the Lunation as an enemy once he's found out about everything. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, I suppose." He still sounded turned off by this idea, but he did seem resigned to it.

"I don't like it," Bulkhead stated simply, "and I'm not gonna pretend to like it… but I'm in. Whatever we gotta do to get Red back."

/Same here,\\ Bumblebee agreed with his large green friend.

Arcee was quiet for a long moment, an ever present scowl on her face, but finally she sighed and gave in. "All right," she conceded as she looked away from her commander. "I'm in." She looked back up at Optimus as she added, "For Hunter."

Optimus nodded at her.

"I'm in, too!" Ally piped up determinedly. She felt a strange mixture of excitement and anxiety swimming around inside of her, and she was more than ready and willing to start using the energy to help get her cousin back. "When do we meet with Starscream?"

Optimus turned a firm optic on her at that. "The team and I will be meeting with Starscream as soon as possible," he answered, crossing his arms over his chest as he gazed down at the teen. "You, however, will not be accompanying us for this meeting."

Ally looked at him in disbelief, her stomach and spark plummeting. "What?!" she shrieked. "Why?"

"We will be meeting Starscream aboard the Decepticon warship," Optimus stated. "It is a very dangerous place—most certainly not a place for anyone as young and inexperienced as you, Ally. In fact, it is a place I would refuse to allow Hunter to enter were I given the opportunity."

The femmling stomped her foot and glared at him in annoyance. He couldn't do this to her! He'd brought her here to help and now he was just going to make her sit on the sidelines? She'd already been doing that for years! She wanted to know about the world she been blocked from for so long! She wanted to test herself! She wanted to help! "That's not fair!" she argued.

"I am not intending to be fair—I am intending to keep you safe," Optimus retorted. He met the child's gaze with a penetrating one of his own and spoke lowly: "I promised your sire that I would protect you, Alchemy, as though you were one of my own, and that is what I am going to do. Unless you are needed or there is no other option, you are to remain out of harm's way."

"But-"

"I will not hear rebuttal, Alchemy Prescott. You are to remain out of harm's way until further notice—that is an order."

"I can help though!"

Optimus stepped towards the girl and glowered down at her from his towering height. In that moment he was not friend or uncle, he was all commanding officer—all Prime—and Ally felt as small as an ant. She certainly wanted to crawl away like one.

"I do not doubt your abilities or your usefulness, Alchemy," Optimus said, voice quiet but commanding, "and I am eternally grateful for what you have done in order to gain the information that we need. But the fact remains that you deliberately flouted my advice this evening; you dream-walked when I strongly warned you against it. You knew just how risky it was—you knew that it could very well have cost everything—and yet you went through with it regardless. I recognize that you are quite skilled and were very careful, but you willfully risked everything; we still have no idea yet as to whether the Lunation has been alerted or not.

"I may not have been able to give you orders then and hand out a reprimand, but you are under my care at the moment and I am within my rights to deliver orders and punishments now should they be required. While you may not yet be one of my soldiers, Alchemy, you are my responsibility; I am your guardian now, and you will do as I say." His gaze narrowed on the pink femmling. "Am I understood, Ms. Prescott?"

Of course Ally understood, and—irritatingly—it made perfect sense why Optimus was making her sit out, but she still didn't like it! What was the point in coming here if she wasn't going to have some sort of hand in every step of the process? "Maybe to find yourself and to learn how to be your own person?" a reasonable voice at the back of her mind suggested. It wasn't wrong. That was a major reason for why she'd wanted to leave home and get away from her parents—particularly her mother. But she'd also wanted to help get Hunter back, as well as learn about all thing Cybertronian!

For a brief moment, Ally crossed her arms over her chest and tried her best to glare down the Prime, but she felt it was a completely feeble attempt. She'd never been the rebel. She could glare down her peers well enough if she had to, but authority figures were another story—especially one like Optimus. So it didn't take long before she finally submitted to Optimus' hard gaze, accepting defeat as gracefully as she could. "Fine," she muttered disheartened, shifting her gaze down to the floor. She hugged herself. "I just… I just wanted to help." A large, warm metal hand gripped her shoulder comfortingly and she glanced up into Optimus' face again.

The Prime was smiling understandingly. "I realize that, Ally," he assured her. "You have already helped significantly, and I imagine you will be of more help very soon, but for the time being, I feel it is better that you remain out of the middle of this as much as possible. The less you are exposed to potential threats now the better—I have no desire to cause more pain and suffering than has already been caused in all of this." As he made that last statement, a flash of pain and weariness flashed through Optimus' sky blue optics.

"Okay," Ally sighed. "So where exactly am I gonna be staying out of harm's way then?"

"When we left for Denver, I had a sense you might be returning with us," Optimus admitted. "Because of that, I've arranged for you to stay with the Lennoxes—Hunter's previous foster family—for a few nights; I thought you may find their home a bit more comfortable and more like what you are used to. And, in truth, we do not have an available berthroom at the moment. There is Hunter's, of course-"

"But you wouldn't feel right about offering that to me," Ally finished for him with an understanding smile. "I get it. I wouldn't wanna, like… intrude on her space anyway—especially since I'm a total stranger to her."

Optimus nodded his thanks at her. "Bumblebee," he turned to address the young scout, "would you be willing to take Ally to the ranch and help her settle in?"

Bumblebee quickly nodded. /I'd be happy too,\\ he said earnestly. He smiled over at Ally, who smiled back at him in turn. The mech walked away from the group towards the center of the room, Ally following him, and transformed back into his vehicular mode. Ally reverted to her organic form and slipped through Bumblebee's open passenger door, and the two quickly revved off down the corridor to the entrance of the base.

"Bulkhead, Arcee," Optimus addressed the two 'bots, "would you accompany me to my meeting with Starscream?"

"Of course," Arcee answered.

"Wouldn't let'cha walk into the slagheap alone," Bulkhead claimed at the same time.

The Prime then looked to Ratchet. "Ratchet, can you locate the Decepticon warship?"

"I've been keeping an eye on them since your last encounter with them. They're still in Chile repairing the damages to their ship; it would seem Hunter did quite a number on them."

Chile;

The ground-bridge opened up on the edge of the cavern, and Optimus, Arcee, and Bulkhead stepped out of it onto the stone floor. They all froze for a moment as they stared. The Nemesis was only a few yards in front of them, slanting half-in and half-out of the cavern with its bow driven directly into the rock and its stern jutting skyward. It was positioned upright, on its belly, and it looked as though the Decepticons had stabilized it to keep it as such. They'd also created piles of rock along the edges of the cavern to make room for repair work.

As it was, there was an entire brigade of Eradicons and Vehicons working on the Nemesis. A Vehicon carrying several metal beams passed quite closely by the Autobots and jerked to a stop. He seemed to do a double take before dropping his load with a clang! In the blink of an eye he had a cannon primed and aimed at them. "Autobots!" he bellowed, his voice echoing around them. "Intruders!"

There was clamor around them as every single 'con within the vicinity abandoned whatever they were doing and turned their attention in Team Prime's direction. Before long they were trapped against the cavern wall by a barrier of Decepticons and were locked in the cannon and missile sights of every last one of them.

"Servos in the air where we can see 'em, Autobot scum!" a 'con shouted.

Optimus followed orders without question and Bulkhead and Arcee followed suit, although they did so more begrudgingly. "We did not come here seeking confrontation," Optimus called out to the Decepticons, "we came only seeking counsel with your commander."

"Likely story," a 'con growled, causing a clamor of further agreement to ripple through the Decepticons.

"It is the truth," Optimus insisted calmly. "We have no intentions of fighting you. If it would reassure you, we are all more than willing to submit to being stasis-cuffed." The Prime tensed a bit, waiting for some sort of protest to come from his soldiers. They'd already discussed this matter at length back at the base, so it wasn't as though Bulkhead and Arcee weren't expecting it but it was still far from an ideal situation—Optimus wasn't so happy with it himself and it had been his idea. However he only heard a brief, barely audible grumble come from Arcee and that was it. He silently thanked them both for that; anything that could be taken as disrespect could cause this whole thing to go sideways and they couldn't have that. Much as it pricked at him, they needed the Decepticons for this—they needed Starscream. Without them the chances of finding the Lunation and Hunter were miniscule at best.

The Decepticons all paused and looked back and forth, murmuring to each other. Finally an Eradicon—who had been hovering in the air in alternate form—transformed back into his bipedal mode and landed on the floor in front of the Autobots. He looked them over several times before opening his comm-link. "Bring out three sets of stasis-cuffs," he ordered into it. "And alert Lord Starscream that Optimus Prime is requesting a meeting with him."

Optimus, Bulkhead, and Arcee marched single file down the hall of the Nemesis towards the bridge. Their hands were all shackled behind them by stasis cuffs and they had two Decepticons in front of them leading them on, two flanking them to make sure they kept moving, and a pair on either side of each of them to "make sure of no funny business".

Optimus hated it. He hated feeling so completely vulnerable in the very heart of enemy territory, and he knew his soldiers had to feel the same way, but it was a necessary evil. If this could ensure Starscream's cooperation and give them a better chance of locating Hunter, he would do this again a hundred times over. And though he would never ask it of them, the Prime was sure Bulkhead and Arcee would do so as well.

The entrance to the bridge of the Nemesis loomed before them, and before long it whooshed open and the Autobots were being ushered through. Starscream stood at the very end of the bridge his back to them, acting as though he had no idea of their presence. The door closed and silence feel over the bridge, no one moving, or speaking, or making any form of noise.

Optimus gazed impassively at Starscream, waiting for him to finally turn and acknowledge them. Well aware of the Seeker's… dramatic tendencies, the Prime got the sense that Starscream was going to wait and drag out the tension of the situation for as long as possible to try and gain the desired effect. Had his spark-daughter been present, Optimus was sure she would have made some scathing comment. He could hear her now: "So ya gonna talk to us or just keep standin' there like the drama queen you are?" The imagined remark brought a slight smirk to Optimus' face.

Finally, Starscream made movement. "Well, well, well," he said, slowly turning around to face the Autobots, his red optics trained directly upon Optimus, "Optimus Prime." The Seeker sneered menacingly. "It's been a while since last we met face to face, and now here you are—the great Prime—not only seeking a meeting with me but also willing to allow yourself to be shackled and held completely at my mercy." He chuckled. "I could ask you to bow before me… but I don't think I will just yet: I'm much too curious about this. So tell me, Prime, to what do I owe this very fortuitous scenario?"

Optimus stepped forward only to be shoved back again by the Eradicons on either side of him. "We have come seeking your aid, Starscream," the Prime stated. For a brief second he considered referring to the Seeker as 'Lord Starscream' in order to appeal to his pride a bit more, but Optimus just couldn't quite bring himself to do that as the title was just simply too strange after knowing Starscream for so long. Besides, he'd never referred to Megatron as 'Lord' either.

Starscream's sneer deepened. "Oh, have you now?" he crooned. "How very interesting. And just what, pray tell, might you need my assistance with, Prime?"

Optimus opened his mouth but then paused for a moment, not quite sure what to say, or how to say it, or if he even should say it. Was this the right choice? Was coming to Starscream for help the choice he should have made? The Prime was more than well aware of the 'con's lustful obsession with his spark-daughter, and he knew that it could be just as much of a threat to Hunter as the Lunation currently was. Was it worth it putting up with this threat in order to have a chance of getting her away a certain danger?

"But the thing is, Hunter can handle 'Screamer and the 'cons," Bumblebee's remark from earlier rang out in the Prime's head, making the decision for him. Yes, this threat was worth it. They would be certain that Starscream never received a chance to lay a digit on Hunter; and if the Seeker did manage to steal her away, Hunter's chances of escaping the clutches of the Decepticons were much greater, as were Team Prime's chances of managing to rescue her from them should they need to.

"It's Hunter, Starscream," Optimus finally said, voice tense and quiet.

For a brief moment something like disquiet flickered through Starscream's optics. "Yes," he replied. His voice and face were suspiciously impassive, as if the Hybrid in question was of little to no concern to him at all. Of course he wasn't fooling anyone; everyone in that room knew exactly how much Hunter—or at least the idea of her—meant to Starscream. "I had noticed she wasn't here. Strange considering how she's always scampering around at your heel-struts—welded to your hip like the pathetic waif she is. … What about her?" There was a hint of interest in Starscream's voice with that last question.

"She's missing," Arcee answered, her voice hard.

Starscream didn't seem to notice their tones as a look of utter bewilderment and even sheer concern came over his face. "Missing?" he repeated in disbelief.

The Autobots said nothing, which seemed to work as a confirmation.

Starscream turned his gaze away from them all for a moment, looking as though he was deciding something with himself. After a moment he looked at the 'cons that had ushered the Autobots inside. "Uncuff them," he said quietly, "and leave us."

The escorts all looked at each other uncertainly before turning back to their leader. "My Lord?"

"What did I say?" Starscream growled with a dangerous glare.

The 'cons quickly did as they were told without question that time, freeing Optimus and his team from their bonds before scurrying out of the room.

Silence hung in the air for a moment before Starscream turned his gaze solely upon Optimus once again. "What happened?" the Decepticon practically demanded, looking extremely concerned. "Where is she?"

"We don't know," Optimus admitted. "Over a week ago Hunter was abducted by what we've now identified as the Lunation—a Hybrid cult. Hunter's grandcreator is the head of it, and we suspect she is intending on using Hunter as some sort of weapon, though we do not know what for."

Starscream looked utterly horrified now. Evidently the idea of his 'beloved" Hunter being out there somewhere at the hands of an insane cult leader who intended on using her power for something did not sit well with him at all. "Over a week?!" the Decepticon leader shrieked, his voice almost comically shrill.

"We've been continuously scanning for her since then, but we have been unsuccessful in locating her energy signature," Optimus continued on. "Now we know that the cult utilizes cloaking technology."

Starscream was silent for a moment, looking the Prime over carefully. "And you would come to me because?"

It was Arcee that answered that time: "Well, considering your little… inheritance from Bombardier, we were wondering if you might have something that can detect her despite being cloaked."

The Seeker narrowed his gaze at the small, blue femme. "You did, did you?"

Bulkhead stepped up right behind Arcee and glared back at the 'con. "Yeah, we did," he growled. "What about it, 'Screamer?"

"Whether I have or haven't such a thing is no concern of yours, Wrecker," Starscream sneered

"The pit it isn't!" Bulkhead barked.

Optimus stepped in here. "Starscream," he drew the 'con's attention back to him. "I admit that I have never held any sort of fondness for you, Starscream," the Prime stated, "and I very much doubt I ever will because of your…" he paused, looking uncomfortable and unsure of how to phrase his thoughts, "… interests in my spark-daughter." The Prime scowled thunderously at the Decepticon. "Quite frankly, I find your interests in her to be extremely vile, repulsive, and predatory, Starscream, and it takes every ounce of willpower I possess to not separate your head from your body when I see how you look at her. And it does not help when I think about all you have put her through in the past."

Starscream actually gulped and backed away a bit, looking around nervously. Maybe he really shouldn't have sent those guards out of the room after all.

Optimus sighed heavily, the anger that had risen in his chest at the thought of Hunter's past with Starscream slowly settling back down. "However," he murmured quietly, giving Starscream a look that was much less deadly but still serious, "as much as I despise your feelings for Hunter, I do recognize that they have undoubtedly caused you to become quite devoted to her, perhaps even protective of her. This is where our interests align, Starscream: I would stop at nothing to save my daughter, and I believe you would do the same. And that is why I am here, Starscream—why I am asking for your help."

Starscream was quiet for a long moment, looking the Prime over carefully. "Even though all of that is true," he admitted, "and even if I did possess something that could help to locate Hunter, what makes you think that I would help you? All the abuse I've taken from you Autobots for millennia, the very fact that you've just admitted to me that you find me repulsive—what makes you think I would help you after all of that?"

It was at this point that something inside Optimus snapped. The Prime stalked ominously forward, causing Starscream to back away from each step, terror etched on his faceplate. Finally he was towering directly over the Seeker, who was backed as far as he could go against the console of the bridge. The mechs stared at each other for a long time, Optimus' blue optics hard and Starscream's red optics fearful.

"You will help me Starscream," Optimus rumbled after a moment, "because if you do not neither of us will ever see Hunter again."

"I keep everything the filthy bounty hunter left in here," Starscream said as he punched in the code for a vault door. They were deep within the bowels of the Nemesis now—Starscream had led them down to what had become his own private armory in order to retrieve what they'd come looking for. "He used this vault while in my employ and it was easiest and best to leave it all here after he'd snuffed it. I don't trust any of the imbeciles around them." The door of a vault opened and the Seeker proceeded on inside imploring as he went, "Please do try not to touch anything." Glancing back over his shoulder, Starscream cast a dark look in Bulkhead's direction. "Especially you, Wrecker."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Bulkhead growled.

"Where is it, Starscream?" Optimus cut in, his optics scanning the vault.

Starscream looked to have an impressive arsenal despite its size; but, of course, maybe that was because most of it was made up of Hybrid weapons Bombardier had left upon his demise and most things that possessed the kind of power to apprehend a Hybrid would be rather impressive. The Prime caught sight of a mangled gauntlet and a pair of scorched, metal bars laid atop a bench near the far wall of the room. Those must have been the telekinetic gauntlet and Agony Web he'd heard about—or all that was left of them, at least. On the benches and walls closer to them were some high powered looking canons, some staffs, a few items that looked as if they were transform into some form of weaponry once activated, some curving staffs that—judging from the arrows beside them—were bows, a few more gauntlets, and some items that seemed to defy classification: Altogether there were a dozen different kinds of weapons here. But none of them screamed "locator" to Optimus, and that was including the unidentifiable items.

"Over here," Starscream said, moving towards a corner of the room. He pressed a long-fingered hand to the wall for a moment. Another keypad appeared from behind a panel beneath his palm the Seeker punched yet another code it causing another panel in the wall to slide open in response to reveal a safe. There was yet another keypad on the safe and, with another code, it too opened. Inside the safe, was a small (by Cybertronian standards anyway) box.

The box was a beautiful and strange thing. It was a perfect square and was fashioned out of a sort of dark wood. Shining silver facets adorned the sides, edges and corners, and a single raspberry colored gemstone decorated the lid. The box didn't look at all Cybertronian, but it was much too large to realistically be used by organics. The only explanation for the box was that it was of Hybrid origin, but it seemed a bit too ornate to be anything that Bombardier and his team of hunters had created or owned—none of them had seemed inclined towards such finery. Could it have been given to them by someone?

"I believe this is what you're looking for," Starscream stated as he reached into the safe and grabbed the box. He brought it out and carefully set it on a bench before pressing a pointed digit to the gemstone and pressing down on it, pushing it into the lid of the box. There was a soft click. Starscream pulled his hand away and the lid of the box smoothly opened to reveal an interior lined with some sort of rich, darkly colored material. Nestled carefully in the center of the box—protected by the cushiony material—was a stoppered, glass vial filled with some sort of semi-transparent liquid.

"What is it?" Arcee asked suspiciously.

"I'm not exactly sure," Starscream admitted. He carefully gripped the vial between the tips of his fingers and lifted it out so that they could all get a better view of the thing. "All I know is what Bombardier told me—that this substance is capable of locating anyone. I don't know why or how."

"What good are you then?" Bulkhead snapped, earning a glare from Starscream.

"Bulkhead," Optimus rumbled warningly, shooting his warrior a hard look, "enough." The last thing they needed now was Starscream getting testy when he was cooperating so willingly with them.

"I've never attempted to use it," Starscream continued on, still glowering at the ex-Wrecker. "As far as I know, neither did Bombardier; I believe he kept it as a last resort of sorts."

"Makes sense, considering how little there is of it," Arcee commented.

"And considerin' how good the fragger seemed to be at huntin' down his targets anyway," Bulkhead added.

Optimus reached out and carefully took the vial from Starscream and began to examine it. In coming to incorporate Hunter in his life, the Prime had been subjected to viewing much of the media the teenager consumed, fantasy making up a decent chunk of that media. In Optimus' opinion this—the box, the vial, the substance inside—was all reminiscent of fantasy—of magic. And now that he was aware that magic did in fact exist in this world—at least for Hybrids—it seemed all the more likely. But then again, none of Bombardier's team had been magically inclined, or at least not that he'd seen. So the question remained, how did they come by this box?

"Does it really matter, though?" a voice in Optimus' head asked. At the moment, no, it most certainly did not matter where or how Bombardier had obtained this. All that mattered was that it did what it was rumored to do. "You said this liquid is capable of finding anything?" the Prime inquired, not looking away from the vial.

"That's what I was told," Starscream answered. "The information came from a bounty hunter, however, so take it for what you will. And as for how you might actually be able to use it, I haven't the slightest idea."

"Do not worry about that," Optimus replied, more to himself than anyone else. The suspicion of the liquid being some sort of magic was spinning up an idea of how to figure out how to use it, as well as some hope that success might be right within their reach now. The Prime gingerly slipped the vial back into its place in the box and close the lid. "I believe I have an idea."

"So that's it then?" Starscream asked. "That's what you came for?"

"It is," Optimus nodded. "I cannot thank you enough, Starscream." He made to grab up the box, but, slender Seeker hands quickly snatched it out of reach before the Prime could touch the box again. Optimus glowered dangerously at Starscream. "Starscream…" he growled.

"Hey!" Bulkhead barked at the same time.

"What are you-" Arcee began.

"You didn't actually think I'd just give this to you, did you?" Starscream snickered devilishly. He tauntingly held the box up, just balancing it between the sharp tips of his digits. "I am a Decepticon, you know; I do nothing for out of the sheer goodness of my spark."

A deep growl rumbled in Optimus' chest, but he backed down. Starscream had a point, after all; it had been foolish to believe that the Seeker would just hand over the locator without asking for something in return. Not even his obsession with Hunter would keep Starscream from such duplicity. "All right, Starscream," the Prime conceded, still glaring down the 'con. "What is it you want?"

"I want to be there," Starscream answered. "I want to be there when you use this… thing. I want to be there when you make the move to bring Hunter back home." At this point the Seeker gave the Prime the most serious of looks, clearly meaning that he would not have this part of his request denied: "And I want to be a part of the team that rescues Hunter."

"Not gonna happen!" Arcee spat.

"You just wanna play knight in shining armor!" Bulkhead accused. "You think if you're one of the rescue party Red'll see you as her hero! You think she'll change her tune about you!"

Starscream smirked. "One can dream, can't they?"

"Well you can just forget it!" Bulkhead roared. "There's no way we're lettin' you any closer to Hunter than we gotta! Right, Prime?"

Optimus was silent for a moment, thinking over this proposition. The very idea of Starscream being one of the individuals to go into the depths of the estate and find Hunter was completely repugnant. He could be one of the first ones to find Hunter; he could be one of the first ones to speak to her after so long—to touch her! What if Hunter was weakened in some way? There wasn't a doubt in the Prime's mind that Starscream would take advantage of such a situation if he could. Starscream could pose such a great risk to Hunter given the chance… and yet it was a risk Optimus found himself able to stomach quite easily in comparison to every single other risk they were already facing now. Besides, in reality, they didn't have much of a choice. Starscream possessed probably the only way of locating Hunter—his demands weren't all that outlandish in comparison.

"Fine," Optimus finally said. "I accept your terms, Starscream."

"!"

Optimus held up a hand to silence the protests from his soldiers. "Under the condition that you allow us to take the locator as well as agree to provide combat support should we require it, you may join us in our mission to find and rescue Hunter."

The humans had a saying: "looking like the cat that swallowed the canary". In that moment Starscream looked to be the very definition of that phrase—the Seeker had never looked so self-pleased in all the ages Optimus had known him. "Well," Starscream chortled pridefully, "I am happy you see it my way." He moved forward and held out the box to the Prime.

Optimus moved as if to take the box, but wrapped a large hand around Starscream's slender wrist instead. He held the 'con in a crushing grip. "But know this, Starscream," the Prime growled savagely, optics glinting dangerously as he glared daggers at the much smaller mech, "I will be there with you—watching. And should you try and take advantage of my daughter in any way when she is in a vulnerable position I will make sure that it is the last thing you ever attempt to do." He tightened his grip around the 'con's wrist, causing it to squeak and crunch slightly which caused Starscream to whimper in pain. "Do I make myself clear?"

Starscream grit his denta against the pain and screwed his optics shut, looking as though he was trying his hardest not to cry out. "Ugh… crystal," he rasped.

"Good," Optimus rumbled. "I'm glad we understand each other." With that he released the Seeker and snagged up the box in his large hand. He carefully placed the object in his internal storage before turning back to address Starscream. "Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, Starscream," he said. "We will see ourselves out." The Prime turned and began to leave the vault. "Arcee, Bulkhead."

Arcee and Bulkhead looked after their commander, exchanged a look, and then followed after him.

"What's the deal, Boss 'Bot?" Bulkhead asked as they fell in step close behind the red and blue mech.

"You can't really be serious about letting Starscream be part of the rescue mission," Arcee stated.

"I am, as it happens," Optimus responded, not looking back.

"But why?" Bulkhead pressed.

This time Optimus paused and turned around to face his soldiers, meeting and holding each of their gazes in turn. "I do not believe I exaggerate when I say that we are in the most desperate of times," the Prime said. "Therefore, in the most desperate of times, it is only appropriate that we must be forced to take the most desperate of measures." A dark look came over Optimus' face then as he continued on: "My daughter is out there somewhere: I have every intention of finding her and bringing her back home safe and sound, and I will do whatever it takes to accomplish that. If that means subjecting myself to the presence of Starscream and allowing him to join the search, allowing him a chance to be near Hunter—as much as I despise it—then I will do it." Optimus turned away and began walking again. "After all," he rumbled, "if I am to be forced to traverse the very Pit in my quest, may it be as hellish as possible."