A/N: Hello, Everyone! Its been a while, life's been crazy but here we are the next chapter! I know its not the meeting or the next episode, but we are getting there, gotta lay the foundations first, right!? Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and yall have a good rest of whatever day or night you are having then you read this!

Enjoy the show, everybody!

Chapter 22-The Delicate Dance Called Life

Cenotaph's POV

"We have a problem, Bulletta," I said to the tiefling femme, who sat across from me in her room.

She looked up from her work, currently devising a part of the Comm systems, "What kind?"

I narrowed my optics in annoyance, "Optimus Prime, he's onto me. Not only that, but it seems as though the Matrix of Leadership can sense other beings near him, invisible or otherwise. I also fear that this means he knows in some capacity that we are lying to him."

Her optics widened at the implication, "We made a deal to discuss the Countless Lands together...is that a ploy to corner me into confessing the truth?"

"After knowing what I know, definitely." I sighed, "And I know this is hard for you to do in the first place, being a follower of Ioun after all. He must've seen that weakness in you and devised the plan up."

"So what do we do?" Bulletta asked, turning back to her component, "I mean, the meeting isn't due until the end of the week. I want to discuss this issue with everyone else after all, since this affects the whole of the Cabal."

I mused for a moment, "Unfortunately, we can't avoid him forever, but that doesn't mean we just lay down and take his scrap to the face. We just need to harden ourselves, and brace for whatever he has cooking."

"That isn't reassuring, in the slightest." Bulletta groaned out, sparks flying as she wielded a piece together.

I hummed in agreement, a moment of silence passed, before she spoke up again.

She really didn't like the silence.

"So, what have you been up too?" She asked, almost as if we were having a normal conversation.

"Uh, what are you doing?" I asked, confusion radiating from me.

"Making conversation," She then looked up again, "Isn't that what friends are supposed to do?"

I raised my brow even further, "We're...friends?"

She sighed, rubbing her temple with her servo while her tail moved in what I could only describe as annoyance.

"Cenotaph, I've been thinking a lot lately, with being cooped up in this room for the past week or so. And in that time, I've come to truly understand you. The Dream was a lot to handle all at once, and it's taken some time for me to be...more open-minded...so...this is me, being more open-minded." Her face crossed with anxiety and a twinge of hopefulness.

I was quite shocked, I thought it would take longer for this sort of thing to happen.

Deep down, I knew this was just the first step, but it seemed like a big one. And I could tell this was a hard step for her, the anxiety was telling enough. I could appreciate the effort when I saw it, she was trying.

So, I gave a small appreciative smile, "I am honored, Bulletta. But, don't force yourself into something you aren't prepared for. Baby steps, after all; all though, I do appreciate the effort."

She sighed, "Yeah, yeah, I know."

"As for your earlier question, I've been doing the same thing you have, I've been slowly building my new spell. Of course, it's slow going, but it's going nonetheless. How about you, what are you building?" For once, I was genuinely intrigued by someone else's work.

Her optics brightened at the question, "This is the prototype of the actual commlink apparatus, it's a rough design and I'm hoping to streamline it more so it's less noticeable. The greatest part is that it runs on both technology and magic, the power and the cloaking parts are what its fueled by magic and the rest is tech."

I raised a brow, "How do you condense magical energy like that? What happens if a spell connects with the system, will it overload?"

"Well, with Rafael's help and maybe yours, we'll be able to avoid that. As for condensing it, well...I have an idea of sorts." She said, her face plastered with the unbridled joy that could only be found in naive and innocent children.

I chuckled, "Well then, run it by me."

"I was thinking we could use a bit of magical energy from both you and Rafael, and somehow funnel it into some sort of receptacle. I need to do more research on it, and that's not easy as we are on a world barren of magical texts and scholars." Her aura turned a hopeful sorrow, "But, I think with enough time, we can get this working."

I thought for a moment. It wasn't unheard of such things back home, as they had a whole school of magic dedicated to such a craft, Enchantment. But I wasn't an enchanter by a long shot, and I only knew a handful of enchantment based spells for personal use.

This would prove difficult, Bulletta was right, there were no text nor scholars to aid us here. But...maybe I would be able to attain something from Quintus Prime, or maybe she from Alchemist Prime, either could work.

But we had to get this done, especially with our forces divided so much.

It was then that I was pinged by Ratchet, on the Autobot commlink, requesting me back at the lab, coded to say so, but something felt off about the message. I excused myself quickly and made my way there as fast as I could.

Bulletta's POV

I was left alone, Cenotaph rushing off somewhere, leaving me to think. For the longest time, I had a process and a way of thinking. That thinking I've come to realize is wrong in some aspects. Yes, magic can be dangerous, but it also has its uses when combined with technology. I frowned as I stared at the prototype before me, it felt off working to make such a thing.

Yes, I wanted to be better, and not to be such a hypocrite, but it was hard to waylay a way of thinking that I thought of for so long. Cenotaph reminded me not to force it, and she was right, I was forcing it back there. I was glad that I had a distraction so that it was easier. But Cenotaph, like everyone else it seemed, could see right through me and my attempt.

Did I really mean it when I said it? That I considered her a friend? Or was that forced, a lie I was trying to tell myself and her.

It was all hard to comprehend but she had a point, baby steps. I'm not changing in a day, nor a week or maybe even a month. But I wanted to, and I think that's what she cares about in the end, that I'm putting in the effort.

I guess that's all I really can do in the end, unfortunately.

"This is harder than I first thought…" I muttered to myself, speaking both about the project and my new growth.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

A rapping echoed in my room, making me jump slightly and almost lose my balance on my chair before quickly grabbing the desk for stabilization. I heaved in a vent before looking to the door with surprise, suspension, and anxiety.

Slowly I stood up and walked over to the door, I held a vent in, worried about who was knocking on my door. I punched in the code, and the door slides away...to reveal Bumblebee. I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled warmly at the mech.

"Bumblebee, what brings you here? Is there something you need?" I asked, it was clear to me that the mech in question seemed quite nervous and fidgety, which caused some worry to bubble up.

"U-Uh, it's nothing really...I-I was just wondering if I could...hang out with you if that's alright I mean! I-I don't want to impose...or anything…" He trailed off, staring anywhere but my sight.

No matter how many times I talked with the mech I always found something new and adorable about him. He's such a sweet bot, and honestly, I wonder how in all of creation this pure soul survived this long in a wartorn universe like this. I guess it just means he's stronger than he looks, and to be honest, he has more of a spark of a warrior than a plain old scout.

I smiled wider, my temperature rising slightly, "Of course you can hang out with me, Bee, I enjoy your company, so come on in!" I backed away from the door, allowing him to follow.

I wasn't worried about my project being out in the open, because it was so rough, no one but one with a keen eye for building and inventing could determine what it was. I went and sat back in my desk chair as Bee stepped into the room, the door closing and locking behind him automatically.

"Please, sit on the berth," I said motioning to the simple berth, he nodded silently and sat down. I turned my attention to my project and said, "I hope you don't mind, I was working on this before and I'd like to get it done as soon as possible."

"Right, I did kinda butt in didn't I?" We both chuckled to ourselves, "It's fine though, I just really wanted to talk to you about some stuff."

As I began working on it once again I asked, "Please, I am all audios."

He nodded in the corner of my optic before he began to elaborate, "Well, it's just the fact that I've been noticing strange things over the past week. It seems like everything has changed, there is this buzz in the air if you know what I mean. It feels like something is slightly off...especially with some of the behavior of the others…"

He paused, venting slightly and steepling his servos, "The person I noticed the most change over the past week has been Raf, actually." I stopped for a moment, listening to his words, "Ever since the scraplet attack he has become..different, in small ways. He's more closed off, and I worry he may have been traumatized by the events."

"Do you...feel responsible if that is the case?" I asked, looking to him worried, I could see a weariness to him, his entire form seemingly cold and shrinking away.

He looked up at me, his optics betraying guilt and sorrow, "Yeah...I mean, I am supposed to be his guardian, yet I am already letting him down."

"Bumblebee," I said softly, turning towards him in my chair fully, "Don't say that, sure he's changed but that's life and I'm sure it's not from the scraplet attack either, he's a tough kid. I think this new...phase of his is just that, a phase. Besides, he's almost about to hit teenage years and I know what many teens go through many phases in those years."

He sighed, defeated, "I don't know, you weren't there...and he was directly involved in finding them in the first place."

"R-Right…" I forgot that "Well...why don't you just talk to him?"

"He's been distant and doesn't talk much, like I said before, seemingly distracted with something. I don't think I can talk to him...I'm such a failure!" He groaned, flopping back onto the berth, his arm draped over his optics.

I frowned, it seems I needed to have a talk with the boy, he was gaining unnecessary attention and that spelled trouble for the Cabal. For now, I had to throw Bumblebee off, long enough for me to have a talk with him so that he could sort this out. I hated manipulation of any kind, as in itself it was against Ioun's will, but it had to be done, for the continuation of the Cabal.

I stood and sat next to the mech on the berth, and said, "Hey, don't say that! I am sure you could get through to him, you just need to be stubborn and patient. I'm sure you can do this and you are not a failure, if you ever say that again, I'll smack you."

For emphasis, my tail lightly smacked his arm that was draped over his face. The arm flinched and caught it in his servo, I playfully pouted, "Not the tail!"

He looked up at me, mischief in his sky blue optics, "Oh really?" He challenged playfully, "How can you stop me if it's so easy?"

I couldn't stop a giggle from bubbling up before I felt a twinge within my tail, I squeaked and looked to see that that damned mech was pinching its end. It wasn't painful, but it was comfortable either.

"Hm, I've been wondering about this for some time," He motioned to my captured tail, "What's it like?"

I stared at him incredulously, "It's a tail, what more is there to say?"

He shrugged, "I never had a tail, so I want to know what it's like, is it sensitive, or can you hardly feel anything, is it like an extra limb? Because I've seen you grasp things and humans with it before." He looked up at me, curious as always.

I smiled, placing my helm in my hand and crossing my legs, he let go but I kept my tail there, making it slightly move in his servo, like a wave. "It is an extra limb, I've trained it enough to become dexterous with it, not many tieflings do this nor care for it. It is just like another part of me, and as such, I can feel just as well as any other limb, it's not extremely sensitive."

"Interesting," He mused, staring at it as I weaved it out of his servo and patting him on the helm before it retreated closer to my frame, "Sorry I got off-topic, but I was just…"

"Curious?" I playfully laughed, "It's alright, I think I know now that you'll at least try with your charge."

I could tell he was smiling underneath his mask that covered his mouth, "Thanks, for the encouragement." He sat up finally next to me, "By the way, it's not just Raf I noticed, though he was my main concern, there are others, too."

I raised a brow at this, "Oh?" I prodded, "Who'd that be?"

"Well, there's Cliffjumper whose being paranoid and watching Sunstreaker closely, then there's Ratchet and Cenotaph, they seem to disappear for a long time, and when I do see them, they're not far from each other. I was wondering what could've changed their behaviors." He said, staring at me, looking for answers.

I froze, frowning internally...this...this wasn't good. Those damned fools! What are they thinking!? Being so openly abrasive. But...then again I just let it fester. No more, this had to be taken care of...but one thing still bothered me, the way he spoke...it almost sounded like..probing...interrogation...did that Prime send him!?

"Why would I know anything like that? They aren't me after all, I can't speak for them...why do you ask?" I asked, my frame tensing slightly and suspicion in my manner.

He didn't seem to notice though, or ignored it and said, "Well you helped me with Raf...I just thought…" He seemed off-put by my harsher words, and I studied him more closely, looking for falsehoods...and finding none.

I slouched, realizing that I misread his intentions and antagonized him, I said, "I apologize for my harsh words...I just thought that Optimus sent you to interrogate me."

Now he became confused, "Why would he do that?"

I frowned, "He has already done so with Cenotaph, and has brought her ire down upon himself. If you came just now, then you must have seen her leave my chambers before right?" He nodded, "She was here to warn me, I mean no disrespect to you, the Autobots or our leader, but if I am going to be honest...I don't trust the mech as far as I can throw him and that isn't very far. I'm sorry, but I have seen the look in his optics in other men before, ones that wish to reap my knowledge for their own benefit. And it unnerves and enrages me, for it is mine to give. So...I am being overly cautious...and was rude to you earlier, again I apologize."

He nodded, solemnly, "I get it, you technically have never been on Cybertron's surface to know of Primes beforehand. Most of us have a reverence towards them and it's hard to say no to him, barring Ratchet who's his oldest friend. You don't have that perception branded into you, and that means you treat him like any other mech. Don't worry though, I don't judge, though I find it hard to wrap my helm around it about why you distrust him completely."

"Understandable," I sighed, "So...wanna go for a drive?"

He looked at me surprised, at the sudden change in topics.

"Oh come on," I said, standing and stretching, "I need to get out of the base for a little while, and you aren't bad company if I do say so myself."

He blinked, a twinge of blue encompassing his face, "S-Sure...where are we going?"

I shrugged, "I dunno…" and proceeded to walk out of the room, him following close behind as we made our way to the main hall.

Cenotaph's POV

I groundbridged back into the Lab as soon as possible, I landed in the main room but I saw no Ratchet anywhere. Before I could shout out though, I noticed a noise coming from outside from the sinkhole above, frowning I jumped up and landed on the edge of the sinkhole and in the jungle. The noise was further ahead so I started making my way through only to come to where the Celestial Promise was currently parked, cloaked still.

There, standing near one of the eight arms of the main part of the ship was Ratchet, staring down at something in shock. I saw that he held his staff in hand, and was frozen seemingly to the spot.

"Ratchet?" I called out, he looked up but covered his left optic with his servo, looking still dazed. I walked up to him, frowning as I asked, "What happened, what's wrong?"

He was silent for a moment, his mouth opening then closing, searching for the right words.

His hand never leaving his face.

Then he spoke, his voice seemed shocked and distant, "I...did something...but I...don't know...what I did."

"Tell me, what happened?" I asked, coming to stand in front of him, but I couldn't as a crystal was sitting in front of him, slightly floating off the ground. "Wait...did you do this?"

He nodded numbly, "I...uh...was reading in my spellbook when something strange happened, the text just started to appear out of nowhere. I didn't understand what it all meant, but I became curious. So I found a relatively large Energon crystal and came out here to perform the spell."

"Hold on, you performed a spell that just APPEARED in your spellbook...by the unholy gods! What were you thinking!?" I raised my voice at the mech, it was the first time I had been anger at him...but it was mostly on me I suppose, I've should've taught him better than this.

He didn't look me in the optic, his shoulders slumped, but even then there was something I started to notice about his personality and mannerisms. He seemed...cold, emotionless, yes there was regret but something felt…missing. Wait...I looked back at the crystal, it was pulsing in a steady rhythm….almost like a…

"Ratchet," I said cautiously, almost panicking, "Did you break off a part of your spark and seal it in that crystal?"

"I...didn't know…" Then he looked up and removed his servo from his left optic, I gasped as now that left optic was completely dark, with dark cracks coming off it and a single pinprick glow of white coming from inside it.

"Ratchet…" I mourned, grabbing face gentle and examining the damage, "You split your spark into a phylactery...we need to reverse this, now…"

He seemed confused, even with half a spark he didn't understand, "Why? I feel fine."

"YOU ARE NOT FINE!" I screamed at him, tears threatening my optics, "You've begun the process of becoming a LICH, Ratchet! And you wanna know something about liches, they are insane undead who live forever and are hunting by every living creature in the universe! You will lose your mind if I don't fix this! And I promised myself a long time ago that I would never become a lich, and that extends to you NOW!"

He stared at me, a slight horror etched in his face though it was blank as well, "Lich…?"

"GRAHH!" I screamed in frustration, I snapped my spellbook from my waist and flipped through it to the chapter that held my most powerful, reality-bending, spells. The Nine Level spells were few but far-greater in power than anything, any level above this was almost unattainable if you weren't a god or something of equal power.

The most powerful spell, that could go bad if I word it wrong and there's a 33% chance that I can never cast it again, that is why I don't like casting it, at all. But it had to be done, but very carefully.

I inscribed the golden glyph in the air, it floated there, waiting for my words.

The Wish Spell.

Here goes nothing.

"I wish for my friend, the medic of Team Prime, Ratchet, to have his spark to become one within his spark chamber fully restored to the time before he cast the Lich's Plyatery spell." As soon as those words left my mouth, I felt immense power surge through my body until it engulfed the both of us, I collapsed the jungle floor, as casting the spell caused immediate weakness and I most likely wouldn't be able to get back up for several days due to the stress of the spell.

As I slipped into darkness, I heard Ratchet calling my name, his voice full of emotions again, and both blue optics staring into mine as I faded into the darkness.

Unknown Location...

No One's POV

He was alone, not in a room, but alone in a void of nothingness. There was nothing, he stood on nothing, simply floating in space. Sunstreaker was confused, for only a moment he decided to take a nap in his room, as he finally found a moment of relative silence. But when he opened his optics for a second after closing them, he was no longer in his room, but this void place.

It was strange, but he could've sworn there was a cool breeze drifting through, but as time went on, it got colder, and colder until he was shaking from the freezing temperatures. His optics wide with fear searched for the source but found nothing.

"H-H-HELLO!?" He stuttered out, the cold causing him to stutter.

Nothing replied, just colder, it kept getting colder until he swore he'd die from the freezing air.

In desperation, he called out again, "H-H-HEY, I-IS ANY-Y ONE O-OUT THERE-E?!"

No one responded, and anger boiled in his freezing veins, he was being ignored, he knew it, just like everyone else at base whenever he talked about taking those LANDERS. Somehow this was Bulletta's fault or maybe that Cenotaph, what he wouldn't give to ring their necks.

'Ah, now that is something I crave and desire more than anything in this prison of a world…' A dark and smooth voice called from the void, he tried searching for it but found none.

"W-Who are you?!" Sunstreaker asked the fear was becoming stronger than the cold was now.

He chuckled, 'Now, now, no need to demand when you are in such a...precarious position, little child of Primus…'

The cold froze in a snap, he looked down to see his peds slowly freezing together in growing ice.

"PLEASE, STOP!" Sunstreaker shouted, "W-What do you want from me!?"

'Simple, child of Primus, I want you to succeed in your plans for those landers. Call me an interesting patron wishing the mutual destruction of those damned Stars!' He snarled, the ice growing slowly up his legs.

"S-So...you want Bulletta and Cenotaph…" He trailed off, a flame of hope igniting in his spark.

He chuckled again, a sinister tone to it, 'Yes, I do, Sunstreaker. But I need you to do only one thing for me, so that I may aid you, you must find a cave not too far from your puny base, take a crystal from it, and devour it. Then you will be gifted with my power to crush those invaders!'

"Crush them…?" Sunstreaker started to laugh, "This, this is the moment! Finally, someone sees their evil! Yes, yes, I will do anything for this, I will find this cave and together we will destroy them!"

He could feel the smile from his Patron, 'Good, good, now wake up, I will not see you again until you have consumed the crystal…'

Sunstreaker smiled in absolute joy and victory, finally, he would have the power to get rid of those Landers. But soon his joy turned to horror, as the ice began to grow even faster, encompassing his arms, chassis, and his helm finally in a cold icy prison. The most painful part was when the ice reached his spark, it felt like it was shattering into a million pieces and he could feel the ice consuming his spark until the only thing remaining was an ice-cold spark.