Chapter Twelve

Prowl had, had enough ever since his argument with Sunstreaker Sideswipe had moped behind him and had almost run in him at one point because he wasn't paying attention.

"Sideswipe, I will not tell you again." He began.

"I can't believe he feels like that." The Lamborghini said quietly. "Why did he never say anything to me?"

"Even if he had there would have been nothing you could have done. It is entirely Sunstreaker's own fault that no-one wants to be around him." Prowl told the mech. "Now stop dragging your wheels and move it. We're out here to find Silverlight not for you to moan and complain about your brother." The tactician internally cringed, he had sounded a bit like Jazz and from the chuckle behind him he could tell that Sideswipe had heard it also.

"I never thought I'd say this but, thanks Prowl."

The Datsun was confused and slowed down so he was now next to the Lamborghini. "Why are you thanking me?" He asked.

"For cheering me up."

"But..." The tactician began before getting interrupted.

"Is that Prime? I thought he was staying at base." Sideswipe said a little confused.

"He was suppose to." Prowl replied slightly annoyed. "Prime, what are doing out here? I thought we had agree that..." He asked as they neared the semi coming from the other direction.

"Ultra Magnus had found Silverlight and I thought that if I could talk to her she would return." The Autobot leader interrupted.

"As reasonable as that sounds, if something happened to you everyone would blame her. The best thing you can do for her is stay at the ark, Ultra Magnus should have told someone where she was if he did not want to talk to her himself." The Datsun said.

Sideswipe had noticed something about their leader the tactician had missed. His voice sounded sad, almost pain-stricken and his alt mode seemed to be a little lower to the ground than usual. Something had happened between the two of them, something that had upset the Prime greatly.

"I know I have no business asking this since I was the one who upset her in the first place but, where is she? Perhaps I could talk to her, apologise for what I said and get her to come back."

"Is this for your benefit or Sunstreaker's?" Prowl asked unwillingly to let the mech near the femme if he was just doing this to get his brother back.

"Prime's." Sideswipe answered honestly.

"I appreciate the gesture, Sideswipe." Optimus said "but I do not think that will help, it would seem that..." He stopped as he remembered his own sparkling's words "No Prime, TC is not the reason. The reason is you." He could still clearly see all the hatred in her optics as she spoke those words.

"Prime?" Sideswipe asked worriedly.

"I will see the two of you back at the ark. Prowl, please call off the search. Silverlight has made it clear that she does not want to return." He then continued on toward the ark not waiting for a reply from the two mechs.

"He can't be serious." The Lamborghini said in disbelief. "After all this he's just going to let her go?"

"Prime is her father." The Datsun stated "if he believes that searching for her and asking her to return is pointless we should listen to him." Jazz, Ultra Magnus, Prime has asked that we terminate the search and return to base. He commed at mechs.

I thought Prime was at base. The saboteur said confused.

Did he tell you why, Prowl? The car transporter asked curious.

He just said that she would not return and we are to terminate the search.

We should do that but ya know we ain't gonna. Jazz said that gals coming back whether she wants to or not.

I agree with Jazz. Ultra Magnus said Silverlight needs to return, it is not safe out here plus it would mean leaving Hot Rod also.

Hot Rod? He is with Silverlight? Prowl asked confused.

It would seem that he found her first and decided to join her.

That settles it then. The Porsche concluded we ain't leaving either of them out here where the cons can easily get a hold of them. Magnus, can ya tell meh where they are?

Hot Rod is currently with Sunstreaker and I. He snuck out of the cave they were in to speak to him and as far as I know Silverlight is still there.

Prime told us to discontinue the search we should return to base as ordered. Prowl told them.

Return ta base if ya want ta Prowl but I wanna word with that femme.

Prowl sighed, he was used to Jazz bending the rules for his own needs but Ultra Magnus? It was unheard of. "Sideswipe, we will be returning to base. Sideswipe?" The Datsun hadn't noticed that the Lamborghini had driven off while he was speaking to Jazz and Ultra Magnus. Now he was caught between two choices, go after Sideswipe, who had surely gone after Silverlight, and make sure he didn't do any more harm than he already did or return to base like Prime had asked.