Bumblebee had not realized how fast Firestar was until he was chasing after her. His wings flapped madly as he raced down the halls, yet his mad dash caused him to crash into Smokescreen. Both mechs could barely regain their balance as they flapped their wings quickly. By the time they had gathered their bearings, Firestar was out of sight.

"Foolish femme," Bumblebee growled.

"Yeah," Smokescreen huffed. "She's going to get herself killed! There's no way she's the Heir."

"Well, one of us is bond to be," Bumblebee said. With barely a glance back at Smokescreen, Bumblebee flew on ahead.

Yes, he was inwardly cursing Firestar for her recklessness. He did not know her personally, but he had never figured her for the bold, brash type. But maybe the torture and transformation finally got to her. After all, he did not know what happened to Firestar when he and Smokescreen had been sent out with Predaking. But he was surprised that Firestar would make such a careless declaration.

He flew faster, hoping that he could reach her in time to talk some sense into her.

However, the sounds of Firestar's voice echoing in the cavern proved him otherwise. His spark filled with dread as he burst into the clearing, his wings aching, as he took in the sight of Firestar hovering in the cave over the three predacons. In that moment, with the dim lighting illuminating her armor and wings, she looked fierce, almost elegant, and if had not known any better, he would have believed the lie that he knew was on the tip of her mouth.

"I demand answers!" she said loudly, her glare directed at Predaking who stirred from his slumber.

Predaking's optics narrowed. "You are in no position to demand anything from me."

"What reason do I have for trusting you?" she demanded, her tail curling as if getting ready to strike.

Predaking lowered his helm, disinterested. "You have no choice."

"Not good enough!" she roared, landing with a loud 'thud' as the ground shook. "If you wish to work with us, then you will start making sense of all of this. We do not need your loyalty, we just need your trust."

Darksteel huffed. "Loyalty and trust? Sounds the same to me."

"Trust: a firm belief in the truth. A firm belief that you will help us. Loyalty: showing constant support to an individual." Firestar growled. "Both take equal time to build, but we only need trust at this point."

Predaking's optics narrowed. "Trust needs to work both ways, and I do not see why we need yours. After all," his optics flickered to Bumblebee. "I have all that I need to know."

"That is not what I, an alley, want to hear," Firestar stated. "How can we escape? How can your plans benefit us?"

Predaking sighed. "My plans will benefit you all in the long run so long as you do as I command of you. The well being of my species comes first."

"As the well being of my friends comes first for me," Firestar retorted. "So far, you have yet to plead a strong case. What is to stop me from working with you, or for any of us to refuse to work with you?" She scoffed. "It seems we would be better on our own." Bumblebee could see that this conversation was going nowhere. Predaking refused to listen, to even acknowledge the fact that they could not stay in this Pit any longer.

"Antagony would never leave you to your own devices," Predaking stated. "So long as she does not have the Heir, no one is going anywhere." His optics opened up once more. "The power has shifted to me, where it should belong, and I like how everything has fallen into place."

Firestar's growl decreased to a low rumble, and Bumblebee could practically see the smirk on her face. Straightening up, helm held high, her declaration carried throughout in the cavern. "Predaking, self-proclaimed 'king' of the predacon race, I am Firestar of the House of Prime, Heir to the Autobots."

Silence reigned in the cavern, yet Bumblebee choked in horror as he watched everything unfold. The only one who did not seem fazed was Firestar herself, who remained standing firm and proud.

"What?" Predaking growled.

Firestar transformed, her blue optics sparking as she curled her servos into fists, challenging the predacon as a true leader would. "I am the Autobot Heir, and I will be heard!"

Several things happened at once. Skylynx and Darksteel launched forward with roars at Firestar, their claws out. Bumblebee launched forward, but Smokescreen reached Firestar and threw himself on top of Firestar, who seemed to be expecting his presence. Smokescreen roared with pain as the first attacks inflicted him, but he did not move.

"She is the Heir?" Skylynx demanded.

"How?" Darksteel roared.

"She is not the Heir!" Bumblebee screamed, transforming into his mech form. He stood before them all, trembling. "I am!"

The two predacons stared at him while Predaking looked torn between intervening with brute force, or sitting back and observe the events that were about to unfold.

A scoff caught Bumblebee's attention, and he turned to look at Smokescreen, who had transformed into his mech form. He regarded Bumblebee with cold humor. "You? The Heir?" He scoffed once more. "Your lie is so obvious."

Predaking's optics narrowed, and the sound of him transforming was the only sound in the room for a moment. "I suppose you will proclaim that you are the Heir?"

Smokescreen hissed. "Instead of beating the information out of me, you could have asked."

"Your loyalty is commendable," Firestar announced, stepping forward. "But there is no need for your protection. I will face this as Optimus Prime has taught me, and confront my enemies."

Bumblebee laughed, and it was a bought of nerves and hysterics that burst forth. No humor was in his tone. His armor shook as he laughed, his mind running. Immediately, looking at Firestar's knowing optics and the smirk she was so expertly containing, her scheme was understood by him.

"Firestar," he said finally. "A femme is not the Autobot Heir."

"Which is why the secret was so cleverly hidden," she answered. "Optimus and Megatron had this all planned from the start. It was all smokes and mirrors." Her optics flickered to Smokescreen who stood at her side, staring at her with a blank expression. She brushed past him, standing in front of Preaking. "Take me to Antagony," she said. "I am ready to face her interrogation."

"Firestar, please," Bumblebee pleaded, rushing toward her with haste. "Do not take on my responsibilities. Do not suffer for my sake."

"It is a suffering that comes with my title," she answered softly.

"It is not yours!" he shouted desperately. "It is mine." He grabbed her shoulders, feeling his knees go weak as he collapsed at her pedes. "Please, I cannot let another die for my sake."

"You are my subject, Bee," she said grimly. "Cease this charade. It was never my intent for you to act as my decoy."

Bumblebee's servos trembled as he clung to her. "Please," he choked out. "Tell them the truth! You are not the Heir!"

"It is the truth," she said, wrenching free from his grasp. "Optimus Prime found and raised-"

"Shut up!" Bumblebee screamed, scrambling to his pedes. He lunged at her, but Smokescreen held him back. "I am the Heir, and I will not let you take my place in all this slaughter!"

"You are making this harder for all of us!" she shouted back.

"Which one of you is the Heir?" Skylynx roared, staring at them in confusion.

"For all I know, it could be him," Darksteel growled, pointing at Smokescreen.

Smokescreen released Bumblebee to hold his servos up in surrender. "Hey, you got me. Optimus Prime found me in a nest of sleeping scraplets and bravely took me in and raised me in the Halls of Iacon. I am pledged to mate with the Decepticon Heir who is clearly a femme," here, he shot Firestar a look. "And now I am listening to my only two comrades spout lies in a vain effort to keep my identity a secret."

Darksteel blnked before growling. "Just take them all to Antagony," he growled, grabbing Smokescreen and dragging him away.

"No!" Bumblebee screamed. "Leave him out of this!"

"Enough Bumblebee," Smokescreen shouted as he was led away. But after a few minutes, his optics widened and he let out a wail. "I changed my mind!" he shrieked as he grabbed at the ground in an effort to stop moving. "I don't wanna see Antagony!"

"I am the Heir, take me!" Firestar shouted as Skylynx grabbed her.

"No! Me!" Bumblebee shouted as he threw himself at Skylynx's pedes, who blinked in obvious discomfort.

"Don't hurt us!" Smokescreen shouted. "Antagony wants us fresh for the torture! Especially me since I am the Heir!"

"I am the Heir you twit!" Bumblebee screamed.

"No, I am!" Firestar shouted.

Bumblebee's retort was cut off when Predaking roughly grabbed his shoulder and yanked him aside. "What game are you playing at?" he growled.

Bumblebee could not resist smirking. "A game of deceit and trickery."

"You think this will end well?" Predaking demanded. The shock was clear in his optics as he regarded Bumblebee warily.

"It will if you talk to us," Bumblebee answered. "We want out, not to play your own game of cloaks and mirrors. Our proposal still stands. What will it be your highness?"

Predaking stared at him for a moment, opening his mouth before closing it. His tight grip on Bumblebee loosened ever so slightly. A thoughtful look crossed his face, and Bumblebee dared to hope for the best.

"No need to bring them to me," a sudden voice said that brought an end to the chaotic noise. Everyone turned to the door with dread heavy in their sparks as Antagony entered the scene, her optics wide and bright with mad delight. "I shall come to you," she stated.

"Because the prisoner I met with was Bumblebee."

Those very words had shocked Moonracer to the core. Even now, her spark still pounded with what such a revelation could mean.

Bumblebee was alive. It was almost too good to be true. Amongst all the dead and all the chaos, he was still alive, and she might yet still see him. It was a gift, a blessing that she was fiercely going to guard.

And Arcee had said nothing else.

Moonracer had been riled up in that moment, demanding answers from Arcee. At that time, she had pleaded, begged to know more. She had desperately asked how Arcee had come across such information.

The blue femme had the decency to look ashamed when she had looked down and avoided Moonracer's hopeful optics.

"I have said all that I can."

The rest had faded into a senseless blur. Moonracer did not know who had struck first, but she was willing to bet that she herself had been the first one to lash out. All of her anger, frustration and grief burst forth as she had leaped at Arcee, servos out. Of course, Arcee was way more experienced than Moonracer had ever thought. But Arcee had been pulling her attacks, merely flipping Moonracer over and onto the ground, pinning her down. Her objective had not been to attack, but to simply defend. As Moonracer had struggled in the tight grip, Arcee had ordered for Ark to stand back. More like snarled, actually. Yet all that frustration was directed at Moonracer the moment Ark had backed off.

But Arcee had not been the only one who was frustrated. Moonracer was as well. No one was giving her answers, and everyone was being cryptic about the events. She had been forced to examine dead bodies for days in the hopes of finding something that would bring her friend justice. She had just been attacked by predacons, beasts that were supposed to be extinct. To top it all off, she had just found out that her friend, the mech she considered a brother, to be alive. And Arcee had the audacity to withhold any more information?

It had almost been like Arcee had sensed her thoughts, for her optics had narrowed.

"You left him!" Moonracer had accused, her accusations choking off into a pained cry. If Arcee had seen Bumblebee, why was he not here with them? What circumstances was he in? Why could she not see him?

Yet Arcee's chilling comment had caused all the fight to freeze inside of Moonracer.

"You are not the only one who loves him."

Moonracer blinked as she was pulled back to the present. Instead of on the cold floor, pinned down by an enraged Decepticon, she was leaning against a wall with her arms folded. Despite receiving such news about Bumblebee, she felt empty. Why? She should have been celebrating that he was alive! Yet, she felt as if nothing had changed, as if Bumblebee was still dead.

Her servo reached up to briefly touch her spark chamber. She wished she could feel Mirage through the bond, she wished she could share his strength in this moment. Yet she also wanted to keep him from the chaos that was now her life. But even without the sparkbond, Mirage was still there for her, sensing her distress and sharing her pain the best he could.

The doors to the office slid open, and Moonracer looked up briefly to see Arcee enter. Her optics narrowed, yet she relaxed slightly when she saw how truly worn out Arcee appeared to be. She seemed to be running low on energy and fuels, yet she still held her helm high. Once again, Moonracer was reminded of Arcee's previous words.

"You are not the only one who loves him."

Moonracer had a faint hunch what that meant.

"What have you found?" Arcee asked as she approached Ark and Knock Out.

"Many things regarding the cortical psychic patch," KnockOut stated simply. "It is common knowledge that Shockwave was the one to invent the cortical psychic patch during the war."

Arcee nodded. "Right." The tone in her voice suggested that she was anticipating something interesting.

"Well, it is obvious that he had to have a team with him to build such a thing," KnockOut continued. "And while it is not hard to work the darn machine, it is rather tricky to move it unless someone knows what they are doing."

Arcee frowned. "And how are we going to use such information?"

Knock Out waved a datapad. "I compiled a list of the scientists who assisted Shockwave during the war on the cortical psychic patch. We may just find a connection. Maybe," he muttered under his breath.

Arcee scrolled through the datapad. She blinked. "Dirge is mentioned here. Was he an assistant of Shockwave's?"

Knock Out barely glanced at her as he sorted through the stack of reports. "Yes, he was often assigned to Shockwave's lab. Why the sudden interest?"

"Dirge is one of the leading terrorist leaders as of now who opposes the peace treaty," Arcee stated thoughtfully. "But he has gone missing for the past weeks. Ironically, the same time when the attack on the Selecteds occurred."

KnockOut just shrugged. "Follow the money trail." Here, he shot Ark a knowing look who had yet to look up from her own reading.

"Shockwave was cooperative?" Ark asked, not glancing at anyone as her optics remained fixed on whatever she was reading.

Arcee nodded. "I think he will cooperate with us. Megatron was...displeased that such knowledge has come to my attention. But Soundwave told him to deal with it."

Ark narrowed her optics, glancing up. "He did not."

"Something along those lines," Arcee said simply. "Megatron has been keeping Project Predacon hidden from the public eye, including me, for so long that it has unnerved him that such a revelation was found out."

"And what are Soundwave and Megatron doing with this change of events?" Ark asked. Moonracer watched the exchange with growing interest, content with just sitting back and observing.

Arcee shrugged. "I do not know."

KnockOut huffed from his side of the room. "Hey, Ark, do we need this list we had compiled?"

Arcee looked up. "What list?"

"The list of those connected to the hunt during the attack," KnockOut explained. "We thought it might lead us somewhere."

Moonracer straightened up. "The hunt?" she demanded suddenly. "You mean the one that Sentinel organized?"

Arcee looked up sharply. "What?"

Moonracer nodded. "It was all Mirage ever talked about. He's a hunter, and he was pretty surprised that Sentinel himself would get involved in planning a hunt. But I do suppose that if the Selecteds were involved, that anyone would be aware of the event."

"Sentinel was the one to organize the hunt?" Knock Out questioned. He hummed thoughtfully as he glanced at the list. "Well, it appears he did make the cut for our list." He looked at Ark. "Monet trail?"

"Everyone has one," Ark answered simply. She frowned. "Though, numerous records are missing from his account." She glanced up. "It does not mean much."

"But the fact that is steadily decreasing and increasing, mirroring attacks of certain terrorist groups who are always supplied with new weapons and gear has got to mean something, right?" Knock Out persisted.

Ark hesitated. "Right."

Arcee had gone still, her servos gripping the sides of the table. She released a breath, optics sparking. "Sentinel?" Arcee demanded, looking at them all.

Moonracer's confusion grew, until she took in the meaning of the name. The warning that Bumblebee had given Arcee. Even with the faint clue, it had led them somewhere.

"S.E.N.T.I," Ark stated, optics wide.

Everyone stared at each other, no one moving. Arcee looked dumbfounded, and Moonracer was sure her own expression mirrored the blue femme's. Ark looked strangely excited, like a peice of the puzzle falling into place while KnockOut just stared at the datapad in his servos.

"Well, scrap," he said suddenly.