A/N: I honestly wasn't sure I was going to be able to post a chapter today. I had to work till 3am last night then be back at work at 1pm this afternoon. I was supposed to work till 9pm but thankfully we were slow and I got to go home! So I got the chapter done! I hope it answers some questions a few of you had. ^_^ As always I adore you all for your wonderful reviews and for favoriting and/or following.

"Did they take the bait?"

"Yessir, we are tracking them now."

"Soundwave, you have the coordinates?"

Soundwave nodded once, pointing to the map on his display.

"Good." Megatron smiled. "Everything is going according to plan. Take us to New Kaon. I have things to attend to and a Head Archivist to interrogate."

###

Wheeljack glared at the computer screen. "Stupid glitching thing . . . This can't be right. Ratchet! Hey Ratchet, this computer is giving me a false signal."

Ratchet peered up from where he'd been calibrating the ground bridge array. "Why, whose signal is it showing? I just tested it, it should be working fine."

"Then why is it showing Optimus' signal along with a Decepticon signal?"

"What?!" Ratchet sprang to his feet, nearly tripping over his tools as he ran for the terminal. Wheeljack stepped to the side so he could look at the display. "Thats . . ." Pushing a button he opened a com channel. "Optimus can you hear me?"

Nothing but static. Wheeljack frowned, gripping the medic's shoulder as Ratchet hung his head.

"Is that Optimus?" Smokescreen's voice startled them both. "You found him!"

Ratchet turned to see Smokescreen studying the display. "Smokescreen it could be a trap, there is a Decepticon signal too-"

"But look how close they are! We've got to go see if he needs help." He looked back and forth between the two of them his optics narrowing. "If you won't go I will! I'm not leaving Optimus out there to fend for himself."

"Hey, take it easy Smokes. We don't want to leave Optimus stranded either, but we've got to look at all the angles. We can't ground bridge out if things get dicey."

"I don't care. I'm going."

Before either of them could say a thing he'd spun around and transformed, the squall of tires filling the space.

"Scrap." They both said in unison.

"You going after him?" Ratchet looked over at Wheeljack.

"Slagging little glitch . . . No. Let him get his aft handed to him for once."

"Wheeljack!"

"Alright, alright . . . I'll go. But I ain't gonna be nice."

"That would be pushing it, wouldn't it." Ratchet vented forcefully as the wrecker took off after Smokescreen. "I really don't need this right now."

"Ratchet? Ratchet are you there?"

"Arcee, I'm here."

"We are on the outskirts of the city and heading your way. Bumblebee is right behind me."

"Good. I will meet you at the entrance of the compound. And if you happen to see Smokescreen shoot out his tires for me."

"What?!"

"Nevermind. Just get here safely."

Smokescreen darted through traffic getting honked at a few times, but he was too determined to get to Optimus to bother with the humans. Ratchet could yell all he wanted but he wasn't the leader of the Autobots, Optimus was. He was nearing the outskirts of the city. The coordinates had been in a relatively unpopulated area to the west of the metropolis. He was nearing the airport where he'd been flown to on his way to meet with the rest of the Autobots. Slowing he exited the quad lane and found himself in a residential area. Maintaining the speed limit as Jack had taught him he kept his optics open for any sign of the Autobot leader.

As he drove he kept thinking back on what Wheeljack had said. He still didn't understand how he was being unfair to Optimus. He looked up to Optimus and respected him both as the leader of the Autobots and as their Prime. From everything Alpha Trion had told him of Optimus he knew there was no other bot that he'd rather be like. Someone who was kind, brave and loyal. Sure Optimus had been a bit stern with him, but that was what made him such a great leader. He knew how to give praise and to help you to learn from your mistakes. If anything it had made Smokescreen respect him even more and want nothing more than to make him proud. He didn't think he held Optimus up to an unrealistic ideal. Optimus was a Prime, they were the guardians of Cybertronian civilization, how could you not be awed being in his presence. The battle prowess and skill tempered by quiet wisdom and humility. The Prime practically leaked greatness.

He was so engrossed in his contemplation that he nearly drove right passed the spot where Optimus was supposed to be. Backing up, at first all he saw were piles of scrap metal behind a high fence. Looking around to make sure there was no one nearby, he transformed. Hopping over the fence, he kept low to the ground arming his cannon. There was supposedly a Decepticon in the area too.

Coming around a twisted pile of mashed cars he spotted a car sitting by itself in an open space. Something didn't seem right about it. It was beat up, but nothing like the rest of the cars in the scrap yard. Weapon still drawn he eased over to it. It had a familiar look that he couldn't quite place.

"Smokescreen! What are you doing here?"

He spun around weapon primed and aimed before he realized who was speaking. "Ms. Darby? Ms. Darby!"

Quickly putting away his gun he knelt down and was tackled to the ground. Grabbing the pole across his neck he glared up at red optics.

"Stop it Knockout!"

"Hey, take it easy bud."

"I'm not your bud." Knockout pressed harder before letting him up, casually twirling the energon prod. "I assume you are here to rescue your illustrious leader."

"What?" Smokescreen cocked his head to the side, looking from Knockout to June. "Where is Optimus? I thought he got you out?"

Knockout laughed. "No, we got him out. He's as helpless as a new sparkling."

Smokescreen narrowed his eyes at the Decepticon. "I know Optimus and he's not helpless."

"Well you haven't seen him lately then." Knockout was still chuckling.

"Enough guys. Smokescreen, where are the others? We need to move him as soon as possible."

"Umm . . . Well about that . . ."

"Rookie here took off, disobeying a direct order."

Knockout growled, pointing the energon prod at the new arrival. Wheeljack ignored him as he walked toward the group.

Smokescreen glared. "I take orders from Optimus."

"Well I don't and even I know sound advice when I hear it. When Optimus is out Ratchet is in charge and you would do well to remember it." Wheeljack turned to Knockout and June. "Where is he?"

"Over here, we've got him hidden."

"Why what's wrong? Is he injured?" Smokescreen started forward only to be dragged back by Wheeljack.

"You go keep look out. I will see to Optimus." He shoved him in the direction of the entrance waiting until the younger bot had actually done so before turning back to June and Knockout. "How bad is it?"

"Bad. Megatron infected him with something and he's in a coma."

Wheeljack raised an eyebrow and looked at Knockout. Knockout shrugged. "Quarantine algorithm's got him locked in his own processor."

Wheeljack shook his head. "We better get him to Ratchet then."

"Well unless you have access to a cortical psychic patch there's not much you are going to be able to do."

"We'll see about that." Wheeljack walked passed Knockout to where they'd hidden Optimus. He was covered in a tarp and looked to be recharging. At least the wound he remembered was gone. He turned back to June. "How did you get him here?"

"Knockout has a remote control for a ground bridge. Apparently Starscream had it."

"Really? That's . . . convenient."

"What can I say, I get results." Knockout smirked.

"That or Megatron let you escape."

"What?"

"Why would he-"

"Common, you guys. You really think he'd allow you to take off with Optimus. I know that bot and he's as devious and twisted as they come."

"We know that, but it wasn't as easy as you are making it out." June gestured to Knockout. "None of this would have been possible without Knockout's help."

Wheeljack rounded on the medic. "Yeah, why are you helping 'Con?"

"I only promised to get Optimus off the Nemesis. Megatron and I no longer have a working relationship. I kind of draw the line at allowing myself to become a science experiment."

Wheeljack snorted. "Doesn't surprise me. So how are we going to transport Optimus?"

"Is there anyway we could have the military come and get him. I'm done stealing vehicles." June had taken a seat on a old tire. "I just want to go someplace with a bed and a shower and a buffet. I'm starving."

"Don't worry June, I'll take care of Optimus. Smokes! Get over here. You are taking June back to base."

Knockout turned to Wheeljack once June and Smokescreen were gone. "So . . . You wanted them out of the way so you could deal with me, hmm?"

"You 'Cons never change. You did your job, now leave. I said I'd take care of Optimus and I will."

"You won't be able to help him without me."

"Ratchet is the best medic on any planet, he'll-"

"This isn't a simple medical procedure, Autobot. This algorithm was coded by Shockwave himself. It's guaranteed to have a rootkit virus attached to it or worse. Most likely only Megatron himself can override it."

"Well I'm not letting him get his servos on Optimus again."

###

Smokescreen was unusually quiet as he drove and June finally spoke up.

"Smokescreen, is everything alright?"

He didn't respond, then she could have sworn she heard a sigh. "No. I-I just don't understand Wheeljack. He makes it pretty obvious that he doesn't really care for Optimus and refuses to join the Autobots or be under his leadership. Why would someone do that? Optimus is our leader, he's fought so hard to keep us free from the tyranny of the Decepticons, how could you not admire his dedication?"

"You sound like a political ad." June sighed. "Optimus is a great person and there is no doubt in my mind that he's done great, even monumental things. Wheeljack just has a different view of things. Just because Optimus is the Prime and leader of the Autobots doesn't mean that everyone is going to agree with his decisions. Even among Team Prime there are times the others don't agree with him. It's a heavy responsibility for him to be accountable for, not just the Autobots, but for any Cybertronian who wants to remain free of Decepticon rule."

Smokescreen was silent for a few minutes. "Wheeljack said I'm being unfair to Optimus."

"He did, did he?"

"I don't understand what he meant. He also said that the legend rarely lives up to the reality."

"Oh. . ." June sighed and brushed a stray stand of hair out of her face. "I think what he was trying to say is that Optimus is a person first and a Prime last. You seem to only see the Prime and miss seeing the person."

"Oh." Smokescreen slowed down as they approached the base. "I never meant to . . ."

"Don't worry, Smokescreen. It's alright. We humans call it being starstruck. It happens to us too. That doesn't mean that Optimus isn't worthy of your respect. He's an amazing person in his own right, just don't expect him to be infallible."

"You seem to see the bot first with everyone."

"Not always. I was pretty taken with Optimus when I first saw him too."

"I don't follow."

June laughed. "Well, he's a very good looking bot even by human standards."

"Oh . . . Oh!"

"You don't have to sound so shocked, but don't say anything to anyone, alright."

"Right . . . Okay. Yeah." Smokescreen opened the door for her once they were inside the front door. He transformed and knelt down. "Thanks for talking with me Ms. Darby."

"Of course. And thank you for the ride."

"Mom?"

"Jack!" June turned in time to be grabbed by Jack who hugged her fiercely.

"Oh Mom, I've been so worried!"

"And you think I haven't?"

"Yeah but I wasn't the one captured by Decepticons!"

"Fair enough. It is nice to be back with my own kind and not be in a weird version of Wonderland."

"Wonderland?" Smokescreen raised an eyebrow.

"I'll explain later Smokescreen. Or better yet I can let you watch the movie. So where is Optimus, Mom?"

"Wheeljack and Knockout are taking care of him."

"Wait . . . Knockout? Megatron's medic Knockout?"

"Yes . . . He's defecting. Sort of. Well, he can't really be a Decepticon anymore but I'm not sure he really wants to be an Autobot."

"Mom, that 'Con is bad news!"

"Tell me something I don't know, I've spent the last three days with him."

"Alright Jack, you should probably let your mom get cleaned up and get some rest. She's had a trying time." Arcee appeared with a small package in her hand. "Ms. Darby this is from Officer Routh, she's our liaison here in this town. She thought you might need a few things."

"How very thoughtful of her. Where is Ratchet? He needs to get in contact with Wheeljack and arrange for transport for Optimus."

"He's already on it."

"Good, then its about time I got a shower and some food. Oh and guys, please don't shoot Knockout when he gets here. He's almost died several times in the last few days."

"This I have got to hear." Arcee grinned as she followed June.

###

Optimus sat in the middle of the meadow looking out over the lake. How long had it been since he'd had time to meditate? Or even just contemplate thing? Ages. Though he didn't like this forced quietude. He ached to be doing something, anything. He'd already established that he could not leave the meadow. Most disturbing was the realization that he could no longer sense the Matrix. Had Megatron finally succeeded in taking it from him? If that was the case why wasn't he offline? Why leave him here like this?

I have to earn it. Or I just have to control you. Megatron's voice seemed to fill the air around him. You have not suffered enough.

So it was as he'd feared. Megatron was determined to get him to hand over the Matrix, not take it from him by force. Megatron wanted everyone to see him completely humiliated and debased, not just defeated.

Holding his helm in his servos he closed his optics. What was he supposed to do? He was trapped here until Megatron decided to let him out. Even if June had somehow managed to contact him here, she couldn't get him out. No, he couldn't ask that of her. He would have to deal with Megatron when the time came. Just as he always had.