Author's Note: Onward to the next chapter! Thanks to Lynn Jones (Glad I've got you intrigued already!) and Riptide2 (Too true. Actually you could almost imply that everything bad comes from Shockwave but not quite) for reviewing the last chapter! I own nothing but Nexia

Strange Fate

Chapter II, Part I

Mirage was trembling with exhaustion and nerves by the time he reached the Autobot check point. He had become visible an hour into the two hour hike and then regretted it as the energy loss from remaining invisible and paranoia from what had happened earlier in the day took its toll. The fringe guard the spotted him recognized him and let him through without comment. "How was it?" Mirage didn't have the energy to be startled when Hound appeared almost out of nowhere next to him. Besides he was used to it...kind of.

"Shockwave is planning something like you thought," Mirage replied tiredly. "The question is what exactly. There was a cargo delivery today that he was willing to kill to make sure no one knew about it."

"What was the delivery?" Hound questioned.

"You think so highly of my skills," Mirage joked tiredly, smirking slightly. "Crystals. They were clear and warm to the touch. I managed to grab one before I was almost caught." He dug the crystal out of his pocket and handed it over.

"You exceed my expectations as always," Hound replied, smiling. Mirage managed a smile in return. "Get some rest. You look like you need it."

"Not yet," Mirage said. "Not if Jazz is in."

"Whatever you need to tell him can probably wait," Hound tried but Mirage shot him a flat, unamused look. He got a resigned sigh in return. "Try the training room." Mirage nodded his thanks and headed for the main building which housed, among other things, a training room in the basement. He paused then and turned back to Hound, realizing he should probably apologize to his mentor.

"Sorry," he said. "I just have some things on my mind that I have to talk to Jazz about. Then I'll get some rest. I promise."

"Do what you need to," Hound replied with an almost fond smile. Mirage nodded and turned back to the building.

True to Hound's prediction Jazz was in the training room moving through the motions of whatever martial art he was currently learning. Also predictably he knew exactly who had walked into the room. "Ya jus' get back?"

"Yeah," Mirage replied, dropping some of his formal tone as he only ever did with his siblings. Well sibling now. Nexia had given up her life to bring him back. "I need to talk to you."

"What about?" Jazz asked, turning and giving his younger brother his full attention.

"I had a dream the last couple nights and it wasn't exactly what I told you it was about," Mirage admitted. "You remember that story Nexia made up when we were younger? The one about the sleeping girl?"

"The one where she dies in 'er sleep jus' afore her savior gets there?" Jazz asked and Mirage nodded, not trusting himself to speak. "What about it?"

"I had a dream like the room she described the girl was trapped in," Mirage explained, not daring to look up from the floor to face his brother. "And Nexia was there sleeping. I got the feeling she was waiting for something."

Jazz's comforting hand on his shoulder caused him to glance up. "I haven't seen anything while I slept but-" Jazz trailed off and Mirage nodded. Between nightmares of he and Nexia's deaths and running Special Ops Jazz wasn't getting much sleep. "If Ah do see anything or hear any whispers about Nex I'll tell ya," Jazz continued after a moment. "Tell meh if ya dream anything else."

"I promise," Mirage said tiredly, forcing down a yawn. Their mother had come from a long line of prophetesses and seeresses but Soundwave's children had long believed the gift had passed them by until Mirage's latest dream.

"Good," Jazz said with his usual grin back in place. "Now get some rest. Ya need it."

"And you don't," Mirage shot back, already heading for the door. Jazz's laughter followed him out the door and echoed in his mind all the way back to the room the two brothers shared.