"This isn't good." Optimus sighed several days later.

"What isn't, Big Bot? We haven't had any trouble with the neighbors for quite a while now!"

"It's not that simple, Cheetor. Predacons not attacking usually means they're up to something big and nasty." Rhinox pointed out. "And now when Megatron has the disk..."

"It's not just that." Optimus said frowning. "You know how Dinobot keeps talking about honor. Now that he has betrayed both sides at least once..."

"Aw, come on, Big Bot, don't be hard on him!"

"That's not what I meant, Cheetor. To me, he has just made a mistake. I'm sure even Rattrap will get over it after a while. But I'm not so sure about Dinobot himself."

"What are you saying?"

"I don't know exactly. And then there's Rattrap. He constantly picks fights with Dinobot and he avoids Astera and Speedster like he's trying to pretend they don't even exist."

"You're not the only one who's noticed," a voice said.

Astera and Speedster entered the control room.

Rhinox patted the robot child's shoulder.

"Don't take it personally, my young friend. Rattrap is a good 'bot. He's just a little overwhelmed right now.

Speedster shrugged.

"It's OK. Hey, what are you working on? Can I help?"

Rhinox looked at the device in his hands.

"You know anything about communication systems?"

"Do I know anything? I'll bet you I'm the best young technician on this whole planet! What? I really AM good!" he smirked while the others laughed. "Mom says I have a gift. Well, actually, she says it's 40% a gift and 60% sheer enthusiasm. The thing is, it gives results. I was the one who repaired 'Stardancer'. She was good for nothing when we bought her."

"All right then, come and help me." Rhinox said still laughing.

"What a mess." Astera sighed while watching her son and the Axalon's technician happily occupy themselves with the prototype of an improved communication device.

"I knew seeking his real father out might be a mistake but I never thought I would end up in this much trouble. Are you sure my ship is no good?"

Optimus shook his head.

"I'm afraid so. The best we can do with it is use it for spare parts. Unfortunately, I don't even think there's enough there to make the Axalon fly."

"No way!" Speedster shouted from across the room. "You're not taking 'Dancer' apart! I can fix her!"

"I'm sorry but I don't think that's possible." Optimus said mildly. "And even if it was, you can't reach the ship right now, it's too dangerous. Neither you nor your mother can fight and I think you shouldn't try to leave the base for now."

"What if someone comes with us to guard us?"

"It's not the best time for that. We are waiting for Megatron to make his move... Speaking of which..." he turned back to Astera. "We're at war here. And no one has anything against you being a Predacon but..."

"I have to choose a side in this war?"

"It will be necessary."

"All right. Listen to me carefully, Optimus. I will not side with Megatron because I will not side with criminals. I've had enough of this kind of stuff in my life. This does not mean I'm suddenly a Maximal. I don't have any fighting skills that might be of any use to you anyway. But even if I face Megatron in battle some day, I will still be a Predacon."

Optimus nodded.

"I understand."

________________________________________

In the control room of the Axalon the same quiet argument had been going on for several days now. One of the participants was at the end of her patience, but the other one had proven to be unbelievably persistent.

"Mom, I can fix the ship."

"Speedster, will you stop already? You're not fixing the ship!"

"Mom, I can fix it."

"We can't even get there. Do you even realize what situation we're in?"

"Yes, we're stranded at the end of the world, and we want to get outta here. Mom, I can do it."

"Have you thought that we might get killed before we even reach the ship?"

"We'll ask someone to come with us and protect us. Did I mention I can fix the ship?"

Astera sighed in exasperation.

"Fine. If you can get someone to come with us, we'll go. But I doubt it."

"Great. Hey, um, Rattrap!" he called across the room.

The rat-bot turned.

"Huh?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Eh, sure... Hey, you've stopped callin' me 'dad'."

"Yah. I thought you didn't like it."

"Eh... Kid, I have nothin' against you, I just..."

"Fine. Just wanted to ask if you would come with me and mom back to our ship so I can fix it. It won't take long and then we can all leave here."

"Temptin'. But I thought Rhinox said that ship ain't goin' nowhere."

"I did." Rhinox nodded. "From what I've seen, there's nothing I can do to repair it. But this young fellow seems to be convinced otherwise. And I must say he IS a rather gifted mechanic. But personally I still don't think he'll manage the task."

Rattrap frowned.

"If Rhinox says it ain't gonna work, it ain't gonna work. We can't go wastin' our time and riskin' our skins for nuthin'. Sorry, kid, find yerself somethin' else to do." He turned back to his computer game.

Astera shot him a dark look. Not because he had refused, she could understand that. But he was treating her son with complete disregard. And she knew if anyone had a chance of fixing 'Dancer', it was Speedster.

"I will go," came suddenly from the corner.

Everyone turned to stare at Dinobot. Speedster looked around a little confused by their reaction. Then shrugged and beamed.

"Thanks, Dinobot! Then we're going, right, mom?"

"Well..."

"Of course ye're not!" Rattrap shouted.

Astera's eyes narrowed.

"Yes. We are. This might be our last chance before Megatron gets his hands on the ship."

"Ye're kiddin'!" Rattrap protested. "You can't go riskin' your lives fer that piece of junk that's never gonna fly again!"

Astera put her fists on her hips.

"We can't? May I ask why?"

"Because... Well, because... Well, Lizard-breath's goin' nowhere with my kid!"

"Oh, so now he's your kid," Astera said quietly.

Rattrap recoiled and looked around for help.

"Optimus, tell her she's crazy!"

"I won't force anyone to do or not do anything. Although I do think this is an ill-measured risk."

"We're going tomorrow." Astera said decisively and exited the room followed by a very happy Speedster. Dinobot followed shortly after.

"Rattrap, I think you slightly overdid it." Optimus commented softly.

'Eh, yeah, maybe I did.' the metallic rat thought. 'But ain't she stubborn! Still, she was right to get angry at me. Looks like I'll have ta talk to dat girl...'

______________________________________

"Astera! Astera, wait!" he caught up with her.

"What do you want?"

"Hey, don' snap at me like dat! Jus' tryin' ta help here!"

"We have different ideas of help then."

"Why are ya doin' dis? Just 'cuz ye're mad at me? The kid can't fix a spaceship!"

She stopped and spun around to face him.

" 'The kid' is my son. He has a name. And how do YOU know what he can or can't do?"

"Hey, it ain't my fault ya never told me he even existed!"

"From what I'm seeing, he's lucky I never did!"

Turning around, Astera strode down the corridor.

"Sheesh." Rattrap murmured angrily. "What did I ever see in her?"

"She's pretty," came a voice from the ceiling.

The rat jumped a foot high with a yelp.

"Slag it, kid! Eh... I mean, Speedster. Don' go scarin' 'bots like dat! How long have ya been up dere? I'll tell yer mother ya listen in on other 'bots' conversations!"

Speedster shrugged.

"It's not like I sneaked into your room. You were talking in a corridor, anyone could have heard. And it wasn't much of a conversation either. It was only slightly better than what you usually have with Dinobot. Which reminds me, why do you keep being rude to each other?"

"Huh. What do ya think?"

"Dunno. At first I thought you didn't like each other but that doesn't explain why you both look like all your ships have crashed after every time you actually insult each other."

"What? Ya got it wrong. If Scale-belly an' me got offended every time we called each other names..."

"That's not what I meant. I said 'every time you actually insulted each other'. There's a difference. For example, I saw Dinobot leave the base a while ago. I could tell right away he had just had a real argument with you."

"Eh, what gave it away? Da murderous look on his face?"

"No. The gloomy contemplating look on his face. I've seen him like this several times before and it gives me the idea that he might actually be considering some of the things you say. Scary."

"Eh... Well, we... Oh, will ya get down from dere? My neck's startin' to hurt!"
"Nah. I like it here. It's safely out of reach of angry bots." He smirked a bit saying that, and Rattrap felt the corners of his mouth twitching in response. "All right. Just be careful not to startle Chopperface like ya did me, ya might not survive dat. He's so paranoid he'd shoot ya on da spot."
"You're doing it again."

"What?"
"Being bitter about Dinobot. And he's not even here."

Rattrap stuttered, trying to form some coherent response, and gave up with an impatient wave of a hand and a sigh. "Whatever. See ya around, kid."
"Yeah," Speedster murmured, his ears dropping. "See ya".