Duty and Deceit

Chapter 17

Divisions

She walked into Soundwave's office with her shoulders slumped. She'd left Darkshine for dead. She was certain at the time that there was no other way, but now that she was out of the heat of battle, she couldn't help but doubt her decision.

What if there had been a better solution? Could she have saved Darkshine? Who was she to order one of her best friend's death? Surely there was something she could have done? Maybe they'd have been able to get her out before she was gone...

Many such second guessing doubts fluttered through her processor as her spark ached like a wound. Her report was short and its quality had been half as good as her usual. She couldn't be a leader; not if this was what it was like. She couldn't bear to be responsible for the sparks of all those below her. Her spark felt like a hard brick in her chassis, stiff with hurt and uncertainty.

Finally her jaw tightened as she was filled with determination. She would avenge her city, but becoming a war-leader was not the way she was going to accomplish that. What good did vengeance do if she destroyed her new home and life to obtain it? Then she'd only have lost two families.

Facing her commander where he sat calmly at his desk, she placed her request. "Commander Soundwave, sir. In this mission, I have proven that I have not the leadership skills necessary to effectively perform my duty, thus for the good of the cause, I request that I be permanently removed from active leadership duty. Sir."

Soundwave cocked his purple helm and held up the valuable micro-chip she'd obtained. Her optics hardened at her commander's obvious disagreement with her evaluation and suggestion.

"Sir. With all due respect, are not the lives of our army more important than a single cyberyllium data chip? If I'm unable to bring back all of the mechs serving under my leadership, I have failed as a leader. The Decepticon cause is still small in number; I do not wish to be the one responsible for decreasing that number further as a result of my poor leadership. Sir." If Soundwave would not understand duty, perhaps the statistics would prove more fruitful.

Her commander spoke through a recording of Optimus Prime. "The burden of leadership weighs heavy on one's spark…"

She looked at the floor. He knew. Soundwave generally noticed what others would overlook. An image of the commanders' roster appeared on his visor and then a dark blue line was drawn through her name. Next, he brought up an image of the field duty roster. He made no changes to it and nodded. With a subtle twitch of his hand, Soundwave indicated that she was dismissed.

With a nod, the dark two-wheeler left the room, understanding his message clearly. She would not lead, but she was still expected to go on field whenever Soundwave deemed fit.

Two Joors Later

She watched Shadowlight carefully as she walked into the med-bay. The silver jet was hugging her knees to her chest-plates and rocking back and forth where she sat in the far corner of the room. Her friend's silver wings were trembling and a low keen was coming from the jet's engine.

Not sure how she would be welcomed – if it were her, she'd be ready to kill the one responsible on sight, friend or not – the black and navy femme stepped in cautiously. Shadowlight needed some time alone, but she had needed to get a special ointment for her elbow joint where one of the Autobots had shot her. Her own med-kit hadn't had it, and pain-killers could only help for so long before repairs needed to be done.

The spy knew instantly when her presence had been discovered, for the silver jet's tears ceased and Shadowlight stood up and stormed straight for her.

"She's dead now. I felt her go." Shadowlight said quietly, her voice dangerous and her armor flared in rage. The jet took a few more menacing steps toward her as she spoke. "Darkshine's spark went out while you were reporting our 'victory'."

Instinctively, she stepped back until her dorsal plates hit the cold wall. She didn't want to fight her friend. She whispered painfully, "There was no other way…"

"Oh, I get it. 'There was no other way'. Is that the best excuseyou could come up with? My twin is dead. And it's your fault. You gave the order that killed Darkshine."

Her small engine whimpered as the jet drew nearer. She looked around for a place to run, but the only door had closed behind her. "Shadow… What else could I have done?" She asked almost desperately, her own spark already plaguing her with guilt and doubts. "What would you have done in my place?"

Shadowlight raised her medical-grade saw over her helm as the space between them disappeared. She yelled. "Iwould have saved her! Even if it meant the failure of the stupid mission! Isn't the life of your friends more important than a useless scrap of cyberyllium? Are a few pathetic kiloquads of data more important than Darkshine's spark? NO! Iwould have saved her!"

Something inside the little Prussian blue femme snapped and her temper broke loose. "You think I wantedthis?!" She roared, shoving the turning saw blades away from her. "You think that decision was easy? She was my friend! We've known each other for vorns. If you think you're the only one feeling the pain of her death, then you are a fool Shadowlight. Maybe if you weren't being so selfish you'd see that you're not the only one with a broken spark."

Shadowlight screamed in fury and lunged at her with twin saws drawn and spinning at full-speed. The spy howled as her cannon was sliced off along with half of the armor under it. Shadowlight yelled at her, coolant streaming down her silver, streamlined faceplates. "What do youknow of spark-break?! We were twins. Darkshine and I shared one spark! Half of my spark has literally died, it's your fault, and you dare to presume that you understand my loss?!"

The spy's armor went slack and her spark went still for a moment. There was no good reply to that. Even if there were, Shadowlight wouldn't hear it. And the jet wouldn't stop until someone paid for her twin's death. Her engine whined again as she dodged the deadly saw blades. She screamed, and heard Skyquake and a few others outside the med-bay.

They were trying to get in to her, but Shadowlight had smashed the automatic door controls on her way towards the two-wheeler. The only way in was to break the thick Cybertonium doors.

Shadowlight swiped at her left knee joint, knocking her to the floor. Both of her arms were now too weak to be useful. She was helpless. She raised her silver hands in a vain attempt to protect herself as the spinning saws bore down on her face.

"For Darkshine." The silver jet whispered fiercely. The left saw swung towards her helm, the motion almost identical to that used by most medics in amputations. Her best friend was now using her knowledge of healing to try to kill her.

She screamed again as the blade touched her navy battle mask, shredding through it and into her face-plates underneath. Suddenly the doors burst open and Shadowlight turned to see what had happened, saws still spinning. The movement jerked the blade to the side, making the wound jagged.

Skyquake burst into the room with two troopers at his side. Shadowlight dragged the saw away from her face and turned to face the ones responsible for the interruption. The silver jet leapt at Skyquake, maddened by her grief and fury.

The spy's optics were flickering through the pain in her numerous wounds, both from the recent battle and from Shadowlight's raging attack, and she gently raised one hand to her face-plates. The battle mask was bent and mangled, digging into her face and exacerbating the relatively small scrape.

She stayed online just long enough to see Shadowlight restrained and Skyquake rush up to kneel in front of her. She felt him gently lift her up in his arms and locked optics with him for a moment. His wonderfully ruby red optics were filled with worry… It was such a nice color of red…

Her golden optics flickered one last time before the small femme slipped into nothingness.

Terabyte watched as Bulkhead threw the large scrap-metal ball back to her mentor. "C'mon, Jackie! Show me what'cha got!"

Catching it with a grunt, Makeshift lobbed it back at the Wrecker, speaking into their bond as he did so. "So this was your big away mission, eh?"

"Yeah, deep cover infiltration. No Shift, I just thought I'd come get cozy with the enemy for a while; the hospitality in their prison is lovely."She answered sarcastically, still mostly just basking in the feel of her mentor's presence.

"Deep cover... I thought the Wave cut you off of field duty."

That was Makeshift's name for Soundwave. The Wave. Makeshift was loyal as anything, but he never was the most respectful of soldiers. He had a nickname for almost all the higher ups.

"Officially, yes, but apparently that has changed..." She frowned. "Soundwave didn't tell you where I'd gone? I figured you'd count as a higher up..."

"Nice lob!" Bulkhead praised as he threw the ball back.

Terabyte looked over at Miko, who had changed the music she was playing. She still really didn't care for human music, but knowing what to expect helped a bit. Raf had gotten up and was dancing with stiff, unnatural motions. Bumblebee was mirroring the boy. She smiled fondly at the small boy as she watched.

"Be careful, Byte..."Makeshift warned her as he continued the game of Lobbing. "Don't allow yourself to grow too fond of these people, not even the kids. Everyone here is the enemy, remember that."

"I know..."She sighed heavily. "I guess the Autobots' masquerading as decent mechs is beginning to wear on my defences."

Makeshift laughed out loud, making Bulkhead laugh as well, probably thinking 'Wheeljack' was having a good time. She could feel his boredom with the game through the bond though."You getting the warm and fuzzies?"

Terabyte laughed where she was lying against the wall, still watching Raf and Miko. She was about to answer when she glanced over at her mentor... Just in time to see the scrap-metal ball fly high. Makeshift, focusing a little too much on their conversation, jumped too late and missed.

The ball hit the wall behind him with a loud thunk and bounced off, leaving a massive dent in the wall. It landed dangerously close to where Ratchet was working on the ground bridge console.

Ratchet stood up and pointed at the terminal angrily. "You know, I am attemptingto perform sensitivecalibrations here!"

Terabyte listened to their interactions discreetly. Makeshift looked at the medic for a moment before picking up the ball. "Sorry, Doc. Guess we're a little charged up."

Her mentor walked past Ratchet before asking casually. "Built this bridge from scratch, huh?"

Ratchet glanced at the white Wrecker suspiciously. "I did."

"The Autobots are on alert, Shift... Watch your co-"

Just then, Raf ran over to her and looked up eagerly. "Wanna come join us? Please? I'd really like to see some Cybertronian dancing..."

Completely losing track of Makeshift's actions, Terabyte cocked her helm at the little boy. "I think I'll pass."

"Aww... Not even just one?" He begged, pressing one hand on her black knee guard the way he did with Bumblebee. "You've got to be at least a little bit lonely over here by yourself."

Not exactly able to tell him that she wasn't lonely since Makeshift was here, Terabyte frowned thoughtfully. She also was having a hard time resisting the big pleading eyes gazing up at her.

"I would... but I can't dance." She snorted. "I kind of failed that class. Took mathematics and tech instead."

"Oh. That's okay, c'mon! You can follow me and Bee!" Raf said as a compromise. Pulling lightly on her diamond shaped knee plate, the small fleshy led her to the center of the room.

As she followed the kid, Terabyte heard Makeshift grumbling through the bond. "...lying Autobot medic! 'Can't disrupt the defrag process' 'a few hours if we're lucky' my aft! Am I supposed to be too dumb to understand basic ground bridge functions?"

Shaking her helm with a knowing smile, Terabyte closed out her ranting mentor.

Almost Two Hours Later

Terabyte watched the green Wrecker with flat optics and stifled a yawn, not wanting to accidentally drop one of the two humans sitting on her knees. She herself was sitting on the floor.

"So there we were," Bulkhead said holding up his hands. "No communications, low on Energon, surrounded with 'Cons..." He paused dramatically and Terabyte returned her attention to Makeshift, who was leaning against a stack of boxes, boredom rolling off him through the bond.

Mentor bonds were, while nowhere near the depth of twin bonds, still not very common – especially since the war began and trust became harder to win.

"So how's the sleeper? You know, whatsisname; Earthquake? Skybreak?"

Scowling slightly, Terabyte sighed. She knew he only pretended not to remember the jet, just because he enjoyed annoying her."Skyquake. He took serious damage, but the Autobot medic fixed him, said he'll recover. I'm not sure why they saved him..."

All she got in reply was a mental shrug."Dunno what goes through their helms when they do stuff. You been practicing your Shifting still? Have you managed to do it yet?"

"No... Soundwave deleted the artificial Shifter coding right before the mission. He said that after all the vorns of practice yielding no progress, the progra-"

"Tell 'em, Jackie!" Bulkhead said with a laugh. Terabyte shot a worried glance at her mentor, somehow having managed not to jump at the abrupt change in Bulkhead's tone. She'd completely missed everything being said outside her helm; hopefully he'd been paying better attention?

He looked at the eager kids nervously before scrambling together a lame, "Well, uh... what I do best!" He winked and gave Miko a thumbs up to help alleviate some of the lameness of his reply.

"Scrap. No more chatting Byte. My cover can't afford any more screw-ups."

Bulkhead laughed. He seemed a little surprised by 'Wheeljack's' evasive answer but continued. "Heh heh, he chucks his only grenade... straight into the primary heating system!"

Wheeljack smirked and he raised one hand modestly. "Yeah... it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"The joint went supernova!" The Wrecker spread his arms wide to make his point.

Miko shifted on Terabyte's knee-guard. "Awesome!"

"Yeah..." Bulkhead said reminiscing. "I'm still picking shrapnel outta my backside."

From the other side of the room where she stood with Cliffjumper and Bumblebee, Arcee commented in a casually snarky tone, one hand on her hip. "I'm not surprised. Given the sizeof your backside."

Terabyte grinned and shook with silent mirth, jiggling the kids perched on her pedes. Bumblebee's clicking laughter filled the room.

"Ooh... " Cliffjumper snickered. "Ouch."

Makeshift was smiling along with everyone else but cast a glance in Terabyte's direction. "We're both losing our cover, femme-ling. Losing cover."

"I'm not losing my cover..." Terabyte argued, her mood instantly sobered."This was my mission; get in, gain trust, gain intel. They don't suspect a thing."

"No, but the Decepticons are losing you."

Her dark frame went stiff as she realized what her own mentor, the mech who was like a sire to her, was accusing her of. Treason. Becoming Autobot."My loyalty to the Decepticons is as firm as ever! Shift! Why- how could you even-?"

Bulkhead waved one hand in front of 'Wheeljack's' face. "Hey, you alright?" He asked suspiciously. "You don't seem like yourself."

Makeshift's armor went tight for a moment before he got up casually. "Whaddya mean?"

"Well you seem...quiet." Bulkhead said, frowning.

Makeshift laughed. "Aww. 'Been stuck in a can too long." He leaned forward slightly, "I should go topside, before I go stir crazy."

"I have patrol in the morning." The giant green mech suggested. "You could come with!"

"Let's go now." Her mentor replied, turning towards the bridge as he spoke.

Bulkhead shook his helm. "And break up the party? C'mon!" He begged, gesturing to the kids excitedly. "The gang's lovin' you! You gotta tell 'em 'bout Darkmount Pass."

'Wheeljack' shook his helm. "Nah, you tell 'em... you're better at it." He looked at Miko and his sky blue optics narrowed. "Now how 'bout 'Miko' here, show me the rest of your base?"

"Uh... yeah! Sure Jackie..." Bulkhead stammered, confused by the quick subject change and his friend's lack of interest in the tale. "Miko, why don't you go ahead?"

Leaping off Terabyte's knee, Miko clapped her hands eagerly. "Tour starts now!" Walking up to Makeshift the girl started spewing questions in rapid succession. "Do you play any instruments? Can you fly? Have you reallycrashed more 'Cons than Bulkhead?"

She watched the two of them leave and already she could feel the bond dimming, even though the distance was very little. "Don't hurt the fleshy, Shift. She is still an innocent."

"I wouldn't dream of it, femme-ling."

Terabyte frowned at what sounded like sarcasm in her mentor's tone. The image of the offlined Vehicons lying on the desert floor floated to the surface of her thoughts and she remembered the sickened feeling in her gut as she recalled the ease with which Makeshift had killed Voltage and the others before she'd recognized him.

She shook her helm as if to shake the doubts aside. Surely he only killed them to enforce his story. But was it really necessary? The Decepticons surely hadn't degraded that far. No. She would not doubt her mentor's loyalty or the rightness of her cause.

The Decepticons may have a few faults, but anything was better than the Autobots. The Cons didn't destroy her home.

"-n't tell me you're jealous?" Arcee said incredulously, thin hands on her hips.

Bulkhead stepped back and waved a hand at the door Miko and Makeshift had just disappeared through. "That Miko's making a new friend? C'mon..." The mech frowned. "Somethin's...Something's just not right about Wheeljack."

'Oh, mech. If only you knew."She thought quietly, standing up now that Raf had got off her other pede.

Arcee cocked an optic ridge, her almost indigo optics challenging. "Bulkhead, really? He's travelled galaxies, you haven't seen him for centuries! He could just be rocket-lagged, or..." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at the Wrecker. "Well, bots change, you know?"

Bulkhead turned away stubbornly. "Not Jackie."

Terabyte stared at her pedes as she listened to them talk. She muttered quietly. "Everyone changes. Values rust, promises are forgotten, and sparks turn with the times. That's life, it happens to everyone eventually."

That must be all that's wrong with Makeshift, she concluded to herself. Things have gotten rough with Starscream in command and it's just got to him. Once Soundwave finds Lord Megatron, Shift'll be back to normal. Being around Starscream constantly was enough to make anyone a bit more violent.

Bulkhead shook his helm and repeatedly more firmly. "Not Jackie. Jackie never changes."

Cliffjumper looked at him flatly. "I get that Wheeljack's your buddy and all, but c'mon, no one's perfect. Terabyte's right, everyone changes eventually."

"Look." Bulkhead said, glaring at them with a dangerous tone. "I know Wheeljack better than anybody. And that ain't my Jackie."

Terabyte's helm jerked up. The bond was starting to return. "He's coming."

"How do you-?" Arcee started suspiciously. She didn't get to finish.

'Wheeljack' walked in. "What're you guys... talkin' about?"

Terabyte looked at him. Miko wasn't with him. "Where is the kid? You were-"

"Relax. Kid's fine, she's right behind me." Makeshift interrupted, annoyed. "Little brat didn't shut her fleshy trap the whole time."

Bulkhead straightened awkwardly. "I was just tellin' the guys all about you and me... and the Battle of Darkmount Pass." He finished with a challenging edge to his voice.

"That was definitely one of our more exciting stories." Makeshift muttered. "He suspects doesn't he?"

She nodded to both of her mentor's statements. "Lot of mechs died in that battle." She finished too quietly for any to hear, "Not that you'd care... only 'Decepticon scum' died that day."

"Yep." Bulkhead took a menacing step towards Makeshift. "Tell 'em!"

Miko walked in just then, oblivious to the tension in the air. Jack and Raf were still standing next to Cliffjumper. The pink haired girl yawned and stretched. "Talk, talk, talk. How 'bout afterwe go off-roading?"

Bulkhead looked down at her, voice firm. "Miko. Stay outta this."

Arcee stepped in front of Wheeljack, one silver hand raised placatingly. "Bulkhead... easy!"

Makeshift looked around nervously at the group of Autobots. "Little help here? My cover's crumbling!"

Out loud the mech said, "I'm not sure I-"

Bulkhead, ignoring everyone, took another step forward, one hand balled into a fist and raised slightly. His engine growled loudly. "Tell it!"

"Shift, your cover isn't crumbling; it's blown, just get out of here. If I help you, I'll blow my cover too. Then both our missions would be classified as official failures. You know what happens to mechs accused of blowing another agent's mission; we'd both be demoted to the bottom of the ranks!"

"I'm gonna try a salvage."Makeshift answered, his chin raised stubbornly. "Wanna live in the past, Bulkhead?"

Terabyte looked around worriedly, noticing the kids looking up at them with expressions matching her own – if they could see hers, anyway. "You can't salvage this! Your cover's blown, mission failed; just get out. While you still can."

"Shut it, Byte." Makeshift snapped. "I'm yourmentor, remember? Not the other way around. I know what I'm doing."

"The Wreckers were trapped between a Decepticon patrol and a smelting pit." He paused for storytelling effect, before clenching his fists up in front of his red and green chevroned chest. "'Cons were vicious, bearing down on us with everything they had."

'Wheeljack' glanced over at Bulkhead. "Me and Bulkhead engaged the enemy, left 'em for scrap." He raised his hands and made steps in the air. "An' I made a way for us to get out, usin' their backsidesas steppin' stones."

He looked smugly over at the olive green Wrecker. "That how it happened?"

Bulkhead nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Yeah... That's exactly how it happened." His countenance and voice darkened suddenly just as Makeshift visibly relaxed. "Except one little thing..."

The white mech went stiff and his sky blue optics went wide. "What did I miss? That's what the record said happened!"

"Records can be wrong, Shift."

"Iwasn't there!" Bulkhead finished dangerously. At that statement, all optics turned to rest on Makeshift. "I'd already left the Wreckers to join up with Optimus."

The green mech stalked forward even closer, jamming one large servo into Makeshift's chest. "But you wouldn't know that if all you'd done was read Wheeljack's public service records."

Miko spoke up confused. "Bulkhead, what does that have to do with- Whaaaa!"

The human femme screeched as Makeshift snatched her up in one hand. He backed away from them with his hostage and shoving Cliffjumper to the floor, ran towards the ground bridge opening.

"Miko!" Bulkhead yelled, shocking Terabyte with the depth of his concern.

"Makeshift! What on Cybertron are you doing? Put the human down, she's not a part of our war. We fight to protect the innocent from the Autobot menace! Acting just like them will accomplish nothing."

"Stay back, all of you, or I'll squeeze her into pulp!" Makeshift growled, using his own voice now. To demonstrate, he tightened his grip, making Miko cry out and struggle harder. "The only way to protect the innocent is to rule over them. We can only rule through fear. War is full of collateral damage. This yappy little squishy is no more than collateral damage that will win us the war."

Turning to Ratchet, who was finishing the repairs on the bridge before any of this happened, Makeshift rattled Miko in his fist threateningly. She yelped and pummeled his hand with her fists uselessly. Apparently he'd commed the desired coordinates to the medic.

Ratchet nodded and started setting coordinates into the ground bridge control terminal.

"Wheeljack! What're you doing?" Miko yelled, her voice sounding somewhat choked and strained.

"This is not the Decepticon way! I fought to avenge the victims that the Autobots consider 'collateral damage'. The Autobots think that way, that's why Cybertron is now dark! How will copying their actions help us?" She asked her mentor desperately. "What good is worldwide peace if it's only because of the worldwide terror that brought it?"

"You always were too soft towards casualties. You never could make the hard decisions, no matter how hard I tried to make you. Protihex will never be properly avenged, because you're too soft to do what's necessary."

"And you were always just a little bit too Autobot. Quick to kill, slow to leave the battlefield, and never merciful. Please Shift, just put her down and go."

"I don't think you ever learned what it really means to be a Decepticon. Consider your apprenticeship over. I won't be responsible for a weakling."

She barely heard Bulkhead's shout of, "Decepticon coward! Let the girl go and face me!"

Her mentor didn't respond to her pleas, even going so far as to shut her out of the link. Permanently. Terabyte doubled over as the physical and mental pain filled her spark, the terrible spark wrenching pain of a broken bond. She groaned, her servos scratching wildly at her chassis where her spark chamber lay.

Kneeling on the floor, she barely noticed Bumblebee next to her, watching her with concern. One of the young scout's hands was rubbing her upper back soothingly. He had no idea what was wrong with her, but still was trying to help. Strangely nice for an Autobot; too nice. All part of the ever-present masquerade, she supposed.

Makeshift grinned at the Autobot Wrecker savagely. "Don't fret, plenty of fighting to come!"

Jack looked up at her with confusion drawn all over his squishy face. At this point, he probably didn't have a clue what was going on; Autobot friend turned out to be a Decepticon, defector randomly keels over in pain from invisible injuries... no wonder he was confused. "Is there a realWheeljack?!"

Makeshift answered his desperate question with a dark laugh. "Oh indeed. And I expect Lord Starscream is making short work of him."

Terabyte shakily raised her mini-cannon to her mentor's chest, the golden glow of her cannon indicating that the weapon was primed and ready. Ratchet finished setting the coordinates and the bridge began charging up.

Bumblebee put his other hand on her arm and pulled her aim off her mentor. "Don't shoot! You might hit Miko."

Despite the fact that she figured she was a good enough shot to fire safely, the mini-bot let her cannon power down. There was no way she could shoot her own mentor, not even for the human. Not even after being so painfully rejected.

"Makeshift!" She gasped. "Don't-"

He waved his gun at her threateningly. "Quiet, traitor!" The ground bridge portal swirled to life behind him and he grinned. "'Bout time!"

The white mech backed up to the portal and spread his arms wide, shaking Miko in the process. Her struggling had diminished considerably. "'Let's get this party started'!"

Suddenly a white, green, and red mech came through the portal foot first, kicking Makeshift in the back and sending him through the air to land in a crumpled heap against the wall.

Somehow, miraculously, Miko was thrown from Makeshift's grip to land safely in Bulkhead's hand. Terabyte noticed with a start that the green Wrecker's sky blue optics were relieved as he very gently set the girl down before getting up to look at the real Wheeljack.

The mech was crouched down with his gray battle mask raised. Nodding to the kids, who'd gathered around Miko to see if she was okay, Wheeljack lowered his mask and gestured behind him. "I'd shut that portal before the stink comes through."

Ratchet closed the bridge as Makeshift stood up and approached. Both Wheeljacks drew their twin samurai swords and began circling each other with masks raised.

Terabyte stayed knelt on the concrete, hugging herself. Her mind felt strangely empty now. She'd gotten used to Makeshift's mental presence, even if only for a few hours. Even when she couldn't sense him, the bond had always been there. But now... it was gone.

"Don't kill him!" Her shocked processors were numb from the pain of her severed link. At this point, she wasn't even sure which of them she was talking to.

Bulkhead slammed his fists together and moved to attack Makeshift. Wheeljack raised one sword point up to block him. "Ugly's mine."

Moments later they both lunged forward, swords connecting with a crash. They each blocked and parried, ducking and lunging. Neither one was getting the upper hand. In the flurry, Terabyte lost track of which one was who. Her engine whimpered as the ache in her spark doubled at the reminder that she could no longer feel him.

Raf adjusted his red square glasses and asked quietly. "Which one's the realWheeljack?"

Bumblebee shrugged next to her and she ignored him, her golden optics still wide with shock and hurt. Miko raised her finger, which wavered between the two Wheeljacks as she hummed indecisively.

"Aargh!" The girl finally groaned, clasping her hands over her face in agitation. "I lost track!"

Makeshift slammed one of Wheeljack's swords from his hand and it landed out of reach. Wheeljack retaliated, knocked one of Makeshift's blades away where it landed in front of Terabyte and morphed back into the black Cybertonium, jagged-edged scimitar. Wheeljack snatched the other sword from Makeshift and knocked him to the floor, putting his own blade to Makeshift's throat and a foot on his chest.

"That's my Jackie." Bulkhead said proudly.

Wheeljack picked up his other sword, dropping Makeshift's carelessly, and sheathed both of them behind his back. He turned to Ratchet. "You. Hit the switch." He glared down at Makeshift, before looking at Bulkhead. "S'time to take out the trash. All yours buddy."

As the portal opened, Makeshift rolled his helm over to look at her weakly. "Terabyte... you can't let them-"

"I won't be responsible for a weakling." The Prussian blue and black femme quoted her ex-mentor quietly, coolant threatening to roll from her optics. Holding the tears back and clenching her jaw, her tone turned bitter as she continued to throw his own words back at him. "War is full of collateral damage."

Bulkhead lifted Makeshift over his helm and carried him to the bridge, subtly activating the grenade on her ex-mentor's hip before spinning the mech around three times and flinging him through the ground bridge head first. The real Wheeljack grinned as the portal closed.

"Nice lob."

The kids pulled out the sound system and started celebrating the real Wheeljack's arrival and the day's victory. Cliffjumper and Bumblebee joined in the dancing while Arcee stood by and watched them with a fond smirk on her thin features.

Terabyte didn't feel much like celebrating though. She sat down beside Skyquake in the med-bay for a while, but the jet was out cold. Finally she'd settled on sitting down on the stairs. That had sort of become her little brooding spot. It was nice. Out of the way.

This time however, the small spy wasn't really contemplating much of anything. Her golden optics stared blankly at the things going on around her, not really seeing any of it. Her finials were drooping slightly backwards, similar to a peeved cat. She slowly turned the blackish purple blade of Makeshift's sword over in her hands.

After a while, all but Prime, Ratchet, and herself left to see the white Wrecker off. Apparently he'd decided not to stay.

Terabyte didn't move from her spot. No one really noticed her sitting there, which was fine by her. They'd probably want her to talk about it any way. Nosy Autobots.

"May I join you?"

The femme's helm jerked up at the voice and blinked several times, quickly subspacing the black blade. Optimus Prime was asking her for permission to sit down on the stairs. In his own base. Her whole frame stiffened as she nodded, stammering.

"O-of course, my lo- P-prime."

The large scarlet and blue mech regarded her with a sad gleam in his cobalt optics. He sat down beside her carefully, the metal stairs creaking slightly in protest to his added weight.

"Cliffjumper and Bumblebee have told me of your actions this day." The Prime finally said.

Terabyte muffled a whine from her engine as she tried to figure out what she'd done wrong. Reviewing all of her actions, she was almost positive that her actions had been sound. She hadn't done anything wrong!

Her armor shrank down to her frame just a teeny bit. The femme didn't reply, but merely kept her helm ducked down respectfully.

"Are you recovered from your injuries?" He asked softly.

'What do you care?' Terabyte thought bitterly. "I was not physically harmed, sir."

The Prime frowned thoughtfully and remained silent for a while. Terabyte was beginning to think that the conversation was mercifully over when he spoke again, more gingerly.

"Pain of spark then... did you know the Decepticon?"

She looked away before growling lightly. "His name was Makeshift. He was my mentor."

The Prime hummed in understanding, though Terabyte had no doubt that he didn't understand her pain in the slightest. She had now lost everyone that she loved, first in Protihex and now on this dreary dirt ball. Skyquake was now all she had left and he couldn't even remember much more than her name.

A drop of coolant rolled down her face, followed by several more. Terabyte kept her face turned away from the Autobot leader, willing herself to stop. She couldn't let him see her weakness, it would only make it harder for her to join their ranks and complete her mission. The Autobots would not accept a weakling either.

"Do not hide such a thing from me again, even if I am the only one you tell." The Prime ordered firmly. His voice softened considerably as he went on. "However, I understand your reasons for withholding that information... The loss of a loved one is always a terrible thing." Optimus whispered. If she had looked over, she would have seen the mech's optics mist over with remembered pain. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Her tears didn't stop, but the Autobot's false sympathy was too much. Terabyte turned to glare at the Prime with cold yellow optics and snarled, unknowingly slipping into Cybertronian part way through. "I don't want your sympathy or condolences. What would you - know of loss? This war has taken everything from me."

"I did not wish for Protihex to be destroyed."

Guilt? As if. The Prime was laying on the act with more effort than he ought to have bothered himself with. Terabyte stoically ignored the Autobot's optics; she didn't want to acknowledge the sorrow that she'd glimpsed behind them.

"I suppose you want me to believe that it was an accident? 'Cause that's not going to happen."For the sake of her cover, Terabyte added, "I defected because I judged the Autobots to be the lesser of two evils."

Optimus averted his cobalt gaze for a moment. "The Wreckers went against my direct orders when they inadvertently played a part in the destruction of your home. The name of Protihex stands in our memories as a great shame to all Autobots."

Something in the mech's tone led Terabyte to believe him. Perhaps the Autobots really hadn't wanted Protihex destroyed. Perhaps it was purely the fault of Ultra Magnus and his Wreckers. But Protihex had still fallen.

"I cannot pretend to understand the extent of your pain, but I hope to the core of my spark that we Autobots might be able to make amends for the grievous wrongs done by the insubordination of those under my leadership."Optimus Prime told her quietly. Terabyte truly looked into the Autobot leader's optics for the first time; for some reason, she believed him. Turning away to stare unseeing at the empty room, the spy whispered sadly, her tears returning unrestrained.

"Amends can't be made for the dead of Protihex. They are the ones who were really wronged."