A/N: A lot of you have raised questions as to exactly what happened between June and Soundwave last chapter. Please bear with me, it will be explained further in due time. ^_^ I truly hope you enjoy this chapter, it's a lot lighter in tone than the last few. I felt we needed the break, plus it was nice to check in on the others.

Three days. It had been three days since the Decepticons had captured Optimus. Three agonizing days as Wheeljack had recovered and Ratchet had tried repeatedly to contact the others. He knew they were maintaining radio silence, but he needed them. They had to rescue Optimus. There was no telling if he was even still alive or how he was suffering at the hands of Megatron.

Clenching his servos Ratchet bowed his head, optics falling closed. "I am so sorry Optimus. If I had just-"

"Ratchet, please don't start that again." Wheeljack's soft tone didn't ease the pain in Ratchet's spark. "We'll get him back."

"I know. I just . . . From what you told me of his injuries, if their medic didn't operate soon he wouldn't survive long."

"He's Optimus, he'll survive." Wheeljack place a servo on Ratchet's shoulder pulling him away from the communications console they'd managed to cobble together. "Let's get back to work on the ground bridge."

"I don't know Wheeljack, should we even stay here? We'll be endangering more humans and I don't want to disappoint Optimus anymore than I have."

Wheeljack was silent for a moment, servos pressing down before he let go. "I'll go see if I can get ahold of Fowler or that local officer. Maybe they know of a better place. We are going to need a new base."

"We?" Ratchet turned to look at Wheeljack. "Does . . . This mean you will stay?"

"Yeah, you guys need the help. You can't rebuild everything by yourself."

The first smile in days flickered across Ratchets face. He quickly turned away. "I did it before, I can do it again."

Wheeljack chuckled. "Never doubted you for a sec Ratchet."

A sudden burst of static had the pair turning back to the communication console.

"Is anyone there? Ratchet?"

"Its Smokescreen!" Ratchet quickly answered the call. "Smokescreen, where are you? Is everything alright?"

"No." Came the forlorn response. "I messed up Ratchet! I don't get these humans at all. I was just trying to blend in, but I think I choose the wrong altform."

"I told you that when you picked it." Ratchet muttered pressing a servo to his helm. "Where are you Smokescreen?"

"On the east coast. I'm locked in a garage of some sort. They think I'm a stolen car!"

"Can't you just transform and leave?" Wheeljack cut in.

"But I thought we were supposed to keep a low profile."

"Forget low profile, Megatron has an enormous fortress just outside Jasper. The time for low profile is over. The humans know we are here, there is no longer a reason to hide anymore. The mission takes priority, Smokescreen."

"What mission Ratchet?"

"We have to rescue Optimus."

"Optimus is captured?"

"He was badly injured in the destruction of the base. Wheeljack and June were trying to get him to safety when they were ambushed. He is most likely on board the Nemesis now."

"No . . . No! That-that is not possible! Optimus would never allow-"

"Smokescreen, this is war. Things happen." Wheeljack snapped. "Even Prime is not immune to injury."

"What do you want me to do?"

"For the moment, get yourself out of there and head for these coordinates." Ratchet sent the encrypted data burst. "Wheeljack and I are building a new ground brige, so as soon as that is complete we will send for you. If you hear from the others give them the coordinates too. We need to regroup and form a plan."

"I don't know Ratchet, Optimus said we needed to scatter to avoid capture."

"And we did. Now it's time to move forward with a plan. I will be in touch. Be careful."

"I will. Smokescreen out!"

Ratchet closed the connection and turned to look at Wheeljack who was still staring at the screen.

"He's a young one isn't he?"

"Very."

"Hope he survives."

"So do I."

"Lets go talk to Officer Routh. She was supposed to be stationed at the entrance this solar cycle."

"You go ahead Wheeljack. I'm going to see if I can contact Agent Fowler. Maybe he has some news on June."

He didn't. "I'm sorry Ratchet. More sorry than you know. We found her cell phone in the cab of the truck. All the evidence is pointing to her being captured by the 'Cons."

"This is most unwelcome news, Agent Fowler. Optimus may not even still be online." It hurt Ratchet to say it and he didn't want to believe it was possible. Not after everything they'd been through.

"Somehow I think, knowing Megatron's ego, we would know. So at this point, no news is good news."

"I guess that makes sense. Oh, Smokescreen ran into some trouble. He's going to try to make it back here, but he-"

"Has no clue how to deal with humans?"

"Right. I'm worried someone might hurt him."

"Yeah, we are having a difficult time with the higher ups. The President is still on the fence about what to do with the situation in Jasper."

"I am afraid Megatron is going to take the decision from him. And your government will be powerless to stop him."

"That's what I'm afraid of. We can't fight you guys. You know we can't."

"That is not entirely true. There was M.E.C.H."

Agent Fowler was silent for a long moment. "I'm not supposed to say anything, but our government has been continuing Silas' work. Nemesis Prime is being used as a prototype to build new units."

"No . . ." Ratchet clutched at the console warping the soft metal.

"I am sorry Ratchet, but we have to have some way of protecting ourselves."

"I understand, I just don't want there to be any confusion when it comes to us Cybertronians. We are already having to fight the Decepticons and I don't want to have to defend myself from humans too or be in the midst of a battle only to realize I'm fighting a human not a Decepticon."

"Lets hope it doesn't come to that, Ratchet. Right now our priority is to get you moved to a permanent base of operations."

"The sooner the better. I'm trying to contact everyone so we can meet and formulate a plan to get Optimus back."

"That may not be possible Ratchet."

"Possible or not, we will try."

They ended their conversation a short time later and Ratchet was left with a sense that events were tumbling out of control.

###

Smokescreen bounced up and down, trying to burn off the nervous energy crackling through his frame. He'd tried to take Ratchet's advice and had quickly found himself pinned down by the human military. Talking to them hadn't done much good.

"Drop your weapons and return to vehicular form for transport!"

"Umm, I can't drop my weapons . . . They are part of my arms." He transformed to show them and got shot for his effort. "Hey! Hey! I'm not going to hurt you guys. Ouch! I'm one of the good guys! I'm on Team Prime!"

A command was shouted and the hail of bullets stopped.

"You are an Autobot?"

"Yes! See!" He turned to show them his insignia pointing to it. "I am an Elite Guard! Not a Decepticon!"

One of the humans walked forward. "You are still alien and therefore a threat. Return to your vehicular mode and prepare for transport."

Smokescreen glanced up at the helicopters circling the scene. Raising his hands in surrender he nodded. "Okay. Just, can you contact Special Agent William Fowler? He knows me."

"In due time. Now stand down."

Venting in frustration Smokesceen transformed and was instantly covered in a thick cable netting. "Hey! There is no need for that! I'm cooperating!"

No one answered him. The netting as pulled tight and he watched in fascination as several humans appeared with cables. The cables were quickly run through the netting and under his frame. The roar of helicopter blades grew loud enough to nearly drown out the shouted commands.

"Alright, cargo on the move! Move out! Move out!"

Smokescreen yelped in surprise as the netting and cables suddenly pulled taunt his tires leaving the ground. This was not at all what he'd expected. Maybe trusting humans was a bad idea. He just hoped they had secured those cables. He didn't have the phase shifter anymore and a fall from this height would do major damage, maybe even offline him. He wasn't ready for that yet. Dying in battle was one thing, but not like this. He watched the landscape change under him. They were moving away from the coastline where he'd ended up after ground bridging.

A military installation came into view. A short time later the helicopter was hovering over what looked like a drop point. He transformed as the cables were released. He landed on his feet, stumbling slightly as the netting snagged. He was once again surrounded by armed humans.

"Hi guys! I'm hoping you got the memo."

"We did, Autobot. Agent Fowler sent word that you are to be shipped to Missouri via military convoy. First we are to debrief you."

"Oh, gotcha! Sure thing." He tried to salute and got his arm tangled in the netting. He frowned hearing a few of the humans laughing.

"Get him out of that."

Smokescreen was careful to stand very still and the humans untangled him. Their commander stood in front of him shaking her head.

"You wouldn't be this tangled up if you'd stayed in your car form."

"Yeah well, I don't feel like dealing with popped tires."

"Understandable. As soon as we get you freed you'll need to return to your other form. You'll be loaded in the Spartan for transport and it will be easier if you are a . . . Car." She shook her head clearly amazed.

Smokescreen knelt down so the remainder of the netting could be removed. "I'm not a car. I just look like one. We have this form, our protoform, and our altform or vehicle mode as you call it. I'm no medic so I can't explain it-"

She waved a hand, "No need soldier. Now I need you to tell me everything that has happened since you left your former base."

"Not a lot honestly. I found myself on the coast. Tried to blend in but I'm sure you noticed I'm a good looking 'bot. Well I ended up in a city not really sure what to do, so I was trying to keep a low profile. One night some humans woke me out of recharge, they were trying to pry my doors open. Slagging uncomfortable I can tell you. Well, I took off. The next solar cycle I wake up to find myself being hooked up and towed off. They took me to a place they called a 'car impound lot' and locked me in a garage. That's when Ratchet got a hold of me. And here I am."

"You didn't run into any of the enemy?"

"No sir."

"It's ma'am."

"No ma'am!"

She nodded a smile playing across her features. "It seems soldiers are soldiers no matter the species."

"Yes ma'am." Smokescreen smiled. "If the debrief is over I would really like to rejoin my team."

"Absolutely."