Chapter Eight

Life went on. The funeral had given the Autobots a chance to mourn their leader, and it hurt to go on without him, but there was still so much to be done. They pressed on grimly, throwing their efforts into construction and security projects, as if wanting to forget the painful loss that they had suffered.

Rodimus had found the past few weeks difficult. The memorial service no longer loomed in his thoughts, but the antics of the Circle still kept him preoccupied. There had been no further strikes since Prime's death. Either that event had somehow disrupted the group, or they were lying low. He strongly suspected the latter.

The one bright spot was Nova. He had no idea how, but she had managed to wangle a day on Cybertron with him. Magnus had come up to meet with Cyclonus, and Kup wanted to give his security upgrades yet another review, so she had hitched a ride. Rodimus cleared his schedule for her, but things were still a bit strained. He still felt the fathomless ache of Optimus' loss, and his workload had doubled due to the absence. Nova was concerned for Andromeda. They tried to talk about happier things, but their thoughts dwelled on the same depressing subjects. Before he knew it, their day together had ended. He snuck a kiss before she boarded the shuttle. His optics followed it until it disappeared amongst the stars.

He was heading back to his office to catch up on some neglected paperwork when shouts rang out. "Traitorous bastards! We never should have trusted them!"

Rodimus poked his head into the room. "What's going on?"

Cliffjumper shook his fist. "Damned 'Cons! They stole some classified data!"

Oh no. Not another disaster.

"Not the 'Cons," Blaster said quietly. "The Circle. See?" He pushed aside a metal cabinet, revealing a small burnt circle on the wall.

"'Cons, Circle, it's the same thing!" Cliffjumper was apoplectic. "Check the energy signature of weapon that made that mark. It was made by a 'Con!"

Rodimus rubbed his temples, feeling the throbbing begin. "Get Perceptor down here to analyze it. Blaster, summon a security force to guard the room. Make a list of all compromised and missing data. I want it on my desk, on the double!"

"Wait! Where are you going?" Cliffjumper sputtered.

The look on Rodimus' face was terrifying. "Where I should have gone in the first place. To talk to Megatron."

He transformed as soon as he was clear of the base, his tires squealing as he rocketed down the little-used throughway. Ahh, it had been too long since he had raced like this! Why hadn't he done this much sooner? The towns were bustling and the major highways were congested, but the back roads were deserted. Out here he had nothing but the purr of his engine for company. A half-mad cackle erupted from his vocalizer.

For months they had been held hostage to fear and uncertainty. The Circle had struck deep and true. Now they would be cowed no longer. Rodimus was going to put a stop to all this nonsense. He had felt hollow ever since Prime's death, but now a simmering anger had taken hold. He coaxed it until it was an all-out boil. Rage sizzled through his circuitry and fuel lines until it felt like the very flames painted on his chassis had come to life. There was no stopping him now.

He roared up the main road to Darkmount, gravel spewing from his churning tires. Decepticon guards came racing over to the perimeter. Rodimus waited until he was practically on top of them until he transformed. His rifle appeared by his side, not aimed in threat but ready to use at a moment's notice. He glared defiantly at the numerous weapons pointed at him. "Take me to Megatron."

The guards cast doubtful glances. One of them stepped away and opened a communications channel. He nodded in confirmation, and no less than three of them fell in like to escort the Autobot inside. He smirked as they hustled him past no-doubt sensitive areas to Megatron's office. My, wasn't he getting the special treatment?

The door swished open to reveal the Decepticon leader standing behind his desk. His fusion cannon lay on the desktop. Clearly he had gotten the message that this was not to be a friendly meeting. But he was still ready to talk. If he hadn't been, the cannon would have been leveled at Roddy's head. The guards hesitated at the doorway, but Megatron waved them away.

Rodimus glared. Megatron folded his arms and waited. "Explain this!"

Megatron caught the data pad that was flung at him. He thumbed through its contents idly. "Is there some point to this?"

"Sensitive data stolen! A Decepticon weapon used at the scene! By Primus, isn't it obvious! The Decepticons are behind these attacks, and I want to know why!"

Megatron's lips twitched into a cold smile. "Is that what you think?"

Roddy planted his hands on his hips. "Yeah, it's what I think. The data speaks for itself. Cyclonus came to meet with Magnus, and while he was here some top-secret data goes missing. Coincidence?"

Megatron fixed him with an eerie stare. "Cyclonus. Report to me immediately."

The door opened just seconds later. Cyclonus had probably been waiting nearby, no doubt to intervene if things got ugly. The second-in-command entered, looking at his leader warily. Megatron gestured toward Rodimus. "Give the Autobot your weapon." Cyclonus looked flummoxed but did as he was ordered. Rodimus took it gingerly, as if it was rigged to explode.

"Does it look as if it has been recently fired?"

"No." The charge was full. "But it could have been recharged after he returned here. It means nothing."

"Does the energy signature match the one you found at the scene?"

"…no." Cyclonus had a Targetmaster weapon, which had a significantly different energy signature. "But he could have had another weapon on him. Or someone else could have snuck in with him and done the job. A Decepticon weapon was used during the theft, and that's all there is to it."

Megatron waved his hand once more. Cyclonus took his weapon and left, casting a questioning glance over his shoulder. He would no doubt be waiting outside in case he was needed.

Once his second-in-command was gone, Megatron leaned over the desk, allowing the Autobot to see the carefully restrained anger in his optics. "You are forgetting something, Autobot. The energy signature matches a Decepticon weapon; more precisely, a basic model used by grunt troops. We willingly supplied you with nearly fifty of these weapons. Perhaps you should search your own munitions stocks before accusing us."

Rodimus' fists clenched. Dammit, he had forgotten all about that! Still, there had to be more to it. "I'm not buying it, Megatron. There's more than just an energy signature linking your troops to these attacks. For nearly every one, Decepticons were reported in the area or Decepticon equipment was found at the scene. I allowed my faith in the Alliance to blind me. Kup was right. We never should have trusted you."

Megatron snarled, his fists leaving dents in the desktop. He looked like he would like nothing better than to wrap his fists around Prime's throat and squeeze. "How typical. The Autobot sees what is before his optics and looks no further. Isn't it a little convenient that Decepticons were in the area every time? And how perfect is it that Decepticon weapon signatures and other paraphernalia were found at the scenes? You know yourself that we have been sharing technologies and manpower. Can't you see that someone is setting us up? Someone wants you to think that the Decepticons are behind it! Someone is trying to tear apart what we have worked so hard to build!"

Rodimus was practically screaming now. "You used us to gain a foothold on Cybertron! You took our Energon and our resources and now you're trying to start a war again! Well, I won't have it, Megatron! I won't allow you to destroy the Autobots! This is exactly the sort of thing that your people would pull!"

"It should be obvious that we're not behind this!" Megatron's optics were glowing a fiery red. "You know we're bred to fight, to face challenges and conquer them. We are a warlike race and make no apologies for it. But we are not prepared to stand on our own. The years in exile on Charr and the battle against Unicron have weakened us. It is in our best interests to ally ourselves with you so that we can survive as a race. If we were more independent, perhaps these attacks would make sense coming from us. But these clandestine attacks are not our style. They are cowardly and without honor."

"That's slag and you know it! The Decepticons will do anything to get an advantage, even resorting to subterfuge. And what of Optimus' death? Who but the Decepticons would want to kill him? My best friend is dead and the only one to blame is you!" Rodimus saw red. Optimus should have died in battle, or peacefully in his recharge chamber of old age, not in a cowardly shuttle bombing! But at least he could achieve vengeance on those responsible. He lifted his weapon and pointed it at the Decepticon leader.

Megatron followed suit, leveling his fusion cannon at the irate Autobot leader. But he did not pull the trigger. "You are an even bigger fool than I suspected, Rodimus Prime. I have fought Optimus on many occasions, and the only honorable way to defeat a foe of such magnitude is in hand-to-hand combat. Surely you remember that little skirmish." His lips twisted in a parody of a smile as Rodimus looked sickened at the memory. "Yes, I thought so. For most of my life, Optimus was my archenemy and should only be vanquished by my hand. All of my warriors know this. They could do whatever they liked to whomever they liked, so long as they left the killing blow to me. Do you think a bomb would have satisfied me? It would have gotten rid of my foe, but it would have left me without glory."

"Hah! The Decepticon code. Don't make me laugh. Maybe you didn't pull the trigger, but if Optimus died on your orders than he may as well have been killed by your hand." The weapon in Roddy's hand was trembling.

"Then think about this, Autobot!" Megatron roared. "It was supposed to be me on that shuttle. Me! If you could wrap that feeble processor of yours around that idea, then you'd realize that this whole Circle business is an inside job! Someone on your side wanted me dead and had the means to do it. This entire Circle operation is a frame-up. The Circle wants to destabilize the Alliance and have the Decepticons take the fall for it. Well, I'm nobody's scapegoat. You want to fight me, Autobot? Well, that's fine with me. Peace never sat very well with me anyway. But you'd better fight for the right reasons. Think long and hard before you pull that trigger."

Rodimus' weapon drooped in his suddenly numb hand. The truth hit him like a sledgehammer. Gods. Why hadn't he seen it before? Optimus was never supposed to have been on that shuttle. It should have been Megatron all along! Someone was trying to kill Megatron and Optimus was an unintended victim. And who else would want Megatron dead but an Autobot? "Who knew of the switch?" he asked in a choked voice. "How many people knew that Optimus was going in your place?"

Megatron narrowed his optics at him and ever-so-slowly lowered his fusion cannon. "Only Soundwave. He was the one that was overseeing my repairs. Besides him, the only other person I told was you."

"And I only spoke to Optimus. So the only ones who knew about the change were you, me, Optimus, and Soundwave." Rodimus felt his throat constrict. "Are you certain there's no chance of Decepticon involvement?"

The Decepticon leader looked pensive. "It could be possible. Decepticons are ambitious by nature, and there have been many who wish to take my place. Starscream was my biggest competitor, but he's been long gone. There could be another would-be usurper, but I cannot think of any who would stoop to a shuttle bomb. The most honorable way to challenge leadership would be a direct confrontation. A bomb would be seen as cowardly. Besides, a Decepticon would have been proud to take credit for the death of the Autobots' greatest leader. The fact that no one has stepped forward is very telling."

Prime nodded. "I see. Well, you've certainly given me a lot to think about." He took a step backwards. "Perhaps I should go now."

"Wait." Rodimus tensed as Megatron approached. The fusion cannon was still in his hand. He reached out, and it took the Autobot a moment to realize that it was the open, empty hand outstretched. He grasped it firmly. An offering of peace, then. He stepped outside the office and barely noticed when Cyclonus appeared to escort him outside. It was an utter relief to transform to vehicle mode and burn rubber back to Iacon. He could not believe how close he had come to shattering the Alliance.

It was lucky that he had chosen the back way, since he could have easily run someone off the road and not even notice. Megatron had turned everything he had thought on its ear. Why hadn't he conferred with Megatron before? He knew that Optimus had traded a few words with the 'Con leader on the situation but Rodimus had never cared to follow up on it. At the time, it seemed best to give the Decepticons as little information on the situation as possible.

He wandered back into Autobase, lost in thought, and nearly collided with Perceptor. The scientist began chatting enthusiastically. "Here's the report you asked for, sir! A standard laser Decepticon weapon was used to make the mark on the wall. I believe we have quite a few in the armory if you would like to compare." Damn. If he had consulted with Perceptor earlier, he could have saved himself a lot of embarrassment. Perceptor showed no signs of slowing, so he said, "Thank you, Perceptor. I'm sure everything I need is here. I'll let you know if I have any more questions." He left the scientist scratching his head, muttering, "Erm, of course, Prime, ahem."

Now that Megatron had turned his investigation in a new direction, it was time to get back to work. He looked at the mounting evidence of the Circle, reviewing the same old pattern with a different slant. Each time there was an attack, it had either been on Autobot or shared Autobot/Decepticon territory. Not once had the Decepticons alone been targeted. And each time, a Decepticon had either been in the vicinity or Decepticon materials had been used. Everything seemed to point directly at the Decepticons. And yet there were holes to this theory. How was it that they were never actually caught in the act? Most of the attacks were in high-security areas. It would be extremely difficult to enter and exit such areas without being seen. Certain 'Cons such as Soundwave could manage it, no doubt, but even he couldn't thwart all their security measures. That meant it had to be an inside job. Someone clever, someone who was familiar with the Iacon and Metroplex bases.

The more inquires he made, the more it made sense. Rodimus had a quick word with Magnus and confirmed that the Major General had been with Cyclonus the whole time. The Decepticon wouldn't have had a chance to commit the break-in, and there was little chance that one of his cohorts had slipped in. It would either have to be an Autobot, or someone closely allied, such as the humans.

Rodimus headed to the armory, a knot in his gut. There was only one way to be sure. He would need to find proof. Inside was nearly every conceivable weapon, from lasers and blasters to mortars and projectile weapons. They were still used to protect the planet and maintain an army, but it was Prime's fervent hope that they would never again be needed for war. That hope may now be in vain.

Five rows back, to the right, sat row after row of generic laser rifles. Generic Decepticon weaponry, on loan to supplement the weapons that were destroyed in the battle with Unicron. Rodimus tapped a button on the wall, and the row slid out. He examined each rifle in turn until he found what he was looking for. The rifle on the far right in the very last row had a partially discharged power cell. It could mean anything, he tried to tell himself. It could be a faulty cell. Someone could have used it for training and not recharged it. At the same time he knew he was deluding himself. If the cell was faulty, it would be completely dead, and if someone had used it last, they would have recharged it. Such negligence was punished with demerits and a training session with Ultra Magnus. Few were foolish enough to forget to recharge their weapon a second time. There could only be one explanation. Since each rifle was inspected upon return, this one had to have been removed without authorization and returned quickly to avoid detection. There may not have been time to recharge it. Rodimus decided to take the rifle into his custody as evidence.

He lay awake hours later in his recharge berth, unable to rest. The new revelation of the Circle kept racing through his mind. Who could be behind it? There had to be more than one person to wreak the amount of havoc that had occurred. Who was their leader? Who could be involved?

If it was an Autobot, it could be virtually anybody. Magnus? He certainly had no love for the Decepticons, but he was a strong supporter of the Alliance and seemed to get along fairly well with Cyclonus. He couldn't see Magnus as a Circle member. Springer? He also had a reason to hate the 'Cons, but the triple-changer seemed to enjoy peacetime. Andromeda? She knew that the Alliance was Optimus' baby and surely she would support it, but who really knew anything for sure? Nova.

Oh god. Nova.

Nova had wanted to visit out of the blue, which had seemed unusual in and of itself. The theft had occurred around the same time. Had Nova been behind it? She had minimal security clearance, but she was clever and with the proper training and tools could probably have pulled off such a stunt. Nova's hatred for the Decepticons was infamous, and she had even once tried to assassinate Megatron in a fit of rage. She also had a thorny relationship with Ultra Magnus. Could this possibly be her way of getting back at them both? But she loved Rodimus, or said she did. Maybe her relationship was also a way to further infiltrate the Autobots for the Circle. No, that couldn't be it. They had been together long before the Alliance and the Circle had formed. But that wouldn't have stopped her from joining the Circle when it was created.

A realization came to him that chased away all possibility of recharge. He couldn't trust anyone at all. He was completely on his own.

Several more weeks passed. Rodimus did his best to maintain a friendly façade while avoiding everyone as much as possible. He attended meetings as infrequently as he could manage, and when his attendance was mandatory, he shared as little information as possible. Dammit, the Decepticon civil war had been easy compared to this! At least then he could be certain who was on his side. People began to give him strange looks (well, more so than usual) but they attributed his standoffish attitude to stress and mourning. The only one he could deal with was Andromeda. Every now and then she would drop by with damp optics, and Rodimus would give her a shoulder to lean on. She would vent about how she hated being stared at, the poor "widow" of their greatest leader. She could barely function as it was without the gawkers making it worse. She sometimes spoke over guilt over his death, and a small, treacherous part of Roddy's mind wondered if it was because she could be part of the Circle, not just because of the fight she had had with Optimus. If he was suspecting her, maybe he truly was losing his mind. It felt good to commiserate with her over their mutual loss, but he was also glad to see her go. Nowadays, he could only relax when he was truly alone.

Inevitably, Ultra Magnus got fed up with his delay tactics and practically ordered him to report to Metroplex for several days of briefings. He had kept his arrival a secret, but when he heard Nova's happy squeal, for a moment nothing else mattered. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up, watching her laugh joyously. Then the dreadful suspicion and doubt came crashing down on him, and he set her down and stepped back slightly. Her smile faded to one of slight hurt and confusion. "Roddy? I - I didn't expect to see you here."

"I, um, have some business in Metroplex. I thought I'd keep it a surprise." His smile felt forced and he cursed it. "How have things been down here?"

Nova shrugged, scuffing her toe on the floor. "Same old, same old. Everyone still misses Optimus, of course, but we're managing to keep things afloat. 'Plex's repairs are coming along really well. Kup's been foaming at the mouth to get security upgrades in place as we go along." Rodimus gave a genuine chuckle, and she looked relieved. "You'll probably get a better update from our illustrious City Commander. Speak of the devil."

Rodimus turned and saw Magnus gesturing impatiently. "Duty calls. I'll see you later, okay?" He nearly winced at her eager expression.

His visit to Earth was just as torturous as he expected. Magnus kept trying to pump him for information, and Roddy tried to be as elusive as possible without being obvious about it. Finally the Major General gave up and flung his arms in the air. The young Prime busied himself with inspecting the repairs and surreptitiously checking for Circle activity. He was able to find more evidence that Autobots were behind the attacks. For instance, how could the security logs have been erased unless by someone intimately familiar with Metroplex's workings and security protocols? The realization was chilling. He could only hope that Kup's upgrades would put a stop to some of the break-ins.

The first night was the worst. He lay awake, staring at the darkened ceiling, trying hard not to think of the huddled figure next to him. Nova knew that something was wrong. He tried, but he just couldn't bring himself to be intimate with her. Not with the knowledge that she may very well be a spy, thief and saboteur. She said she understood, thinking that his sorrow for Optimus and the pressures of his rank were affecting his mood, but she was hurt all the same. He had always confided in her before. Even if the specific details of his problems had been restricted, he could discuss his feelings and she could provide solace. Now there was some sort of barrier between them.

He was relieved beyond words when she invited Andromeda to stay with her. Two birds killed with one stone, as the humans say. Andromeda would have someone to take care of her, and she could regain her wits in a different setting. Plus Nova would be preoccupied with her friend and no longer be able to spend the nights at his place. He couldn't take another sleepless night.

Finally his time was nearly up, and he was set to return to Cybertron. It was a shame, really. He loved Earth and his friends were stationed here. He and Optimus had had rotating shifts, but they tried to work it so Op remained on Cybertron and Roddy on Earth. He had happy memories here, but now with all the doubts and suspicions that plagued him, he couldn't get away fast enough.

He was standing in the communications room, frowning at one of his datapads, when Smokescreen approached him. "Here, sir, the report you requested."

Rodimus looked at him as if he'd sprouted an extra head. "What rep-?" He glanced down at the proffered data pad. It said: We are being watched.

"Ah, yes, I remember now." The Autobot leader nodded, gesturing Smokescreen to come closer. "Forgive me; I've had a lot on my mind. Yes, this information is very important." Smokescreen was right. He could feel optics boring into him, and it wasn't just the usual idle curiosity. He typed on the pad: So I see. What's going on here?

Smokescreen nodded. "I figured you'd want it right away." He reached over and typed some more. "This in particular may be of interest." I am a member of the Circle.

Well. Rodimus certainly hadn't been expecting that. He felt several conflicting emotions at once. Rage that one of his Autobots could be behind this. Fear that he was standing so close to a member of a terrorist group. Fortunately the sensation was fleeting, and he was then able to recognize the gesture for what it was. An offer of help and information. He forced the words out of a constricted throat. "You're quite right. This information is essential to some of our new projects. Listen, Smokescreen, I really need to discuss this report with you, but I'm due in a meeting right now. I'll be in my quarters later trying to get some recharge in before I return to Cybertron. Perhaps we can meet before that."

"Would twenty-hundred hours be good?"

"Twenty-hundred hours would be fine. I'll see you in my quarters then." Smokescreen nodded and walked away. Rodimus clutched the pad until the plastic began to creak under the strain. Here was irrefutable proof that Autobots were behind the attack He just knew that he would be useless for the rest of the day until he got his chance to speak to Smokescreen and find out what he knew.

By the time 2000 hours came, Roddy was a wreck. He was pacing back and forth and wringing his hands. It was better than destroying something, but not by much. This was going to be bad, he just knew it. He knew he was going to find out some awful truths, but it would still be better than living in ignorance. He had managed to snatch a few precious moments of recharge, but his dreams had been filled with the odd sensation of floating through space and the image of a violet female being that meant absolutely nothing to him.

The buzzer sounded, and he squawked and jumped in the air. How Springer would have laughed if he could have seen him then! But of course there was no way he was going near Springer until he could figure out what his allegiances were. He sighed. Hopefully this little tête-à-tête with Smokescreen would shed some light on that subject. He was suddenly glad that he had decided to meet in his quarters, rather than his office. His office was supposed to be one of the most secure locations in Metroplex, but lately the thought wasn't very reassuring. His quarters were less likely to be compromised.

He opened the door and smiled in what he hoped was a casual manner. "Hello, Smokescreen. I hope you can shed some light on the information you provided."

"Oh, I certainly can," Smokescreen replied, stepping inside.

Once the door had shut, Rodimus pulled out a small device and placed it on the table as they each had a seat. It began to flash a small red light, indicating that it was jamming any listening devices. He stared at his visitor somberly, all traces of friendliness gone. "Tell me everything you know about the Circle."

Smokescreen's shoulders hunched. "I'm afraid I may not have as much information as you hoped."

"Why is the Circle trying to start the civil war all over again?"

"That's not our primary goal." Smokescreen shook his head. "We know that the Decepticons cannot be trusted, and it is essential to make sure that we are ready for when the betrayal comes. These attacks serve two purposes: to make the Decepticons look untrustworthy, and to force security upgrades in vulnerable areas. We don't want to provoke an all-out war again, but we also realize that such an outcome may be inevitable."

Rodimus rubbed his temples, feeling the hint of an imminent headache. "So all this is to essentially put us on our guard."

"Yes. The last time of real peace was the Golden Age. The Autobots allowed themselves to become complacent. When the Decepticons began their attacks, we were completely unprepared. This time we must maintain our vigilance."

"But why the subterfuge? Why not just openly request tighter security and changes in policy? Surely it's obvious that we made such changes when the Decepticons became our allies." This just didn't make much sense to him.

Smokescreen shrugged. "I guess our leader thinks that our message needed to have a major impact. He's right that words alone are not enough to get his changes through. He has some radical ideas of how things should be."

Which lead to a crucial point. "Exactly who is your leader?"

The other mech sighed. "I knew you were going to ask that, and I don't have a good answer. The fact is, I don't know. The Circle has been built on secrecy. We know as little about its missions and members as possible. We communicate with this." He held up a tiny spherical transmitter. "This is how our leader reaches us. Under no circumstances are we ever to meet face-to-face."

Damn. Smokescreen was right. This wasn't going to be as easy has he'd hoped. Still, he had already gained a lot of useful information. "What is your role in this whole thing?"

Smokescreen looked awkward. Rodimus felt no pity. "I joined the Circle because we've fought too hard to let the Decepticons take everything away from us. Make no mistake; they'd do it in a second if they could. Even sharing the same planet with them makes me edgy. We can stand alone; we don't need them.

"I haven't been involved in any of the bombings, in case you were wondering. My main function is to recruit others to our cause. I have a gift for talking to people and determining where their loyalties lie. There are a lot of us out there who don't like the direction things are going in. Of course you'd like to know who's involved in the Circle. Again, I don't have many names, due to the amount of secrecy. For certain, Cliffjumper, Topspin, Twin Twist, and Slag are members." Cliffjumper. Damn. It may be possible that he pulled off the data theft himself. "Bluestreak and Powerglide are possibilities but I can't say for sure."

Rodimus was perched at the end of his seat. The next question nearly made his fuel pump seize up. "And what about Nova?"

"Nova?" Smokescreen looked surprised, then realization dawned. "Oh, yes, I'd forgotten about your relationship..." Roddy's glare indicated he had strayed into forbidden territory. "No, she's not a member. She would be perfect recruit. I sounded her out about it, without her realizing of course. She seemed interested but didn't want to betray something that you had worked so hard for."

"What about Ultra Magnus?"

Smokescreen snorted. "You mean Mr. Straight-and-narrow? He'd never be part of a terrorist unit. This Alliance is one of his pet projects. Besides, do you really think he'd bomb his own base?" It did sound rather silly, come to think of it. Still, these days, one couldn't be too careful.

After nearly an hour of questioning, Rodimus was finally ready to bring it to a close. "One more question. Why did you come forward to me? You could have continued working for the Circle in secret."

The other mech nodded emphatically. "That's an important part of my story. You see, Optimus was never supposed to die. We had been gunning for Megatron instead. Without their leader, the Decepticons would be weaker than ever, and it would be easy to drive them to the corners of the universe. But Prime ended up a victim. It was then that I took a step back to really see what we were doing. We aren't accomplishing much good with our actions. If innocent people are being hurt, then it isn't worth the price. The Circle has to be stopped."

Rodimus smiled grimly. "I'd like nothing better."

An hour later, the shuttle took off as scheduled, on a heading for Cybertron. Rodimus watched from the shadows with a feeling of icy anger. There. Whoever may have been watching would believe he had left. It was time to put his plan into action.

He had taken a calculated risk in approaching Blaster. Smokescreen had kindly loaned him the special communicator provided to him by the Circle leader. Roddy had shown it to the communications officer, watching very closely for any sign of recognition. Blaster appeared to have never seen its kind before and was very eager to examine it. Rodimus had promised him a field day sometime in the near future, but right now he needed the unit intact. Blaster had determined that it used a communications band that wasn't normally monitored by either the Autobots or Decepticons. Fortunately, once they knew what to look for, it was very easy for them to devise a way to monitor and track transmissions on that wavelength.

From his hiding spot, Rodimus gave the signal. Smokescreen opened a channel with the tiny communicator that had been returned to him for just this purpose. The Autobot leader tapped into the frequency and listened intently to the conversation. "Number fifty-seven to Leader One. Come in, Leader One." Fifty-seven? Did that mean there were at least fifty-six other Circle members? And who was this Leader One?

"This is Leader One." Rodimus powered down his optics to better focus. The voice was clearly disguised with some kind of modulator. It was rather rough-sounding, and Roddy wondered if that was a quality in the speaker's normal voice. "You know you're not to initiate contact except in emergency. What's going on?"

"I think you'll find this is worth it." Smokescreen sounded excited. "I met with Rodimus Prime tonight. The sucker actually let me into his quarters. While I was there, I noticed a few data pads with classified information. I was able to copy a few of them, but even the copies are encrypted. I can't tell what's on them."

"Leave that to me." Rodimus pulled out the homing device. Just as Blaster had promised, he was able to pinpoint the source of the leader's transmission. As luck would have it, it wasn't far from his current position. Praying that Smokescreen could keep Leader One talking, he began to sneak towards the bright blip on the screen. He mentally summoned a diagram of Metroplex. The signal was likely coming from one of the storage hangars. Roddy reached the area in record time, and sure enough, one of the hangars had a security seal activated. Very unusual, since he knew for a fact that nothing dangerous or high-security was kept here. In no time he was able to break through the seal while deactivating the warning alarm. His time as Hot Rod had served him well. Of course he could have used his ID to simply turn off the field, but that would also alert the occupant.

For such a large being, he found that he could move nearly silently when the situation called for it. He stole inside and crept forward, taking shelter behind a gigantic container. His optics adjusted to the minimal light inside. In the corner knelt a shadowy figure. He was unable to identify it from its current hunched-over position, but it seemed familiar. The vocal modulator still disguised his voice. Rodimus was still no closer to knowing his identity.

Well, there was only one way to find out. He came up behind the figure, who was still deep in conversation. Brandishing his weapon from subspace, he pressed it into the leader's neck. "Game's up."

The figure turned with an expression of surprise. But it was nothing compared to the utter shock that Rodimus felt at seeing his face. At first his processor simply refused to accept it. But there could be no doubt. Kneeling at his feet was his mentor, the one that had trained him and Optimus both as warriors and as leaders. The hero of several successive wars. His oldest friend. Kup.