And so it continues... Hope you enjoy.


Chapter Five

"You have him in the medbay?"

"Of course, we have him in the medbay!" Iron Blade stared at his sister incredulously. "Do you Autobots think we are so barbaric as to just throw him in the brig with all the injuries I found him with?"

Ironshadow gave his son a look.

Skyshadow whirled to face him, an unreadable expression on her faceplate.

"You found him?"

"Uh, yes?"

"Come on, you two," Ironshadow said quickly. He pushed the button on the door panel and entered the medbay.

Breakdown was lying on a nearby berth and Knockout was nearby, organizing his tools.

Both looked up as they noticed the newcomer.

Knockout smiled up at the mech. "Ironshadow, what brings you- "

The medic paused as Skyshadow and Iron Blade followed the Vosian captain into his realm.

"Here."

Breakdown narrowed his optics at the Autobot but said nothing.

Ironshadow gestured with a hand to the femme behind him. "Skyshadow is searching for a comrade. I believe you have him in the back?"

Recovering from his surprise, Knockout nodded. "Yes, but he still in stasis."

"I'm aware," Skyshadow said quickly. Placing hands on her hips, she turned to the medic. "I presume that you've been taking care of him since Iron Blade brought him here. What is his condition?"

Knockout had been trying not to flinch under the assassin's cold stare, but the question immediately resumed his professional attitude.

"Sideswipe was heavily injured. He suffered a blow to the back of his helm, likely first, knocking him out. Among many other dents and stab wounds, he has a rather grievous wound on his chestplate.

"I was rather concerned about that one, since it was deep, but it didn't make it to his spark chamber.

"Despite not regaining consciousness yet, I believe he will make a full recovery."

Seeing that the medic was finished, Skyshadow nodded approvingly. "I would like to see him for myself."

"Of course," Knockout replied, gesturing for her to follow.

Iron Blade frowned, even as he also followed.

"Everyone is acting like they forget she is a huge threat," he thought.

Although, he figured that Breakdown was showing a healthy amount of concern.

Iron Blade knew his sister was often underestimated. He also knew what damage she could do.

Knockout opened the door to a small room at the back, made for patients that needed to be quarantined or kept in intensive care.

Or if there was an injured prisoner held here that the rest of the ship didn't know about.

Skyshadow brushed by the medic, entering the room silently. Once she saw the green and black frontliner laying on the medical berth, her hard expression softened.

Stepping closer to stand next to the berth, she seemed to forget the rest of the mechs were still present.

"Sideswipe," she murmured softly, reaching out to touch his helm. "What have they done to you?"

Just as Knockout had said, the frontliner was recovering from many wounds all over his frame.

Skyshadow furrowed her optic ridges as she moved her hand to hover over the large healing wound on Sideswipe's chest.

The Decepticon medic had removed the Autobot seeker's chest armour, which Skyshadow noticed was being stored on a table nearby. It had a large chunk of it missing, right where it would rest above the wound on the injured mech's torso.

Immediately, Skyshadow recognized what sort of weapon had done this.

"Iron Blade," she said, not turning away from Sideswipe. Her tone was calm, but cold as ice. "You said you were the one who found and rescued him?"

The warrior scientist nodded, still keeping an optic on her. "Yes." He straightened, lifting his chin. "Singlehandedly I might add."

"Did you see anyone else around?"

"No. I told you, it was just me."

Skyshadow gave him a look, then turned back to the injured Autobot.

"Are you certain?"

Iron Blade let out a loud huff, crossing his servos across his chest. "Yes. I even scanned the area with my scanner. And it can pick up anyone and anything."

The assassin frowned, scanning Sideswipe's injuries once more. "His twin says he was near death soon after he was attacked. I find it hard to believe that you found him after his attackers had vacated completely."

"Well, I assure you, there was no one else there," growled Iron Blade.

Skyshadow stiffened, then slowly turned her helm to look over her shoulder at him.

"Does your scanner pick up cloaking devices?"

"Well of course not," the warrior scientist snapped. "Not much can combat cloaking technology. Some devices my scanner will pick up if they're low quality. Since the scanner has to go over it, it sometimes will pick up a difference in the landscape.

"You as a special operative should know that."

His sister chose not to reply, narrowing her optics as she thought.

After several kliks, the silence became awkward.

"Ahem," coughed Knockout from the doorway. "Does the lady intend to stay or- "

Ironshadow gestured for the medic to be quiet, then shrugged.

"I do not," Skyshadow replied, having heard the medic. She turned, eyeing all three mechs in turn.

"I will leave, but trust me when I say this," she warned, tone icy.

"I will return immediately if Sideswipe's condition declines. And it will be a bloodbath."

Passing Iron Blade, she strode towards the door.

"And how will you know?" Iron Blade sneered. "Or how will you know where our ship is? You're bluffing."

Skyshadow paused momentarily, glancing back at him.

"Are you willing to risk that, Iron Blade?"

"Look," Knockout interrupted, boldly stepping into the assassin's path. "We will take care of your friend. You have my word as a medic."

"I'm not certain how that's supposed to be comforting except for the fact that you're totally different than our own CMO."

Knockout frowned, arching an optic ridge. "Thank you? I suppose.

"Anyways, as I was saying, there is no reason to return. We will release your friend when he has recovered."

Skyshadow looked up at the mech and gave him a small, sharp smile. "You misunderstand, good doctor. I intend to return either way."

Dodging him, she continued on her way. "Father, do I have safe passage, or do I need to sneak out?"

Ironshadow sighed, following her out into the main part of the medbay. "I will send a message to the rest of the troops. You will not be fired upon, unless you make a hostile move."

"Thank you. Tell your mecha that I will honour that agreement as long as they themselves return the courtesy."

Iron Blade hurried to his father and grabbed his shoulder, halting him. In a low whisper, he spoke.

"Dad, we can't just let her go free. What will Megatron say?"

"I will deal with Megatron, my son," Ironshadow whispered back. "He will understand once I explain my reasoning.

"But- "

Ironshadow sent him a stern look and he quieted. "We cannot risk the others, Iron Blade. You know your sister as I do."

As Skyshadow passed by the medical berth that Breakdown was resting on, she paused, feeling his stare. A sly smirk graced her faceplate as she turned her helm to look down at him.

"I hope you recover quickly, Breakdown," she said smoothly. "Bulkhead misses beating you up."

Breakdown scoffed, scowling up at the petite assassin. "I've only been down for one day."

"I know. But he's already been complaining."

Moving on, she paused again before exiting the medbay. Glancing over her shoulder, she smirked.

"See you all soon."

As soon as the door has closed behind her and she was out of hearing range, Knockout spoke up.

"Does anyone else get a chill when she's around?"

"Shut up, Knockout," grouched Breakdown.

Suddenly, the four mechs heard music playing from the speakers out in the corridor.

"Is that?" Knockout said, pointing towards the door.

Iron Blade placed a hand over his faceplate and groaned. "Yes. Soundwave is playing the Imperial March from Star Wars."

"I mean, it's sort of fitting," Knockout shrugged. "They all know she's coming. Ironshadow sent out a message about her."

Iron Blade shot a glare towards the medic as Ironshadow shook his helm and left the medbay.

"I must go and explain to Megatron," the Vosian captain said dryly. "Please see to my son's wound, doctor."

"Will do." Knockout smirked. "Have fun with that, Captain. Let me know how it goes."


"So. What did you want to talk about?"

Sunstreaker glanced towards the special operative and frowned.

The place that Steeldust had taken them, a passageway located in a part of the base's walls, was likely one perhaps only he and maybe some of the other ops knew about. Therefore, it should be a safe spot to talk.

However, it was a little on the squishy side in Sunstreaker's opinion.

While it seemed no problem to Steeldust as long as he minded his doorwings, Sunstreaker was a fair bit taller and broader than the lanky mech.

But if this was where he could talk freely about his twin, then he'd bear it.

Shifting in place, Sunstreaker began in low tones.

"Sideswipe was ambushed, but I don't know who it was. I don't think he even knows maybe."

"Okay," Steeldust said, narrowing his optics. "I'm guessing you know that cause of your twin bond thing. If he's not dead, then where is he?"

"On the Decepticon ship, I think. Badly injured still from what I can tell."

"Wait, what? Why would they want to capture him? No offence to your brother, but why not go for Smokescreen if they wanted a seeker?" Steeldust asked bluntly.

Sunstreaker looked away for a moment.

"I'm not sure that they captured him. Or ambushed him."

Steeldust blinked several times, furrowing his optic ridges. Then, realization hit him.

"Wait- You don't think they- Rescued him. Do you?"

The frontliner met the spec op's gaze again, optics hard.

"I have my suspicions."

"Why would one of our own attack Sideswipe?" hissed Steeldust. "It had to be the 'Cons."

"It might be," said Sunstreaker. "But I don't know."

Steeldust looked at him incredulously for a moment, then flinched as he thought of something.

"Wait- "

"What is it?" Sunstreaker asked urgently.

"I think- I think you might be right."

Sunstreaker leaned closer, a threatening tone to his voice. "What did you hear?"

Unconcerned, Steeldust carried on. "I was using the passageways the other week to move across the base. You know, cause I could. And I might have been avoiding someone."

The frontliner gave him a look, which was ignored.

"Anyways, they aren't exactly soundproof, and you can hear everything going on outside if you stand by the ventilation shafts and grates.

"I overheard Smokescreen and Prowl talking about someone they thought was having second thoughts about the Autobot cause. They didn't say who, but now that I think about it, the other stuff they said would possibly match Sideswipe."

Steeldust looked up at Sunstreaker in horror.

"They planned it. They planned to kill him."

Sunstreaker grimly nodded. "But did they actually or did they send someone else to do it?"

Frowning, Steeldust began to pace a short distance back and forth down the passageway.

"I doubt they did it personally. They're too high up to risk themselves," he muttered quietly. "But it would have to be someone who would willingly do it, without much persuasion."

He paused for a second, glancing over to the frontliner. "Who hates Sideswipe?

"And who out of that list would either be able to sneak up on him or have his trust that they wouldn't stab him in the back?"

Sunstreaker narrowed his optics in thought about the questions.

"And," Steeldust added, peering up at the taller mech, optics narrowed. "Skyshadow's gone to find out whether or not he's on the Nemesis, isn't she."

Returning the look, Sunstreaker fidgeted hesitantly.

Steeldust wouldn't rat her out to the chain of command. Would he?

There was no point in lying to the agent. Steeldust might play dumb sometimes, but he was in reality, quite smart and very perceptive. He'd likely already noticed his fidgeting and hesitation.

Plus, he'd already suspected and figured that Sky had gone to the Decepticon ship.

Staring up at Sunstreaker, Steeldust's expression turned from suspicion to a smug grin.

"I thought so. Sheesh, no wonder you're so worried looking today, Sunshine."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, duh," Steeldust shrugged, narrowly missing hitting his doorwings on the close walls as he did. "Your brother is missing and injured, someone tried to kill him. And your girlfriend is headed to or on the Decepticon ship looking for him. You got lots to be- "

"I know that," hissed Sunstreaker, glaring at the rambling speedster. "I meant, oh never mind."

"You meant how'd I know you were worried?" Steeldust asked smoothly, crossing his servos. "Mech, I may be a dimwit, but I can still read mecha. Especially ones I know well.

"You've-been-extra-fidgety-and-more-frowny-than-usual-and-you-have-worry-lines-on-your-forehelm-and-you-didn't-even-blink-when-Wheeljack-almost-walked-into-you-on-our-way-here. Normally-you'd-at-least-growl-at-him. Or-at-most-beat-him-into-a-pulp-for-almost-scratching-your-finish.

"Also-you-do-have-a-scratch-on-your-finish-there-on-your-servo-which-threw-me-for-a-loop-at-first-when-you-came-to-bail-me-out-of-the-box-earlier. Usually-you-fix-stuff-like-that-right-away-but-now-I-know-you're-focused-on-and-concerned-about-bigger-problems-than-a-teeny-scratch.

"And-you-completely-missed-when-I-just-called-you-Sunshine. Which-you-only-let-your-brother-and-girlfriend-call-you-and-still-grumble-about-it."

Steeldust finally shut up from his whispered, very long, very fast explanation and gazed expectantly at Sunstreaker waiting for a reply.

The frontliner stood, frozen, optics wide.

The spec ops slapped himself in the faceplate.

"Great," he muttered into his hand. "I broke him."

Regaining his composure, Sunstreaker glowered down at the annoyance he'd asked for help.

"I do not have worry lines, and yes I have a small, tiny scratch on my armour!" he yelled.

"And do you even breath when you talk that fast?"

Steeldust glared out from between his digits, hand still covering his faceplate.

"Nice. Anyone walking by now knows we're somewhere around. Maybe even in the wall."

Sunstreaker, who was about to say more, clamped his mouth shut and glared as the ops moved further into the passageway.

"Come on," came the whispered hiss. "We gotta move in case someone heard you and gets nosy.

"Cause if we're right about what happened to 'Swipes, we'd be in a whole lot of trouble if we get caught talking about it."


Optimus Prime tapped his digits on the arm of his throne.

Something was not right in his kingdom.

There were in fact, many things that were wrong, but most of them he had approved of.

Or simply turned a blind eye to.

But he could feel that there was something or someone, about to start something.

He didn't know what and that made him angry.

"SMOKESCREEN!" the false prime roared.

The twin bodyguards by the door didn't even flinch. But then they were used to the bellowing of their leader.

He yelled at his various underlings at least twice a day.

Shortly, the sneaky seeker leader entered the room, dropping in a bow before the Prime.

Leaning forward, the warmonger glared at the young mech.

"Smokescreen," he said smoothly. "What news do you have for me?"

Taking the question as permission to rise, the Praxian stood, a calm smile on his faceplate.

"My Lord," he began, dipping his helm. "All is well. No one is misbehaving, well, except for a very short-lived bar fight. But Ironhide dealt with that quickly as always and nothing more came of it. No energon shed."

Frowning, Optimus settled back into his throne. "And what of the patrols? Have they found anything of interest?"

Smokescreen tilted his helm in thought. "No. Nothing since Blurr and his brother's victorious find of all that energon from the Decepticon mine yesterday, my Lord. No signals have been picked up here on our base's scanners either."

"Very well," the Prime rumbled, somewhat satisfied.

"Tell me. How did that brat react to getting out of his box so soon?"

Smokescreen shifted in place, flicking a doorwing before answering. "He was involved in the bar fight earlier actually. But disappeared shortly after with Sunstreaker. Haven't seen him since."

Optimus laughed loudly. "The little fool never learns a thing, does he? At least he's probably bewildered at being free so soon. We'll see how long it keeps him quiet."

"I must say, your methods are interesting, my Lord," snickered Smokescreen. "Quite amusing in fact."

"Ah, I almost forgot. How is our dear medic's latest patient?"

Sending Optimus a knowing look, Smokescreen grinned sadistically. "The Vehicon miner brought back last week? I haven't seen him, but I have been assured by Ratchet himself that he's taking quite good care of him."

Ricochet and Jazz snickered quietly from their posts by the door.

"Of course, he is," replied the prime, a wicked grin on his own faceplate.

"Anything else you wish to tell me?"

"No, Lord Prime," Smokescreen replied.

"Very well. You may leave."

Smokescreen bowed once more with a sly grin, then turned and left the throne room.

Optimus watched him leave. As soon as he'd left, his smirk turned into a frown.

"He's up to something," he growled.

Jazz piped up, "He always is."

"Send someone to watch him for the next few days," Optimus commanded. "I don't care who."

The white and black bodyguard crossed his servos, grin wide with wicked mischief.

"Ah know just who ta send."


Skyshadow landed in a neat crouch, scanning the area again as she straightened.

Nothing living in sight.

Of course, her keen audios picked up the birds and insects in the nearby trees bordering the small clearing in the woods. A pair of squirrels chattered at each other, likely fighting over food.

But Skyshadow was not here for the nature.

Stepping carefully, she examined the ground around her.

Luckily, the area was somewhat sheltered from the elements by the nearby trees. And it hadn't rained since before the ambush happened.

So, there may still be some evidence for her to examine.

Signs of a scuffle, although very short lived by the look of it, was not very far from one of the edges of the clearing.

Upon reaching the area, she knelt to get a better look.

Several clear pedesteps, including ones that belonged to her older brother, gave some clues.

And confirmed at least part of Iron Blade's story. He'd been here and picked up Sideswipe.

Further examining of the scene revealed to her a few more things.

Sideswipe had been attacked from behind, which she'd already known from his twin.

And he had drawn energon from his attacker judging by the small splatters leading away from the large patch where he'd been left for dead.

Skyshadow frowned.

"Who was in the medbay that day I wonder?"

Although, if it wasn't a bad wound, depending who the culprit was, they could repair themselves.

She had an idea of how to confirm that.

But first she needed to narrow her suspects down.

Iron Blade had claimed to have used his scanner upon locating Sideswipe. Anyone in the area within the scanner's range would have been picked up.

From his injuries and Sunstreaker's report, Sideswipe would not have lasted very long without medical attention. For Iron Blade to been able to successfully get him to help in time, it was almost impossible for the attacker to have already vacated before he'd arrived.

Skyshadow didn't believe that her brother would lie to her. Not about this anyways.

Narrowing her optics, she looked around once more, then leaped into the sky. Transforming, she headed towards the Autobot base.

She knew what sort of weapon had dealt Sideswipe most of his injuries.

Definitely a blade, likely either a sword or a long dagger.

According to Sunstreaker, his twin had been hit in the helm from behind, knocking him out.

Apparently, they cut him up after that.

There were several Autobots and a couple Decepticons that commonly used blades with enough skill to quickly subdue a seeker after sneaking up on them.

She also knew that there were several possibilities to why Iron Blade hadn't picked up their presence.

One, the mecha had been shielded.

Two, they were faster than the average mecha and were already out of range.

Or three, which she doubted, that Iron Blade himself had done it and he had lied.

Skyshadow had a list. She could try to see if she could logically narrow it down on her way home.

There were mecha in both factions that met the criteria that she could see attacking Sideswipe.

Both Starscream and Iron Blade might, but they were too honourable to, cowardly as they might put it, ambush someone from behind.

Other Decepticons might too, but they didn't fit so well. Either because of lack of stealth or lack of skill with a blade.

Or it simply did not make sense to stab someone if you could more effectively shoot him.

Which, most Decepticons, Skyshadow figured, were better shots than they were with most short-range weapons.

Which is why the Autobots caused them so much trouble when they got in a crowd of the troopers.

But guns were not made for stealthily offing someone.

Ironically, Skyshadow had more Autobots on her list than Decepticons.

"That's not concerning at all," she thought.

Both Cliffjumper and Mirage had a device or ability to cloak themselves from being detected.

Mirage, leader of the Autobot special operatives, definitely had the skill to have done it. If he'd been commanded to, he may have. But Mirage, unless he had to leave, would wait and ensure his target was dead before reporting a successful mission.

He may have been wary when Iron Blade showed up, aware of the Decepticon's scanner.

Skyshadow severely doubted that it would be able to beat Mirage's cloaking ability. He would too, but he also might play it safe just in case.

Cliffjumper might and would be very willing to have tried to take Sideswipe out, perhaps even without an order. Also, he was too cocky and may not have bothered to see if he'd really killed Sideswipe.

That would be a good reason as to why Sideswipe was still alive.

Blurr, Steeldust, and the Decepticon Drag Strip, were all fast enough to have possibly been able to get away before Iron Blade's scanner could reach them.

Inwardly, Skyshadow frowned at that thought.

As far as she knew, Drag Strip didn't have any personal rivalry with Sideswipe. With Steeldust, definitely, but not the frontliner. Not much of a motive there.

And another thing, it was hard for Skyshadow to believe that it was logical for the Decepticons to try and rescue an Autobot they'd tried to kill. Especially one of the notorious seekers.

Also, most seekers, past and present, were loyal to each other. Blurr was an unlikely suspect as he would be more loyal to the others than not.

Unless he was commanded and had no other choice. But then why wouldn't he have finished his fellow seeker? If his mission failed, then he would know it'd come back to bite him.

Skyshadow hoped that it was not the remaining suspect.

Not only was Steeldust a fellow spec op, he was also a friend. Not to mention, he was Sideswipe's friend.

But also, very skilled with a blade.

That he happened to have in abundance.

And he didn't seem to be afraid of possible consequences anymore. Which he would face leaving Sideswipe alive if he'd been sent to kill him.

She knew Steeldust.

He was efficient. If you were in his target zone, you became dead as long as he had the ability to kill you.

Unless he wanted you left online to play with you another day.

Which was what she suspected had happened to Breakdown, judging by the healing stab wounds she knew came from Steeldust's weapons.

If Steeldust had done this to Sideswipe, then it meant he was intentionally left alive.

For his own amusement or to save his so-called friend, Skyshadow didn't know.

"If it was him," she reminded herself firmly. "But I can't afford to remove him from the list until I'm certain."

She hoped it wasn't one of the Autobots to begin with, and not a special operative.

But she hoped it hadn't been Steeldust the most out of her list.

That would mean he'd betrayed a friend. Or someone who'd thought they were a friend.

And if it was him, Skyshadow prayed that he'd had no other choice.

No one was safe from doing Optimus Prime's bidding if he held something over you.

Not even if he hated your guts.


I'd love to hear any comments or thoughts. Thanks for reading!