I... am... BACK!! XD Did ya miss me? I bet you did!! XD Sorry it took so long, major block. But I hope to update sooner or at least try to.

kirin-saga: maybe he can... maybe he can't... you'll find out. The Cassettes thing will be explained soon... I hope... I will include that though. XD Yep, we save Mirage... but we lose Perceptor.

Dragowulf: (waves fan) are you ok? XD didn't mean to scare you like that. But yes, Soundwave is Perceptor's father... scary huh? Perceptor will be rescued... duh. XD But it's good to know you're worried for him.

Cman710: Sorry for the confusion! I didn't mean to. But I"m glad it's cleared up.

blood-shifter: Um... a bit... It'll be explained soon.

flamingmarsh: I curse the misspells XD I'm glad you like this, hope my spelling is better. XD

Prime Revolver: I'm glad you like it! XD Sorry for it being so late. Please forgive me!! XD

Chapter Five

Perceptor remained in the darkened corner, listening to the footsteps die away. Curious as to who Perceptor was, Ravage stepped forward; the panther ran his nose across every inch. Perceptor, being rather sensitive, began to laugh and attempted to push Ravage away, but the panther pressed on.

"Ok s-stop... p-please hahaha, stop!" Perceptor was surprised to find that, not only did Ravage stop, he was strait as if waiting for orders. "Um... alright..."

Perceptor leaned against the wall, his CPU pounding like crazy. His father was a Decepticon...but against his will. So did that make him good or bad? Or, did he consider himself a neutral like Perceptor. And what did Megatron want with him or Perceptor?

Moaning in confusion, Perceptor laid down and closed his eyes. Maybe when he woke up, he'd be home with Wheeljack and Ratchet...

"Perceptor: Wake up now."

The youngling warily flashed his optics on to fine Soundwave standing over him. "...F-father?"

"Perceptor: Up now." Perceptor yelped as he was forcefully pulled up by his arm.

"W-What's wrong?"

"Reason: Relocating you."

"Relocating... To where?"

Soundwave didn't respond; grabbing Perceptor's arm again, he steered the youngling towards the exit. Perceptor turned his optics down, adjusting to the bright light in the hall. Turning them back on, he jumped back seeing Megatron.

"Very skittish for a youngling," his smirk grew, "Follow me." He turned and walked; Perceptor was shoved forward and he shakily followed the Decepticon leader.

"...W-Where am I g-going?" Perceptor was shocked to hear the leader laugh, but it was more mocking then anything else.

"Be patient youngling, you'll find out soon enough."

Perceptor turned back to talk to Soundwave, but was surprised t find him gone. His spark raced; he could run... he could run and find the exit and leave. Before he could carry it out, his upper arm was twisted making him yelp.

"I wouldn't even think about it youngling. I can still hurt you."

"B-But... my father-"

"Can't do anything. Now, you will follow me or else."

Perceptor nodded, optics welling up from the pain and fear. Not letting go, Megatron half dragged, half lead Perceptor down. They stopped and Perceptor was pushed into a new room; the youngling gasped. It was huge! A circular berth was placed in the middle, a desk and two energon holders were placed against the walls.

"This is where you'll be staying." With that, Megatron left, locking the door.

Perceptor, deciding to at least do something, pulled out a cube and flopped onto the berth. He continued to look around, noticing very interesting objects placed around the room. Multiple holo-pictures lining each desk was not of any mechs, but multiple colors swirled together creating odd shapes. Every other surface was covered with data pads, ten high, either containing a story or battle plan. Perceptor stopped, something catching his optics.

Placing the cube on the berth, he stood and walked towards a dusty covered desk. Pushing aside data pads, Perceptor picked up a very old holopicture, his air intakes hitching. He wasn't even one year old in this picture, apparently reaching for the camera. His mom was holding him back, smiling widely. Perceptor's spark skipped seeing it was actually a video; he started it.

"Hey honey, I hope you're doing well. I wish you would have told me why you had to leave." Perceptor patted the lends, very curious at what the camera was. "Well, little Perceptor misses you. I wish you could see what he can do. He's already talking! Aren't you?"

Perceptor giggled and yelled, "Dada!" clapping his hands. His mom laughed.

"It's not polite to snoop." Perceptor jumped and turned to fine Soundwave there, visor and mask off.

"I-I'm sorry, but..."

"It's fine, being curious is not a bad thing but you have to be careful."

"...Why are you here?"

"Well, this is my room and I'm not needed right now."

Perceptor did another quick sweep of the room, "This is your room?"

"Yes." Soundwave sat at the edge of the berth waiting for Perceptor to do the same. Holding the picture close, Perceptor slowly sank next to Soundwave.

"Where did you go?"

"Excuse me?"

"You said you left after I was sparked, where did you go?"

Soundwave sighed heavily. "Anywhere I could." Perceptor was about reply when arms suddenly wrapped around him. He felt comforted being cradled like this. "I was so happy when that finally found me. After seeing you, I wanted to go back so badly... Then I remember I was trying to keep you safe."

"That didn't work out so well."

Soundwave laughed bitterly. "True... But now I'm with you-"

"Soundwave, you're needed in the Control Room!"

"-For however short a time it is," he stood, "You should recharge, I don't know when I'll be back." He clicked on his mask and visor.

"Why do you wear those?" Perceptor asked. Soundwave paused then faced the red youngling.

"I don't want the world to see me for what I am."

He left.

...

Ratchet's hand was frozen above the data pad, staring at his desk. He couldn't work, how could he?! His son... adopted son had been taken away again. Ratchet slammed the pen down and entered the med bay. It was empty; Wheeljack had left, determined to find Perceptor, and Hound had pulled Mirage out to get him moving again. Ratchet absentmindedly picked up a bottle of disinfectant and began to clean... again.

He jumped when the doors opened. "Unless you're dying, the med bay is closed!" Red battle worn hands stopped his.

"Come on Ratch, we both know you'd never close this place, even for a click."

"...Ironhide?"

The red mech chuckled. "For the last time Ratch, call me Hide."

Ratchet turned, his surprise gone and his scowl back. "What are you doing in here Hide? You don't seem damaged to me."

"No, I'm not, I'm more worried 'bout you. Ya've been in here forever and the med bay looks like new ya cleaned it so many times!"

"Maybe I like having a clean med bay!"

"Maybe you're distractin' yourself!"

"Maybe I am, so what!?"

"Ya need to relax!"

"How can I relax when my son is missing!?"

"Ya have ta! Ya won't help Perceptor being like this!"

"Then what do you suggest I-" Ratchet was cut off; something warm and soft was pressed against his lips. Ironhide released, smirking, seeing that Ratchet had a light tinge on his face.

"Dear Primus above, is Ratchet blushin'?"

It worsened, Ratchet turning a deep red. "Never! I've never-" He became limp, moaning softly into the kiss.

"Whoa! Hang on Ratch," Ironhide laughed, "You're losing it."

"I b-blame you."

"Good, I want credit for this." He layed Ratchet down, quickly claming another kiss.

"H-Hide?"

"Ya need to rest Ratch."

The medic 'humphed'. "I'll rest when I want to."

"Right, sure ya will," laughed Ironhide, "Well, I'm tellin' ya now that ya need ta recharge."

"You don't get to command me to-" Ratchet's optics flickered off, Ironhide gently rubbing main wires, forcing the medic into recharge.

"Recharge well Ratch."

...

"But I want to help Prime! I want Perceptor back!"

"Wheeljack, please calm down! I know you want to help, but you're healing and I can't strain you. I'll let you know if we find any leads." Wheeljack's spark sank as the door closed.

"But... but... Find, forget it." Wheeljack turned and headed towards the rec room, cursing at himself. "What the slag were you thinking, you couldn't take on all of them! Now Percy's gone and your arm's in a sling!" He kicked the wall in frustration, leaving a good dent but damaging his foot as well.

"Ow, slagg it!" Wheeljack slide down, rubbing his foot with the only working hand.

"What's goin' on out- oh, Wheeljack. What are you doing out here?"

He looks up to find a very concerned looking Hound. "Oh, hi Hound. Just beating wall up for fun, you know me."

"...Worried about Perceptor huh?" Wheeljack froze, "Get in here, you need to talk." Wheejack stood and followed Hound inside; Mirage was on the berth in deep recharge.

"I thought you took him out?"

Hound bit his bottom lip. "Well, that was the idea... But on thing lead to another and... well..."

"He hit overload?" smirked Wheeljack.

"We both did, but he recharges after it... and he needs it." Hound offered Wheeljack a seat and sat at the end of the berth.

"How is he?"

"Better... still have to keep an optic on him. Sometimes wakes up thinking he's still in that holding cell..." Hound's optics faded in thought, looking at Mirage, "But enough about us, what about you?"

"I'm good, just dented in horrible ways. But Ratchet says I'll heal fine."

"That's good to hear... but not what I meant."

Wheeljack sighed. "I just... feel like I could have done something."

"You were facing Decepticons, I'm happy they didn't do worse to you."

"But I could- no, should have done something! For Primus sake, if I'd stayed hidden-"

"And what? Could attempt to shoot them but misand give awa your position?"

"Well, maybe not that, but something!"

"Wheeljack, listen to me. They are Decepticons. We can barely handle them in a group. You're a youngling, you couldn't do much."

Wheeljack attempted to make a come back, but settled for slumping back. "...But what if we never get him back?"

"Don't say that. If anything, Ratchet'll blow a fuse and tear down the place to get Perceptor back."

"So will I."

"See, Perceptor's got nothing to worry about."

"But what if something happens!? ...What if we don't make it in enough time?"

Hound sighed. "Jack... you can't think like that. Perceptor can take care of himself."

"I know... I'm just worried..."

"And you have every right to be. Look, go get some recharge, find Prime, and tell him this. He'll understand."

Wheeljack nodded and left. As he was falling into recharge, Wheeljack could have sworn he could see Perceptor recharging as well, a faint smile on his face.