Yeah, yeah, Riella's my personal favorite OC, so I had to do a chapter with her. Be nice, 'k?

Chapter 15: Riella's POV

I ran for the command center, following my bond-link to Prowl. If there was any 'bot who would know exactly what was going on, it would be the best tactician in the Autobot army.

As it turned out, I didn't have to make it all the way there. Arcee skidded around a corner in front of me and just managed to stop in time. "Sorry, Riella! We've got trouble; 'Cons inbound, west and south."

Soundwave. He was followed here. Every cable in my frame tensed with the knowledge that we had been, intentionally or unintentionally, betrayed. "Arcee, you've heard that Soundwave is joining us? Good. Find Chromia and Ironhide, then find Soundwave. Do not, under any circumstances, let him out of your sight until I give you the all-clear."

"Yes, ma'am," Arcee replied, but hesitated. "What if Prime – "

"Prime will just need to defer to our judgment," I snapped. "Prowl agrees with me. Soundwave must be guarded until his loyalties are clear. Now go!"

She nodded and took off down the hall, transforming a few feet away to increase her speed. I opened a comm link to Ratchet. "Riella to Ratchet. Your location?"

::On my way to the command center. What do you need?::

"I want a guard on Hyperjump in the medbay – someone who won't fall for any kind of tricks," I ordered briskly, running out of the building and across a parking lot. Sorry about the dents, US Government. "Not First Aid; I have a feeling we're going to need Defensor."

::Understood. Can I have Wheeljack or Hoist?::

I had to smile at the way Ratchet thought. Of course he would go for the two who would know their way around the medbay. "Hoist, if you want him. Just make the situation clear. Tell him I gave the order if there's a problem. Riella out."

Prowl caught up with me as I rounded the corner toward the west side. "Arcee gave you the report?"

She did, I replied over the bond. Soundwave was followed here.

"I came to the same conclusion. But was it intentional, or is this Megatron's revenge?"

No way to know, I sighed. I've put both him and Hyperjump under guard until we have a chance to question them. For what it's worth, I think Soundwave was telling the truth about being our ally.

"I'd take your word over his any day," Prowl shrugged. "But like you said, no way to be sure."

Who's commanding?

"Prime's on the west, Jazz on the south. I think Prime's the one who needs backup."

Good thing we're on our way. I transformed and hit full speed, Prowl matching everything I did. Or maybe I was matching his movements; it's never easy to tell who initiates what if the bond is active.

Just as we reached the west entrance, the ground shuddered, and I heard Prime yelling, "Everyone back! Stay clear!"

Prowl and I transformed again, diving in opposite directions as metal exploded under us. The Driller spiraled up through the air, rather like Scorponok had often done in combat before his destruction, and slammed back down into the ground. I heard a human scream as he was caught in the vicious attack, and Prowl and I had no need to communicate. We knew exactly what to do.

I dived toward the human's location, while Prowl fired rapidly at the Driller's control panel. As expected, his attack did nothing, but the thing twisted in his direction, releasing the human just long enough for me to grab him and roll clear. One look at the amount of blood and I knew he probably wouldn't make it, but just in case, I set him down next to a human who promptly yelled for a medic. Then I sprinted back into the fight.

Time slowed down as I lunged toward the Driller's unprotected back, driving one blade in as deep as it would go. It screeched and thrashed, components spinning, and pain stabbed through my arm; whether it had struck me or my mate, it had landed a blow. I dropped and rolled, getting out of the way of another diving attack. It disappeared underground for a second before spiraling back up again, only to be hurled backward by rapid laser fire.

Optimus held out a hand to help me up. "You should have waited for backup."

"The human was in danger." I saw Prowl being helped up by Sideswipe, and sent a quick pulse of relief through the bond. "I had to do something."

My commander shook his head doubtfully. "I understand, but taking such a risk could have put us at a serious disadvantage."

I sighed. "Yes, sir."

"Riella, you're bleeding!" Sideswipe pointed as Prowl reached out to me. "What happened?"

"I honestly have no idea." I stared down at the long gash in my arm and side plating. "I felt it, but I couldn't tell you what hit me."

"PRIME!"

The word echoed across the torn-up ground, and everyone looked to see Megatron standing beside the partially destroyed Driller.

"You are harboring a traitor – one we will tear you apart to bring back. Surrender now, and live. Or die with him."