I know most of you are wondering why it's taken so long to update but its called life and most of the time you just gotta deal with it. A lot of things have happened in the past few months and some of those things I still haven't come to terms yet. This chapter just didn't want to work with me no matter what I did. So I'm hoping all of you readers out there will like it because it just may surprise you on what happens in it.

(Optimus- In the Lounge)

After getting Rad back to bed, I needed some time to relax. I felt conflicted on what to do next. I just know Ashley isn't going to make this easy for us. At the moment both Scavenger and Blurr are searching for Ashley out in the forest. It still boggles my mind that there are humans out there that have bonds similar to us but part of me wonders was their bond always there or was it put there?

(Ashley- In the Lounge as well)

I stuck to the ceiling listening in on Prime's thoughts. He really needed to get Scavenger to teach him to contain his thoughts. They were all over the place. I can't also help but think about this bond as well. I can't remember anything before the lab so I have no idea when this bond came into existence. All I know is it's always been there and I've always had these acts of anger.

'This is definitely something I need to check out.' I thought as I watched Optimus paced.

I knew they were looking for me out in the forest but I decided to see how long it took before they would come back with nothing. I wanted to have a more private talk with Optimus anyway. Hot Shot and Smokescreen should still be asleep and Red Alert will be busy in his Medbay for a few more hours so I should have plenty of time.

"How much can you tell me about this bond that I may have Prime?" I enjoy scaring these guys. It's a great source of amusement for me. The only one who doesn't flinch or jump would be Prime. The only thing he does is go all stiff. He turned to face, still hanging on the ceiling.

"I take it you talked to Rad then?" I nodded my head. He sighed while shaking his head but I knew he was grinning underneath that mask. He sat down on the couch and patted the spot next to him. I let go of the ceiling and warped to the spot before hitting the ground. I sat down with my knees to my chest while staring up at him, waiting for him to speak.

"How long do you think you can go on like this before others start taking notice of all the damage you are doing?" He asked. "What are you gonna do when they come here looking for the cause and find us instead?"

I raised my head sharply at that. I hadn't realized I was putting the Autobots in danger with all my reckless acts. I'd known sooner or later someone would see all my destruction but I hadn't thought of who would get the blame if I just left. I could feel my heart was heavy with guilt.

"That's why I think it would be best that you stay so we can teach to shut off your bond. So you don't have to go through this every day."

I could understand why he wanted to do this and I almost agreed with him but there was something he wasn't seeing. Something he couldn't understand.

"I can't do that Prime. I need to leave."

"Ashley if you stay then these fits of rage may just get worse. You'll just be making yourself suffer."

"What about my twin? Should I just ignore her and let her go through these fits all by herself?" I shook my head at that. "I need to leave so I can find her and help her. Staying here will just it worse. To make these fits stop altogether I need to find her and save her. If I close the bond then I'll just be making her suffer alone. She doesn't deserve that."

"What happens when you're looking for her and someone ends up getting hurt or worse?"

"What happens if I stay and hurt one of you or worse?"

Optimus went quiet for a while after that. While he was thinking I took the time to examine this bond. Now that I knew these weren't my feelings I tried to see if I could follow them to the source and figure out more about my twin. But every time I did search the bond all I would get is pain, fear and anger. It hurt so much that I couldn't last more than two minutes in the bond.

"You don't have to decide right now. Take some time to figure out what you want to do. My men and I can still help you even if you still decide to leave."

I stared up at him going over his words before deciding that it might be a good idea to give it some thought and not make any rash decisions. I turned to the doorway as Blurr and Scavenger walked in. They exhausted and irritated. Scavenger walked up to the back of the couch.

"We couldn't find her Optimus. Where ever she is this time it's a very good hiding spot. Blurr wasn't even able to get a lock on her."

I watched with a smile on my face as Optimus lifted up one hand and started pointing down to my location on the couch while still looking at them with a straight face. I kept my laughter in because I could feel Optimus's amusement and mischief thrumming through his spark. It was all quiet before I heard two sets of footsteps coming toward us before both Blurr and Scavenger stood overlooking the couch at me. I smiled up at them and waved.

Blurr was just staring but Scavenger was giving one of evil glares before he slowly turned to Optimus with that same look.

"How long has she been here?" His voice may have been clam but I could feel his frustration, exasperation and a little bit of…amusement? Optimus still had a straight face and his voice betrayed nothing as he answered.

"She's been talking with me for about an hour but I have no idea how long she's been inside the base. Why don't you try asking her?"

They turned to look at me before I answered as innocently as possible.

"I came inside five minutes after the two of you left."

I swear Scavenger's left optic was twitching.

"So you let us search for outside in the rain?"

"Yep."

Now it's twitching every five seconds.

"For three hours?'

"Yep."

Now it's three seconds.

"You didn't tell us you were here?"

"Yep."

Now it won't stop twitching.

He slowly looked back at Optimus with a look that I cannot describe. His optic was twitching nonstop and he was grinding his denta together.

"I blame you for this Prime."

He then turned and walked stiffly out of the lounge. I snickered to myself when I saw the mud trail he was leaving behind and all the branches stuff in between his armor. Blurr didn't look any better but at least he didn't comment on anything. He turned to Optimus with a tired gaze.

"Is she gonna be staying here then?"

"For a while at least. She's gonna do some heavy thinking on what she plans to do. Either she stays here and learns to block the bond or go out and try to find her twin and save her. We'll see in a couple of days."

You know that feeling you get when you right there and others are having a conversation about you and you get pissed when they forget you're right there. This is what I'm feeling now. Don't mind me, a raging energy source that can walk and hurt you.

"Are you sure we'll be safe if she has another episode?"

"I'm sure with you and Scavenger we'll be able to handle it."

Why do I get the feeling that this day just went to hell?

(A couple hours later- Ashley's room)

I jolted awake with my heart pounding and my clothes drenched with sweat. I had a feeling I would have another nightmare, I'm just glad I didn't scream this time. I didn't need to wake the entire base again like last time. After changing my clothes I noticed a funny smell. It's not something I smell often but I have smelt it before.

I walk out of my room to find the power is out. Storm must've killed the lights. I decide to see if they need any help but when I search for their sparks I only signal back. Did I sleep through a Minicon alert? I must've been really out of it then. I head to the command center but as I head there I can't feel a slick liquid on the floor. I can't it so I have no idea what it is so I just continue walking.

The further I head the more uneasy I feel. Something doesn't feel right so I start running. I burst into the command center to find it just as dark as the rest of the base. I can hear a strange gurgling sound. I also notice that the smell is also originating from this room. I head to the main computer and send a burst of raw electricity into it. It immediately powers up and the lights flicker back on. I smile and turn around only to see something I knew would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Hot Shot and Smokescreen were huddled together in a corner surrounded by a bright pink fluid. Hot Shot was missing both of his arms and it looked like his head had been bashed in. Smokescreen's chest was ripped to shreds like something had been clawing at his spark. Scavenger was literally in two pieces. His legs and waist were several feet away from his upper torso. Red Alert had been beheaded and the laser on his left hand was jammed into his chest where his spark was. Blurr was in many pieces and they were all over the room.

When I heard the gurgling sound again I slowly turned to face it to see Optimus Prime. His body was still twitching and he was struggling to get air into his systems. His head was facing me and he was crying.

"I'm sorry Ashley. Know that I do not blame you. For any of this."

After that his optics went dark just like the rest of them. I started shaking as I looked down at myself. It wasn't sweat that I had been soaked in when I woke up. It had been energon. I looked back up into all of their dark optics. Then I started screaming.