If Zero-IN's chronometer was correct, he had been stuck in that cell for five solar cycles. That is, if he could even call the place a cell. It seemed to be a naturally formed cave that they had just added a reactive barrier to, to keep him in. The space he had was rather small, not even enough room for him to lay down flat. But he could sit with his legs stretched out, which is what he did for the first couple of solar cycles because the beating he took from the twins was quite rough. Apparently, their qualifications for needing the medbay did not include severe dents. As long as he wasn't bleeding, he was 'fine'. The beating also included the disabling of his comms and weapon systems, but he wasn't exactly sure at what point that happened.

After the pain subsided enough that he could move again, he slowly got to his peds to investigate his surroundings. That's how he found out the glowing barrier, the only light source he had besides his own optics, was reactive. He got quite the shock when he touched it, and that put him out for at least another solar cycle.

Zero-IN was up and pacing around, bored out of his processor. He would scratch at the rock walls periodically, attempting to identify the mineral composition but he wasn't having much luck. He moved over to the barrier and contemplated touching it again, just to forcibly put himself out for a while. But did he really want to go through that pain again?

Sighing, he turned away from the barrier and then immediately froze. Even without his scanner, he could sense energy signatures when he got close enough to them. The strong signature he was picking up now was from someone he really didn't want to see but he was also not surprised that they had come. There was a second signature, but it was weak, meaning it was farther away.

Zero-IN moved to the back of the cell and dropped down on one knee facing the barrier.

"I am at your command, Commander Scythe," he said.

The gentle hum of the barrier turned into a loud buzz for a moment before the whole thing disappeared with a click. The light levels dropped to a soft blue glow barely illuminating the tunnel beyond his cell.

"Impressive," Scythe said, stepping into view, Leech's yellow optics on her shoulder giving away her position more than her silhouette did. "Your ability seems to be similar to mine. But can you tell exactly where someone is?"

She moved, disappearing from his field of vision. He tensed even farther. Her signature was still strong. She was still close.

"No," he admitted, looking at the floor. "I can only tell that you are still close by."

"Is that so?" she said from somewhere behind him. "Then can you tell me…"

Zero-IN flinched and then forced himself to stay still when the sudden weight of the small femme settled on his shoulder.

"Is there anyone else here?" she asked.

"There is…" It was hard for him to concentrate with her so close. He could feel Leech's tails sliding along a transformation seam. "Out in the tunnel… the other dark colored flyer- not Echo."

"Ho? You are good," Scythe hummed. She must have noticed his discomfort because she reached around and pulled Leech's tails into her lap. "But from what I can tell, he's actually standing right in front of you."

Zero-IN jerked his helm up and stared as the glow from the tunnel was blocked by the seeker materializing out of thin air right in front of him, just as Scythe said. Now that he was visible, Zero-IN was picking up his energy signature properly.

"Hm. So this new ability isn't perfect if the two of you can still sense me," Ucon said, looking down at his servo as he partially cloaked it. Since they were already able to teleport, the AllSpark gave Ucon and Warpkey a different ability when they came in contact with it. The ability to cloak themselves and turn invisible.

"True. But abilities like ours are extremely rare so you don't have to worry," Scythe said. "Plus, his ability isn't as good as mine. He couldn't tell where you were exactly. As long as you're quick enough, you could still take him out before he notices."

Zero-IN dropped his gaze. What were they planning for him?

"Indeed. Between Warpkey and myself, I doubt he'll stand a chance," Ucon said, crossing his arms. "We'll keep an optic on him."

"Good. Then, Zero-IN," Scythe knocked gently on the side of his helm, "you're free to leave this cell."

Zero-IN finally turned his helm to look at her with wide optics. "What…?"

"I said, 'you are free to leave this cell'," Scythe repeated. "You're still confined to the base, but it'll be less cramped."

"And don't even think of doing anything stupid. My partner and I will be watching you," added Ucon, optics narrowing as he glared down at him.

"Y-yes. I understand," Zero-IN replied quickly, lowering his helm. This was better than he could have hoped for.

"Now then, to the medbay first," Scythe said. "To your peds, mech."

Zero-IN hesitated. He wasn't sure he could stay steady enough to make it to his peds with Scythe still sitting on his shoulder. "U-um…"

"For Primus' sake, Commander," Ucon huffed, noticing Zero-IN's discomfort. "I know that Laserblades could be scary even back in my day, but you are downright terrifying the living spark out of the damned mech."

Zero-IN stared in surprise as Ucon casually reached down and plucked the Laserblade right off his shoulder and then promptly deposited her on the seeker's own. To think a subordinate would dare treat her, a commander, like that, or that she would even allow it to happen… What in the Pits was going on here?

"Well, thanks to a certain someone, I don't have the greatest of reputations," Scythe replied, nonchalantly. She didn't seem to mind that she had just been mech-handled, settling on her new perch like it was normal.

"Are you referring to the master, or his apprentice?" Ucon asked, reaching down again. This time, he grabbed Zero-IN by the arm and pulled him to his peds.

"The blame can fall with both, for all I care," Scythe said as Ucon ushered Zero-IN out of the cell. "But there are a few perks to having a bad reputation."

"Depends on why it is a 'bad' rep," replied Ucon, taking up a position slightly behind and a little to the left of Zero-IN with a servo on his back to steer him in the right direction.

Zero-IN was content just to remain quiet and listen as he walked ahead of Ucon. The dim glow in the tunnel was coming from lamps that were set periodically in the walls, but the light was even brighter ahead of them.

"Hmm," Leech hummed thoughtfully. "'Bad' as in 'fragging scary because she's been known to be quite brutal when killing her targets because she was in a bad mood'," they offered.

"More like 'fragging scary because a mad scientist uploaded the sadistic part of his personality to the parasite that would take control'," Scythe corrected.

"A combination of both really," Leech said with a shrug of its tails.

"Mm, yeah. I guess that's true," Scythe agreed.

"So 'bad' as in 'tends toward cruelty', got it," Ucon confirmed. "How very Decepticon of you."

"Again. Not completely my fault," Scythe grumbled, propping her elbow on her knee and her chin on her servo.

Ucon laughed. "You are certainly a strange one, Commander."

Strange is right, thought Zero-IN as they finally left the tunnel and entered the huge cavern that served as the main hall of the base. That was not a conversation he was expecting to hear. It almost sounded as if this mech was not aware of Scythe's reputation. But that seemed impossible. Everyone knew about Megatron's favorite little assassin.

Almost as if she sensed his confusion, Scythe spoke up. "Ucon here, and his partner, Warpkey, are old seekers. They followed the Fallen, the first Decepticon, before Megatron. They have been on this planet since before Megatron started the war with Optimus."

"I wasn't aware that there were other Decepticons before Lord Megatron," said Zero-IN, glancing over his shoulder at Ucon. "How did you meet Commander Scythe?"

"She stabbed my wrist to save a fleshling," said Ucon as he guided Zero-IN to the other side of the main hall and down another tunnel to where the medbay was. "Then one thing led to another, like needing my wrist replaced, and here we are."

"A fleshling?" asked Zero-IN.

"One of the more intelligent native lifeforms on this planet," replied Scythe. "You might get to see one someday."

Zero-IN wasn't sure if that was a threat or if she was being genuine. At this point, he was still too afraid to ask. However, what he had been doing was paying close attention to the energy signatures around him as they were walking. He was picking up lots of traces of all the mecha he had seen with Scythe. But what stopped him dead in his tracks outside the medbay was the faint signature of Starwake, alongside the medics', from beyond the door. Ucon stopped beside him.

"What's wrong?" Scythe asked.

"...Starwake?" Zero-IN said distractedly, staring at the wall as if trying to see through it.

"Yes," Scythe replied. "She's in there."

He turned to her, to stare again with wide optics. "You didn't kill her?"

Scythe tilted her helm. "Should I have?"

That caught him off guard. "Uh, well… I mean… I guess we all just expected- assumed that you would…" He dropped his gaze, unsure and a little afraid of how she was going to react. "G-given your reputation and all."

Scythe just shook her helm. "'Given my reputation', huh? What did you say just now, Ucon?" she asked, leaning slightly toward his helm. "'Tends toward cruelty'?"

"Indeed," the seeker replied.

"Hah. Yes, I can be cruel," she said, making optic contact with Zero-IN again when he looked up. "But that doesn't mean I always was. Or that I always have to be. I am more than my reputation. Wouldn't you agree, Warpkey?" she asked, leaning back now and tilting her helm all the way back, stretching her neck cables, to look at something, presumably above and behind her.

The taller, gold and brown seeker materialized there, behind Ucon's shoulder.

"'More than meets the optic' as the saying goes," Warpkey answered.

When the seeker's signature became more apparent to him, Zero-IN noticed that there were distinct traces of what he was now certain was AllSpark energy in it, just like he had picked up on Alfa.

Scythe looked back at the dark mech. "Zero-IN, make a note," she said, gesturing toward the mech behind her. "This is Warpkey, your other handler. Also, he's less tolerant than Ucon, so watch yourself."

"Yessir," Zero-IN replied with a stiff nod.

"Good mech. Alright." She waved toward the door behind him. "Medbay."

Zero-IN obediently turned toward the medbay. The door slid open when he reached it and he hesitated. Ucon's servo on his back prompted him to step inside.

"Fritz, Delta, a patient for you," Scythe called as Ucon entered behind Zero-IN.

"Oh, you decided to let him out, huh?" Delta asked as he came over. "Well, have a seat. I'll grab my medical scanner."

As Zero-IN sat on the closest med berth as instructed, he looked around for Starwake. She was lying on a med berth at the other end of the room. Whole pieces of her chest armor were now missing, leaving her spark chamber and other internal components exposed. Fritz was next to her, carefully taking apart one of her arms so that he could remove the parts that had been cut and ruined by Scythe's blade.

"We are keeping her in induced stasis right now," Delta told Zero-IN when he came back over to the mech and noticed him staring. "At least until we can get her chassis repaired. The servos will come later."

After Zero-IN's repairs were finished, Ucon showed him around the base. Scythe had been called away before that, so it was just him and the dark seeker. Warpkey may have been close as well, but his signature was harder to pick up than Ucon's when he was cloaked.

Zero-IN was impressed by the sheer size of the base. The main hall was an enormous natural cavern with several branching tunnels and rooms. Some of them, like the tunnel that led back to his cell, were also natural, while others, like the medbay, had been carved out of the rock and reinforced.

"That's the Communications center," Ucon said as they passed one particularly heavy looking door. "I'd steer clear of there if I were you. That's Echo's domain."

Ucon didn't say anything else about it but Zero-IN completely understood what the seeker was implying.

Bolthex's workshop started out as a natural cavern. However, as he took on more projects, he needed more space, especially after building the SDS, so the room had to be expanded. It was quite large now. Not as big as the main hall, of course, but large enough that Bolthex could have built a small, complete spacecraft in there if he wanted. Needless to say, Zero-IN was still impressed.

As he looked around the room, Zero-IN happened to notice his scanner sitting on top of one of the many workbenches. Being as nonchalant as possible, he moved over to that bench. A quick glance over his shoulder told him that Ucon was talking to Bolthex and neither mech was paying attention to him. Either they were incredibly lax, or this was a trap. Zero-IN decided it was worth the risk either way as he snagged the scanner and tucked it into his subspace. He started moving away from the workbench.

"Alright," Ucon suddenly spoke up, turning toward Zero-IN, who barely managed to suppress a flinch. "Ready to move on?"

"Uh, sure?" Zero-IN replied with a shrug.

Bolthex watched them leave and then looked over to see that the scanner was missing. He touched his comm.

"He took the bait," he said.

{Good,} Scythe replied. {Now we wait.}

When Ucon finally left Zero-IN alone, it was in a small room with a raised rock slab for a berth and not much else, not even a door.

"We'll see about getting a door," Ucon had said, "but for now, this will suffice for a little privacy. Warpkey and I will be across the hall if you need anything." And walked out.

Zero-IN sat down on the slab and leaned back against the rock wall. If that wasn't one of the most nerve-racking solar cycles he had ever had in his life…

At least it was over for the moment. He sighed, some of the tension leaving his frame as he did. Looking around the room, he noticed that the slab was set back far enough that he could not see out into the hallway. Which meant no one in the hallway could see what he was doing right now either. Keeping his sensors tuned on the hallway, Zero-IN pulled out his scanner and inspected the casing. It did not appear to be tampered with, but judging by the workshop, that mech, Bolthex, seemed to know what he was doing.

Zero-IN stared at the scanner. It was too easy, honestly. This had to be a trap. They wanted to know why he was there. Or they probably knew already, they just wanted to confirm. Wanted to see if he had the bearings to make a move.

First of all, however, he needed to confirm he could even pick up the AllSpark's signature here. He booted up the scanner with anticipation, only to panic as it came screeching to life with a loud series of beeps. He quickly silenced it and stuffed it back into his subspace just in case someone came to investigate the noise.

"Everything ok over there?" he heard Ucon call out.

"Uhm, ye-Yes," Zero-IN called back. "Everything's fine."

"If you say so."

Zero-IN sat perfectly still for a long moment, dialing up his audials and keeping his other sensors tuned. Ucon's signature remained faint and there seemed to be no other signatures nearby aside from his. He heard Ucon muttering across the hall, but it didn't sound anything remotely like Cybertronian.

Satisfied that Ucon wasn't going to come check on him and that there was no one else nearby, Zero-IN relaxed a bit, dialing his hearing back down to a normal level. He pulled out his scanner again. It was still on and was picking up the AllSpark's signature perfectly. However, much to his dismay, the location was not as close as he was expecting it to be. He was hoping it was either in the base or at least relatively close to it. But, no. Based on the signal strength, it was more than a thousand kilks away.

"Fragging scraplets…" he hissed quietly.

If he wanted to find the AllSpark, he was going to have to leave the base. Which wasn't going to be an easy task, not just because he was going to have to escape his watchers but also because there were a multitude of possible exits to pick from branching off the main hall. And he was pretty certain not all of them would lead him out, if they actually led anywhere at all. Ucon had only shown him the major parts of the base in his tour. A lot of the smaller tunnels and rooms were left out.

He put the scanner away and leaned forward, putting his helm in his servos. How in the Pits was he going to do this?

In order to observe things, Zero-IN just sort of meandered around the base for the next couple of solar cycles. As it turned out, he practically had the place to himself because, with the exception of his watchers, everyone else was either gone or holed up in their respective niches.

To the Pits with trying to be sneaky then, he thought. For all he knew, his watchers were always standing right next to him. And they had already said they would stop him if he was doing something wrong, so if they didn't like him using his scanner then they'd just take it from him. With that resolve, he pulled out his scanner, picked a random tunnel to start with, and went to work.

After a while of watching Zero-IN walk around the main hall with the scanner in his servo, Ucon sent a comm to Scythe.

{Just wanted to let you know, he's on the move.}

{He's searching?}

{Once he realized he was alone except for us, he stopped trying to be subtle. He's been systematically checking the tunnels. I think he is going to try and make a break for it as soon as he finds the 'right' one.}

{Yeeeah. That one won't get him very far. Don't do anything. I'll be right there.}

{Understood.}

A short moment later, Scythe called Ucon back.

{I'm here. Where is he?}

{He's-}

"He's running," Warpkey said as Zero-IN suddenly took off down the tunnel he had just entered.

"Then let's go after him," Scythe replied, appearing on Ucon's shoulder.

Zero-IN had finally found the right tunnel. The signature was strongest there so it had to lead right to the AllSpark. So without a second thought, he bolted.

He had no doubts that his watchers were following him. Especially when both of their signatures became more apparent. He swore silently when he noticed that Scythe's signature was there too, and he dropped to his wheels to get more speed.

"He's gaining speed. He must've transformed," Scythe said, accessing the SDS since Zero-IN was now outside the natural range of her ability.

"Clever mech," mused Ucon. "As flyers, we don't have much maneuverability down here."

"You don't. But I do," replied Scythe. "You guys keep giving chase. I'll run ahead and make sure he doesn't get himself stuck in the 'funnel'." And disappeared.

Zero-IN had gone pretty far when Scythe suddenly appeared right in front of him. Out of instinct, he swerved hard to avoid hitting her. Without trying to brake, he drove up the slope of the wall. When he reached the point where his alt-mode started to fall backward, he transformed. He landed on his peds and kept going.

But just a little farther on, the previously wide tunnel suddenly narrowed down sharply, to an opening that even Scythe would have trouble getting through. (At least in her robot form.)

Zero-IN stopped, unable to physically go any farther, and dropped to his knees in despair. Looking down at his scanner, he noticed that he had barely gotten any closer to the AllSpark. Damnit.

He flinched at the sound of Scythe's voice beside him.

"Are you going to come back on your own or should we drag you back?" she asked.

"Do whatever you want," Zero-IN replied, not looking at her.

"Very well." She stepped back. "Ucon."

The dark seeker came up behind Zero-IN, grabbed him by the back kibble, and pulled him backward, teleporting as he did. The next instant, Zero-IN found himself being thrown to the floor in the main hall. Another servo, larger than Ucon's, closed on the base of his helm and he was yanked back up to his knees. Zero-IN remained perfectly still as two of Warpkey's sharp digits were dangerously close to the energon lines in his neck.

"Well, it looks like he's not as much of a coward as I thought," said Alfa, stepping into Zero-IN's line of sight. He bent to pick up the scanner that Zero-IN had dropped. As he was lifting the scanner off the floor, Scythe came over and sat on it. He paused.

"Please," she said, looking up at him.

Alfa huffed. "As you wish, Commander." He straightened up, keeping the scanner level so that Scythe wouldn't fall off her perch.

"So, Zero-IN," Scythe started, once she was high enough to look him in the optics, "do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"If the AllSpark is here, why haven't you sent word to Cybertron?" Zero-IN demanded, tone harsh despite his situation. If he was going to die here, he at least wanted some answers first. "Where is Lord Megatron?"

"Out of the picture," Scythe growled. "And he'll remain so for as long as I can help it."

Zero-IN stared. "Shatter was right… You betrayed the Decepticons."

"Hah. This is the Decepticon," she said, pointing at Leech. "I, as a Laserblade, wanted nothing to do with that damned fragger or his stupid war. I was forced into this role without my consent, so you'll have to forgive me for not feeling any loyalty to a mech I slagging hate."

Zero-IN blinked, unsure of how to respond to her outburst. The tangled mess of emotions Scythe was giving off seemed genuine. Not to mention, enslavement of another bot sounded absolutely like something Megatron would do. But if she wasn't helping the Decepticons anymore, then what about…?

"What about the others?" he asked.

"'Others'?" Scythe repeated, tilting her helm in confusion.

"The Decepticons who are following you."

"Ah… They're all following me of their own accord. The only one I had to coerce at first was Echo, for obvious reasons."

"And I have yet to regret that promise," Echo interjected, coming up beside Alfa. "Especially since you have saved Alfa's life twice now."

"She saved your life too," added Alfa.

"Warpkey," Scythe said, gesturing for the seeker to back off.

Warpkey let go of Zero-IN and took a step back. Zero-IN slumped down on his heel struts and reached up to rub the side of his neck to check for damages.

"This option is also open to you and Starwake," Scythe put out there. "As well as the others in your crew."

Zero-IN jerked his helm up and stared at her with utter surprise.

"Even- Even after everything we did?" He looked up at Alfa and Echo, unbelieving.

Alfa just stared back at him, but it was Echo who offered an answer.

"We're fine with it as long as you promise to never betray Scythe," he said. "A promise that should not be made lightly."

"...Given her reputation?" Zero-IN asked. And then ducked his helm when he noticed Scythe twitch.

"I swore to protect those under my command," Scythe said, her words carrying both a promise and a threat. "You stand with me, I'll protect you. Turn against me, and well, your best chance of survival is to run for the stars." She disappeared off the scanner and reappeared on the floor in front of Zero-IN. "And if it means anything, I hate pretty much all of the Decepticon high command. I would rather jump into a smelter than let them know where the AllSpark is. Especially Shockwave."

"Out of curiosity," Echo asked, "would you give it to the Autobots? Like if Optimus Prime himself came looking for it?"

"Prime, huh?" Scythe pondered. "I don't know. I think I would like to meet him first. Anyway, give it some thought, Zero-IN." And she started to walk away.

"What happens to me if I say no?" Zero-IN asked suddenly.

"I haven't decided yet," she replied, not looking back as Alfa and Echo followed her.

"Sucking you dry and dumping your aft next to Megatron's is always an option," Leech called, its mouths hungrily tasting the air in full view of the mech.

"I think I'd rather jump into a smelter," Zero-IN muttered with a shiver.