Important Information
"Blah" Speaking
::Blah:: comm. link
'Blah' bonded speech
'Blah' thinking
Astrosecond- 2.5 earth Seconds
Klik- 150 earth seconds/ 2.5 earth Minutes
Orn- 150 earth minutes/ 2.5 earth Hours
Joor- 60 earth hours/2.5 earth Days
Metacycle- 17.5 earth days/2.5 earth Weeks
Vorn- 10 earth weeks/2.5 earth months
Stellercycle-30 earth months/2.5 years
Breem-slang for a moment/minute.
Night Cycle: star down to star up
Day Cycle: Star up to star down
Authors Note: Once again, thank you so much to SunnySideofBlue who edited this chapter and all their advice for editing! I would encourage everyone to head over to their page and read all their stuff as well!
Disclaimer: I own only my OC's, nothing else.
Aleyah gripped onto Perceptor's shoulder plating, allowing herself to sway with his steps as he chatted with Bluestreak.
"I think that's really cool that you're teaching Aleyah how to shoot! We need more sharpshooters and skilled help! I mean, there are so many frontliners and ground troops, we need more long range help, you know, to help keep the frontliners safe."
Bluestreak smiled brightly at Aleyah. "I'm super glad that you're gonna be a part of our team. It's hard work, but we're the last line of defense for the helpless and the first ones to protect our team mates."
"It's science." Perceptor said with a smile as he led Bluestreak out to the mess hall. "Math, and once you understand math it's not…" Perceptor suddenly froze, his words coming slowly. "…as complicated as it looks."
He was stiff and still, his mouth falling open into an 'O' of surprise, blue optics blinking.
"You okay Perceptor?" Bluestreak asked, his own words slowing in concern.
"It's him," He said suddenly, a smile spreading slowly across his face.
That was all the warning Aleyah got before Perceptor did a sudden about face and sprinted from the mess hall. Aleyah always thought she was above yelps and screeches, but when she nearly fell from Perceptor's shoulder Aleyah shrieked, the noise high and shrill as she clung to red shoulder plates.
Bluestreak's startled cry called out after him, but Perceptor ignored him as he ran from the mess hall. He paused, only momentarily, to scoop Aleyah from his shoulder before he bolted for Optimus's control centre.
"Perceptor, what is it?" Aleyah tried to call over the sound of wind rushing passed her and she was forced to cling to Perceptor's thumb.
He didn't, or couldn't, respond but Aleyah didn't fear his rushing at the sight of pure delight on her friends face.
Preceptor ran all the way to the control room, fist raising to pound on the door with hard thumps. It opened to a very confused Blaster, who cocked his head to the side, his mouth open to ask what was wrong before Preceptor's excited voice cut through Blaster's question. "Is Prime here?"
Blaster blinked slowly, head shaking no. "Sorry 'Cepter. Last I saw Prime, he and Prowl were discussing something about an incoming ship, heading into Prowl's off-"
"Thank you!" Preceptor burst out, barley getting that out before he spun and bolted back down the hall.
Aleyah shrieked again and clung tighter to the Autotbot's thumb. "Perceptor! What are you doing?" she tried to call over the rushing wind, starting to feel nauseous from being held by a much larger creature as he ran.
Preceptor laughed and again didn't answer her question in his haste, excitement filling his spark and joy making him feel like his chest would burst. He just couldn't form the words as he hurried on to Prowl's office, hammering his fist onto the door when he arrived.
The door opened and Prowl's displeased face greeted them. His door wings held high with annoyance, and just over his shoulder Perceptor could see the big green tree that Danny had bought Prowl. Yet, even Prowl's icy, angry blue optics couldn't detract from his sheer joy.
Prowl opened his mouth to speak, but Perceptor was faster. "It's the Wreckers! It's Drift! He's on that ship!"
Aleyah looked up, eyes wide and her mouth open, any previous annoyance at her friend draining and replaced with a shocked joy. "Wait, your boyfriend?" she asked from his hand.
Blue optics finally looked down at her and the scientist looked a little puzzled that she was still with him, almost as though he had forgotten he had taken her with him. Yet that surprise was quickly replaced with a soft, bright grin. "Yes," He said breathlessly. "It's Drift."
Prowl paused, the dressing down that he'd been preparing chocked back and suspicion rose. Prime rose from his seat to join his second in command at the door.
"You are sure, Perceptor?" Prowl asked softly, not bothering to hide his suspicion.
Perceptor's head bobbed in a nod. "Yes. I just received a transmission from Drift. The more injured of the Wreckers are Earth bound. Drift, Kup, Hot Rod, Twin Twist and Road Buster. They are aiming for the Ark but their ship is damaged, they will overshoot and land closer to Decepticon territory."
Prime and Prowl both shared a look, and Perceptor knew they already knew about the incoming ship. His smile fell. "You know." He said slowly as the realization dawned on him.
"We were about to put the base on high alert," Prowl said slowly. "We were unsure if it was a friendly ship or not."
"It's friendly," Perceptor insisted, his excitement dying and his voice becoming firm. "I want to lead a team to retrieve them."
"Perceptor, this could be a trap," Optimus said carefully. "I know you care about Drift, but we must be cautious about this. We can't assume that it is Drift with a single transmission."
"It's him! I know it is."
"How?" Prowl demanded, wings arching higher again.
"He-" Perceptor faltered and his face heated with embarrassment, and he averted his optics.
"I'm going with him!" Aleyah declared suddenly from his hand, drawing the attention of the Autobot leaders, her tiny fists on her hips, her face pinching in annoyance. Determined.
"Neither of you are going," Prowl said calmly, and Aleyah wondered how Danny could like such a cold mech. Her face reddened with frustration, and a retort was on the tip of her tongue. "We still have no evidence that this is not a trap."
"He told me about the last time we interfaced," Perceptor said in a rush, his face going so warm he felt like it would melt. "In detail that only Drift would know."
Aleyah's face swiftly went from irritation to confusion to amusement. She barked a laugh, much to Perceptor's horror. "Perceptor, you play-ah."
"Yes, well, either way! I know it is Drift, and I know he needs assistance," Energon rushed to his cheeks so readily he was sure he was glowing a fine pink. "And I am going for him one way or another. I abandoned him once, I won't do so again."
"Perceptor, you didn't abandon him," Optimus tried to start, but he was quickly cut off.
"I did! I should have been with the Wreckers when they went for Kup and I wasn't. So I shall make sure that I am there when he comes home." Perceptor felt his servos shaking and knew Aleyah had to feel it as well. He was grateful she didn't mention it.
"I'm going with him!" Aleyah said again, this time firmer than before, and Prowl did not doubt that Aleyah was Danny's younger sister.
Optimus sighed and glanced between Perceptor and Aleyah. "All right Perceptor. We shall go get the Wreckers."
Perceptor's optics lit up and his smile crawled back across his mouth, despite Prowl's alarmed look.
"Ironhide and I will join you." Optimus said, raising a hand to quiet Prowl's argument before he could really start. "Prowl, you will put the base on high alert. We are only a comm away if we need assistance. If you do not hear from us by a designated time, bring an assault team out to find us, but we cannot leave Autobots abandoned in Decepticon territory."
Prowl looked miserable at the thought, and huffed an annoyed sigh. "Yes Prime." Already his battle computer was calculating the odds of this endeavor being a trap and how many ways it could go wrong. "I will start preparing the assault team." He was firm and polite, but Perceptor could tell Prowl was unhappy with the arrangement.
The tactician managed to slip from his office and hurried down the hall to find the few Autobots and NEST operatives that were not a part of the training mission.
Optimus turned blue optics back to Perceptor before Prowl had even disappeared down the hall. "Perceptor, take Aleyah and get her ready for this afternoon. Arm her appropriately in the event we need assistance during a fire fight."
Perceptor nodded, his giddy excitement returning. "Yes Prime, I have just the thing!"
The scientist turned from his Prime, Aleyah smirking form his hand. "Oh, and Perceptor?" he turned just before heading down the hall, pausing to give Optimus his full attention. "I am very happy that Drift has found his way back to you."
Perceptor smiled brightly, something that was not a common sight. "Thank you Prime. I am as well." And with that he hurried down the hall, anticipation and joy thumbing through his frame, and he feared his nerves would get the better of him.
Drift was finally coming home.
Mia had her unbroken leg pulled up tightly to her chest. She was torn between fear and anger, and she had to work to keep the annoyed look on her face in place.
The bright green seeker that carried Mia kept looking around nervously, glancing around corners and down hallways, the bright yellow seeker pressing up against his partners back.
"This is a bad idea," The bright yellow seeker muttered with annoyance to his partner.
The green seeker hissed back at his companion. "Shut up Sunstorm! We're not gonna get caught. We just gotta find Starscream."
Mia swallowed hard and tried to glare up at the seekers. "Who are you? Where are we going?" she tried to sound fierce and brave. She didn't quite reach the state of fearless, but her voice didn't shake and she didn't cry.
Mia was simply ignored, and the two seekers continued down the halls, their desperate borderline panicked whispering never stopping.
"We can't stay here anymore!" the green one hissed, optics bleeding away to a pale colour in his distress. "Not after what they did to Silverstorm. We need to get out!"
Mia frowned, confused at their words. They wanted out? Who was Silverstorm? "You want out?" she tried. "Then help us! Help me get to Starscream and get off this ship!"
Mia tried to be brave, and felt brave that she was trying to negotiate their exit, but they still simply ignored her.
"This is a dumb idea!" the yellow one, Sunstorm, snapped, sounding more uncertain than angry.
The green one sneered again. "Shut up." Nervous optics flicked to his companion. "Just shut up. We're almost to the Hole."
Mia perked up at the mention of the Hole. If they were heading for the Hole, they were going for Starscream. Eyes glanced around, and for the first time in nearly a week Mia felt her smile return and a flicker of hope in her chest. This could be the help they needed.
The green one peeked around the last corner and his wings lifting in relief. Turning to Sunstorm he offered the smallest of grins. "No one's here. Come on."
Sunstorm glared and muttered a prayer under his vents as he followed his comrade into the room where the Hole was hidden away. "We best not get caught, else we'll end up in here too," He muttered angrily.
The green seeker glared at his trine mate. "Just get Starscream." And nodded his head towards the Hole.
Sunstrorm glared back. "Why do I have to do it! You do it!"
The green seeker glowered. "I have the human!" he hissed back, lifting his servo with Mia on it to emphasize his point. "I'd need two hands to open the door, fragger!"
"Then I'll take her!" Sunstrom snapped back, optics blazing with irritation and he held out his hand to take Mia from his companion.
Green rolled his optics. "You'll become radioactive and kill her, you dolt!"
Yellow optics blinked at the green seeker. "Well…okay, you have a point." Bright yellow wings drooped. "Fine. I'll get Starscream."
"Good, hurry up!"
"Stop bossing me around Acidstorm," Sunstorm snapped back, and Mia frowned. Acidstorm and Sunstorm. As Sunstorm began to open the door to the Hole, Mia drew her lips into a thin line as she stared up at them, concentrating on them and the dimmest of memories prickled to the forefront of her mind.
"You were there," She said suddenly. "When….when Shockwave pumped water into Starscream's vents." She said softly, her own growing anger swirling in her belly.
Acidstorm glanced down to her with a frown. "So? It's not like we could have done anything to help! We would have just brought Megatron's wrath down onto us!"
Mia licked her teeth, and they felt dirty and fuzzy. She would have done murder to brush them. "I wouldn't think you would have, not at your expense. But…but you saw what he went through. What Megatron does to…to others."
Acidstorm made an annoyed noise and looked away from her. "Trust me, I know what Megatron does to others."
"Is that why you're here?" she asked voice becoming soft, eyes swinging around to see Sunstrom opening the door to the Hole, revealing Starscream. His arms hung broken and limp by his sides, his head down and leaning against the damp wall.
Acidstorm sighed. "Yes. Starscream isn't the only one he's hurt."
Mia snorted. If only Acidstorm knew the half of it.
Starscream's head lifted weakly, and he glared faintly at Sunstorm. "What the hell do you want?" he spat half-heartedly.
Sunstrom frowned back. "Could leave you here." He snapped back, but his voice was lacking any real venom. "We have the human so we don't need you. Not really."
Starscream sneered, optics desperately seeking Mia out and heaving a sigh that was true relief when he saw her safely with Acidstorm.
"We aren't leaving anyone behind!" Mia snapped, her eyes lit with a fire that had not been there days before.
Starscream opened his mouth to argue, when Acidstorm snapped over him. "Stop it! We don't have much time. We have to get out of here before we're caught!"
"And where are we going?" Starscream tried to demand, but he just couldn't manage to make it sound as such as he took a shaky step out from the Hole. He stumbled on only his first step, his knees shaking and frame low on energon. He would have gone crashing to the ground, but Sunstorm was faster and caught him.
As Starscream was hauled up right, Sunstorm felt his face heat at being caught doing something kind, which was weak. Yellow optics glanced to his former commanders damaged interface panel before he purposely ignored it.
"Our quarters. Get you some energon and some repairs. Then to the Autobot base." Acidstorm said firmly, despite how his hands began to shake. "We want out."
Starscream glared, frame trembling from pain and energon loss as he clung onto Sunstrom. "And why should I believe you?" he spat.
Acidstorm and Sunstrom shared a worried look, one that was full of pain and uncertainty. "We…we need to show you something, Starscream," Acidstorm said carefully, voice turning hard and angry.
Starscream glanced between them, optics falling finally on Mia. The little human offered him a small smile, one that Starscream didn't have it in him to offer back. Yet, he nodded to the two other seekers. "Alright. Show me what's so fracking important." He managed to sneer, his voice becoming stronger as the mental effects of the Hole began to lessen.
Starscream couldn't help but soften a little at the look of pure relief on the other two seeker's faces.
Acidstorm's wings rose a little, and his voice took a more confident edge. "Good. Let's…let's keep quite though. Sunstorm took the cameras out with a virus, but if we're heard we will all be caught."
Starscream and Mia both nodded, and Mia sent a brilliant smile up to Acidstorm. The green seeker returned her well-practiced smile with an awkward small one that was quickly let go. "Let's go," He muttered, turning for the hall way and his quarters.
The trip to Acidstorm and Sunstrom's quarters was a long and tense one. Acidstorm insisted that they move quietly, far more carefully than they had when moving to retrieve Starscream. There had been a few tense moments when Acidstorm had shoved them all into a nearby supply closet when Vortex had come down the hall.
The interrogator had paused, helm tilting towards them before he moved on, heading towards the Hole. With shaking servos but with a firm voice, Acidstorm insisted they keep moving forward and did not relax until they were all safely locked inside of their quarters.
Acidstorm's servos were still shaking as he carefully set Mia onto a table near one of the berths in the room as Sunstorm dropped Starscream onto the berth.
The bright yellow seeker took several steps back to the gloom of their shared quarters, servos wringing in front of him. "I can't believe we did this. Primus help me."
Acidstorm glared at his trine mate and huffed a sigh through his vents. Mia frowned too, feeling a little unnerved. In the shadows of their quarters she could see a third seeker laying in one of the other berths, but he did not come to see what was going on.
Her view of the third seeker was obstructed by Acidstorm as he handed Starscream energon with a trembling hand, and Mia could practically taste the distress in the room, the anxiety. The two seekers moved about in a jerky, unorganized and hurried fashion, bumping into each other and things as they pulled a repair kit from one of the dark corners of their quarters.
Starscream quietly sipped at his energon, optic pale with pain that he hid expertly from his face. He glanced to Mia, almost like he was afraid she would disappear if he looked away from her for too long. With an annoyed look at himself, Starscream offered her his forearm to climb onto and she forced herself not to stare at his mangled servo.
Finally, Acidstorm pulled a short stool to sit in front of Starscream and waited for him to allow Mia to climb from his arm to his shoulder and settle in before he took one broken servo.
"I can only do basic field repair," he said in a rush as he closed lines. "You need to see a medic."
Starscream made a noncommittal noise, optic focused on Sunstorm who had distanced himself to the other side of their quarters, but Starscream could see his frame was tense and the amber glow of his optics were bright and alert.
"You doing okay?" Mia muttered into his audial only when she was sure Acidstorm was too involved with repairing Starscream's servos.
Starscream shook his head no slowly, not drawing attention to her and not looking at her. He could feel his mind slipping and his frame beginning to shut down. He fought to keep his vision focused and his mind sharp. He couldn't afford to fall into the black pit that Megatron liked to shove him into mentally. That's when he got sloppy and stupid.
He needed to stay sane to keep Mia alive, after that everyone else was expendable.
Mia bit her lip and cuddled into the side of his neck. "We're going home," she said firmly and Starscream felt his spark twist.
He would make sure she would go home, then he would distract Megatron to ensure her escape if it came down to it. Snorting, the irony of it all was not lost on Starscream. He was a coward who tried to avoid pain at all costs, not some self-sacrificing fool, yet here they were.
Her tiny exhausted body snuggled into the side of his neck and he leaned his helm towards her ever so slightly.
"I can't…I can't fix your interface panel," Acidstorm said suddenly, drawing Starscream's dim optic back to his pinched face. "Or dry out your vents. But I can replace the patch in your side. It won't take long."
Starscream waved him off. "We haven't the time. Now, what was so bloody important that it was worth getting me out of the Hole for?"
Acidstorm looked anxious, glancing around the dark room before turning to Sunstrom. "Bring him over," he) called back softly.
From the other side of the room, Sunstorm made an annoyed noise before gently lifting the third seeker from the berth and onto his pedes. It was a slow, shambling walk to guide him into the dim light. Mia frowned, not understanding what she was seeing, but Starscream's hiss was enough to know something was wrong.
The blue seeker that Sunstrom guided by his shoulders was sat down next to Starscream on the berth, but he made no reaction as he was turned and pressed downward. He didn't look up at any of them, empty optics simply stared ahead at nothing. Starscream stared at the blue seeker before waving a broken servo in front of his face.
When he received no reaction, Starscream frowned up at the other two. "What in the pits happened to Silverstorm?"
Sunstrom looked away angrily, and Mia was sure that when he turned his back to them, he wiped at his optics. Acidstorm's lips became a thin line and his voice took on a furious hardness. "Shockwave. Ever since you left, Megatron has given him free rein over the seekers left on Cybertron, to do what he wants with us whenever he wants."
Sunstorm snarled and bright servos balled into tight fists, and he moved to storm back into the darkness of their quarters.
Silverstorm's helm snapped up with a sudden awareness when the bright seeker tried to melt into the shadows of their quarters, whimpering and reaching out for Sunstrom. Sunstrom paused and made an annoyed, angry noise before he slipped back into the light to offer his servo to his trine mate.
Silverstorm trilled happily as he took his trine mate's servo, sinking his digits between Sunstrom's and relaxing. His optics dimmed once more and he stared blankly at the wall.
Acidstorm's frown deepened, his anger dissolving into fear and worry for Silverstorm. "When you left and the Coneheads became the lead trine there was no one to keep Megatron in check. He allowed Shockwave to do what he wants, including experimenting on seekers, looking for something to do with bonds."
Acidstorm licked his lips and his optics paled with sadness when they flickered to Silverstorm. Sunstorm couldn't look at any of them, he simply stared at the floor and held onto Silverstorm's servo as tightly as he could.
"Before we were ordered to Earth, Shockwave had Silverstorm for three Vorns. Three vorns Starscream." He sounded desperate now, and Starscream felt his spark crush. "When Silverstorm came back to us we could feel him on the bond but he can't feel us. He still can't. He came back rambling that we were dead and he was lost before devolving into…into this state. He's…he's so broken, Starscream." He nodded slightly towards his trine mate. "He's…he's despondent at best now but Megatron still expects him to fight and we don't know what else to do."
Starscream swallowed hard and glanced to Mia, and was reminded that he needed to protect her. She was his responsibility before even other seekers right now, and she needed his protection. She was still perched carefully on his shoulder, face pulled into a sad look and her eyes sparkled with tears.
Starscream turned his attention back to them. "And what? You want me to take you with me? Back to the Ark?"
Acidstorm glanced to Silverstorm and sadness filled his grim face. "Please." He said softly. "I'm willing to beg you to take us with you, if that's what you want."
Starscream snorted and managed to put on an annoyed face despite the pain that radiated from his frame.
"You don't need to beg," Mia said suddenly, her glittering eyes at odds with the hardness of her voice. "We'll take you with us," she said firmly.
Starscream's helm twisted towards her slowly, broken brow lifting at her. "We will?" he asked surprised.
She looked at him with determination. "Yes, we will."
Optic rolling at her, Starscream huffed in annoyance. "Why?"
Mia smirked at him, but it was a bitter, angry mockery of her bright smile. "Because it's what Optimus would do. He wouldn't leave them here if they are asking for help. Because it's exactly what Megatron would not do, and fuck that guy."
Starscream snorted despite himself, he couldn't help but find the humor.
Acidstorm only looked desperate. "And we can make sure you actually get to the Ark. You don't look like you could hover never mind fly back to the Autobots. We can make sure you make it."
"With Silverstorm? I doubt it." Starscream managed to snark back as the first wave of fatigue hit him. "Besides, how do I know you won't turn on us the moment you have a chance?"
It was Sunstorm who snarled angrily. "Why would we! Look what they did to our bond mate!"
Starscream's optics brightened. "Bond mate?"
Even Mia's mouth fell open in shock, she had been around the twins long enough to know what a bond mate was. She had been around Thundercracker and Skywarp enough to know bonding was not common among Decepticons.
The green seeker gave his mate a nasty look, optics flickering in a way that Mia had learned was what bond mates did when they communicated. "Holy crap," she muttered as she watched them.
"We won't," Acidstorm offered weakly. "We need you more then you need us. Silverstorm needs you, and we need him to get better. We won't betray you."
Starscream rolled his optic again at Acidstorm's pleading look, his desperation. "Please Starscream, take us with you."
Starscream huffed and gave them an annoyed look, uncomfortable with how genuine Acidstorm was being with him.
"Please."
Starscream made an uncertain noise at the back of his throat. "You will obey me! Is that understood?"
Optics widened, filling with hope and shocked faces nodded.
"Good." Starscream said firmly and he felt the first flicker of hope that yes, they were going home. The game had finally been rigged in their favor.
Mia gave a little cough, and dim optics glanced to the little human on his shoulder and the very pointed look she gave him. Starscream could practically read her mind. "And the Prime." He finally said. "You'll have to obey the Prime as well."
Sunstrom snorted, but Acidstorm laughed quietly with relief, dark helm bobbing in a nod. "Agreed."
"And" Starscream added. "You can't hurt humans. Particularly the Autobot's humans. I will be especially cross if you do."
Another desperate nod met him, one that even Sunstrom gave in understanding.
"Unless they try to hurt you first." Mia, with her leg strapped to metal slats, the bones still broken and who had hardened so much in the short time they had been there. Mia, who now smiled hopefully to their new allies with that thousand watt smile. "If they hurt you first, they're fair game."
Starscream gave her an uncertain look, knowing Prime wouldn't agree with that. She gave a little shrug when she caught his mouth pulling into a frown. "We never did find those scientists who attacked Danny and Sunny. It's only fair that they defend themselves appropriately."
Nodding in agreement, he turned back to Acidstorm. "We'll talk about appropriate responses to humans later," Starscream said firmly, not daring to show excitement at escaping. This could still be a trap. "I assume you have a plan of escape?"
Acidstorm and Sunstorm glanced at each other nervously and an uncertain sputtering erupted from both of them.
Mia frowned at them and Starscream held up a broken servo to stop them with an annoyed grunt. Both seekers fell silent and allowed Starscream to ask "You don't have a plan, do you?"
"Well…" Acidstorm started, glancing to Silverstorm nervously. "The plan was to get you out and go from there."
"And put our faith in Primus." Sunstrom added firmly, believing that they would find a way out.
Starscream offlined his optic with an annoyed sigh. "You have no plan?" he spat.
"Starscream" Mia said gently. "They're doing their best."
"No they're not!" he sneered back at her angrily, prompting them both to give him a hurt and angry look. "They haven't even tried!"
Mia gave him a patient look, her own mouth pulling into a disappointed frown. "They are," she said with extreme calm that surprised him. Before this, before what she had witnessed beneath the ocean, Mia would have cried at his sharp words at her. "They didn't have to get us out of there."
Her frown slowly pulled into a bright smile and her eyes turned from Starscream to look up at the two surprised seekers with a sharp clap of her hands. "Now, I bet if we all stay calm," she said this giving Starscream a very pointed look "and work together, we can find a way out of here and get home."
"You…you think so?" Sunstorm asked softly, looking uncertain by her bright words.
Mia's thousand watt smile did not lessen. "Well, we don't have a choice now do we. So let's put on that can-do attitude and figure out how the hell we're getting out of here."
Starscream couldn't help but feel a burst of pride for his little human charge, and his dim, ruby optic burned into the other two seekers. "Well? Let's hear your ideas."
Her calmness was rubbing off onto Starscream, and he felt his mind begin to settle again.
Acidstorm and Sunstorm both shared a look, and Acidstorm gave a little nod. "O-okay. Well, there is a maintenance hatch that opens into the ocean floor on the west side of the ship. That part of the ship is underwater, but if I take Mia in my cockpit we should be able to-"
Acidstorm's words died in his throat as the locks to their room clicked open and their door swung open unexpectedly.
Vortex waltzed into the room, his visor flashing happily and his mask down so all could see his cruel smirk and razor sharp teeth. The door slammed shut behind him and he swung his servos from his sides to clap together in front of his chest.
All smiles fell and all hope died as the interrogator came to a stop just inside the quarters.
"Well, well, well," he said slowly, his smirk only widening. "How do ya do, traitors?"
Starscream cursed and felt despair at their lost chance.