As always, I'm super grateful for all the awesome feedback! I know this is pretty much exactly like in the show, but I didn't want to steal all the awesomeness that is the fight between Makeshift and Wheeljack, so considering that Switchshade is still injured, and the other Autobots didn't have much of a chance to step in and help either, I figured it'd be best that his interference was minimal at best. (There is still a little history between him and Makeshift though, so I may explore that a bit more next chapter.)
It had all gone to Pit after that. Switchshade discovered that venting was very difficult when one's energon had as good as frozen in one's lines, and he went still as the realization of 'Wheeljack's' true identity came to him. Primus…
"-didn't care for the way it sounded this last jump. I put it in-"
"Ratchet!"
Switchshade stumbled only a half-step towards the medic before realizing he had made a grave error in judgment, when Makeshift turned to look at him with narrowed, suspicious optics. The medic in question turned as well, clearly surprised at the abrupt interruption, and tilted his helm inquisitively. The black mech checked himself, slowly lowering the servo he had instinctively lifted to try to reach out to Ratchet in his desperation as he shifted his weight back again.
"…I… uh… I just wanted to ask if you'd be willing to… help me back to my berthroom. Please. I… My pedes are pained, and if you are willing, I'd appreciate you taking a moment to scan them again once I'm off of them?"
He turned the last into a question, his vocalizer tapering off as he attempted to act at least somewhat in line with his usual behavior around the Autobots, his shock at Makeshift's unexpected presence throwing him for a loop. Ratchet gave him an odd look, which was mirrored by Cliffjumper and Bumblebee behind Switchshade, but with a minimum of grumbling the CMO complied.
Switchshade waited until Ratchet had escorted him down the hall far enough that their voices would not be audible to the others in the common area before stopping abruptly. "Ratchet, I beg of you to listen. I know you have no real reason to trust me, but I fear that your base and all the Autobots here are in grave danger."
Interrupted in the middle of what promised to be a most satisfying 'I told you trying to walk so soon was a horrible idea' lecture, Ratchet paused a moment as the utter sincerity and worry in Switchshade's optics registered. The ancient mech invented quietly, and then nodded for the ex-'Con to speak. "Can't promise I'll jump on the bandwagon right off the bat, but you've proved yourself many times over by now, kid. Tell me what you know, and then we'll go from there."
Switchshade stared up into gentle, encouraging blue optics in astonishment, before gratitude and hope was replaced by a new sense of urgency as he recalled just what, exactly, was at stake. "I know this might sound… odd, but Wheeljack isn't Wheeljack." Ratchet cycled his optics, and then leaned back a bit and crossed his arms, a thoughtful frown settling on his face as he nodded for Switchshade to continue. "I have reason to believe that he is actually a Decepticon spy, likely sent by C-Starscream, to infiltrate and discover the location of your base."
"The signal we received was confirmed to be from Wheeljack's ship, and Bulkhead has confirmed his identity. Are you trying to say that Bulkhead wouldn't know a mech by sight and voice and presence that he fought alongside for many vorns? Of course, it is Bulkhead… But still, you have to realize how ludicrous that sounds."
"I know, please, Ratchet, I know what it sounds like. I know that Wheeljack is an Autobot, or at the least, certainly not suspect of having Decepticon sympathies, but I swear to you that the mech standing in that room is not the Wrecker Bulkhead believes him to be. I- I have no solid proof, nothing I can give you as evidence, but… Well. There is a Decepticon whom Starscream could easily have reached, who has the ability to replicate anymech's frame, vocalizer, and mannerisms. His designation is Makeshift, and he is incredibly skilled at what he does. His research of the mech or femme he becomes is extensive, and nearly always flawless, so it will be… difficult, at best, to prove my words as truth. Yet, there are certain tells, little signs he has shown in the past, that I recognized just kliks ago as he spoke with you regarding the groundbridge. Please, even if you do not believe me, consider what could happen if I am right."
Ratchet's optical ridges furrowed in concern and concentration, and Switchshade waited with his spark thundering loudly in his chassis, praying that the medic believed him. Even for Ratchet to give the matter serious consideration was more than Switchshade had expected, in all honesty, and the dark mech found himself grateful for that much alone. Finally, after what seemed an age, the medic nodded to himself.
"Very well. I cannot take your word alone, on this, but you are correct. If what you claim is truth, we could be in very real danger. I'll speak to Bulkhead, and see if he'll be able to question 'Wheeljack' regarding matters that wouldn't be public knowledge. It couldn't hurt to be too sure."
Switchshade sagged in relief, his whole frame sort of half-collapsing against the wall as he offlined his optics for a moment, thanking Primus with all his spark. "Thank you." the young mech whispered, and Ratchet narrowed his optics as he looked closer at Switchshade's frame. "You shouldn't have exerted yourself so much-now the pain and exhaustion is making you woozy." When the black mech straightened up suddenly, panic returning to his optics, Ratchet waved him off as he moved to help support his weight, muttering, "No need to panic, kid, I'm still gonna look into this whole 'Decepticon spy' thing. You, meanwhile, had better park your aft on your berth, and leave it there until I say you're fully healed. No more of this escaping with Cliffjumper business."
The black mech wanted to protest, wanted to offer his help in proving Makeshift's presence, but Ratchet was nothing if not deadly accurate in his medical ability, and he was certainly not wrong this time. The low-level pain that had been shooting through Switchshade's newly-integrated pedes had begun to spread up into his legs and hip plating, and the now sharp and spiking pain was indeed causing him to stumble more and more. "You're right, Ratchet." Switchshade admitted, as the medic helped him settle onto his berth. "I swear I'll try to keep off of my pedes until they are healed."
He didn't stay off his pedes until they were healed. Although, in his defense, Switchshade did have slightly more pressing concerns than a half-healed frame. The Decepticon imposter currently holding Miko captive, for one. It wasn't that he had been explicitly trying to disobey Ratchet's orders, he had just happened to be rather bad at resting while holding the knowledge that Makeshift was walking around inside the Autobot base. Unfortunately, the bad habit of eavesdropping stuck with him still, and for the countless time that cycle, he turned up the volume in his audial receptors until he was able to listen in to the conversations taking place throughout the base.
Switchshade had kept his peace as 'Wheeljack' wandered with Miko and questioned the human about the base, knowing that so long as Makeshift wanted to keep up his charade, the human wouldn't be harmed. He had made no move to intervene when Ratchet told Bulkhead of Switchshade's suspicions, and the Wrecker had snarled that it was only a foolish lie by a bitter ex-'Con. But finally, when Ratchet convinced Bulkhead to at least check, and the Wrecker began to discover the extent of the lie, Switchshade knew he had to move.
As he hurriedly limped into the common area for the second time that orn, he glimpsed Bulkhead advancing menacingly on Makeshift as the green mech snarled, "I'd already left the Wreckers to join up with Optimus, but you wouldn't know that if all you did was access Wheeljack's public-service record."
"Miko, move!" Switchshade barked, seeing what would come just seconds before it did, leaping towards the human, an astroclick too late, as Makeshift scooped up the girl as she was caught off guard. The Decepticon instantly backed away as he held her threateningly, causing all the Autobots in the room to freeze for fear of harm coming to Miko.
Switchshade tensed, lowering his frame into a light crouch as red optics blazing with rage locked onto false Autobot blue. The black mech growled, that deep rumble in his vocalizer as he forgot all about his still-healing frame. Nothing mattered right now, nothing but rescuing Miko and ending Makeshift.
"Stay back, or I'll squeeze her into pulp!" Makeshift growled, the sentiment made much more disturbing by the fact that his optics were still a light Autobot blue, and that Switchshade knew that this 'Con was more than willing and capable of carrying out the threat. The black mech bared his sharp denta once again, but obediently refrained from advanced, though he didn't bother to repress a snarl when Makeshift glanced over at him with a smirk. "I have to admit, traitor, that when I first heard Soundwave's little pet went AWOL I didn't believe it. You were always too loyal for your own good, just like your sire, but I guess that went out the window along with anything resembling dignity befitting a Decepticon. We're well rid of you, it would seem."
"Let the human go, Makeshift. She has no part in this." Switchshade's tone might have been called pleading, were it not for the fury pulsing through it still. "If you think I'm gonna give up my best leverage just like that, these 'Bot-scum have done a worse number on ya then I thought."
Bulkhead growled, moving forward a pace until Makeshift's servo tightened threateningly, causing Miko to squirm in pain, and the Wrecker halted again. "Decepticon coward! Let her go and face me!" The 'Con's only reaction was to widen his smirk. "Don't fret. Plenty of fighting to come." All traces of his falsified voice were gone, leaving the low, dark growl that was Makeshift's natural voice to ring ominously through the base. Distantly, Switchshade heard Jack demanding if there was a real Wheeljack, and Makeshift answering, but the black mech focused most of his processor on judging if there was any possibility of him being able to move fast enough to save Miko in time if he leapt at the other 'Con. The odds were not looking favorable.
Makeshift waved Ratchet away from the groundbridge console, the medic obeying to keep Miko safe, and then the 'Con immediately powered up the groundbridge, beginning to back towards it. Switchshade narrowed his scarlet optics, his frame crouching even lower as he coiled in preparation to pounce, the risk be sent to Pit, when another mech came hurtling through the groundbridge into the base. He was identical to Makeshift's current form, and Switchshade watched in shock as the real Wheeljack collided with Makeshift's backplates in a skilled kick, causing the imposter to reflexively release his grip on the human (who was immediately caught and brought to safety by Bulkhead) before flying into the opposite wall.
"I'd close that hole before the stink comes through."