"Megatron?" Elita asked to be sure she had just heard was what she thought she heard.

"That's right" Control answered.

Baines stepped towards Control "Since when?"

"The Decepticons kidnapped me just before I was to give evidence. They forced me to change my statement that would ensure that Michael would be convicted"

"They weren't there in the room when you said it. You didn't have to go through with it" Baines told him.

"Oh they made very sure I would"

"How?"

"You been watching the news? That British spy that was uncovered in the US recently. That was them"

"I don't see how that connects to the Decepticons, why would they care about something like that?"

Control was irritated by the fact Baines wasn't understanding "They leaked the information on the web. I resisted their traditional means of trying to turn me but they changed tactics and hacked the MI5 servers. Did it in no time at all and picked through it till they found something to work with"

Baines turned around, resting one hand on Control's car while the other scratched the back of his head, it was all starting to make sense.

"They black mailed you?" Baines said rather than asked.

"They can leak more stuff whenever they wish. So that is why I did what I did"

Optimus crouched down to speak with Control "If Megatron has indeed leaked sensitive information and threatens to do so again, then why are you taking such a great risk in meeting with us?"

"Don't worry about the risks. I wanted to meet here because this area is nice a flat with only hedgerows to hide behind. I doubt there are any Decepticons around" Control struggled to keep a straight face at that last part "I wanted you to know what you were up against. I didn't want you barking up the wrong tree"

"So why not go back, tell them you had to lie" Arcee asked standing by her commanders side.

"No way. I do that and they might as well release the entire database" Control countered.

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"Well they have their inside man watching everything I do of course" He said as if they were aware of the fact. The stunned faces told him otherwise.

"Really? You don't even know that? My god your seriously lacking behind"

"To what do you refer?" Optimus asked.

"Mr Barnaby. He's their inside man" Control stated very clearly.

"Him?" Elita asked "Really?"

"Yes, really. I don't know why or how or what relationship he has with them is. But he is working for them. I can't help you any more for now"

Baines stepped closer to Control till they were inches nose to nose. His face said one thing 'Is it?'

"That's all I can do for now. I can't risk losing more assets. I had a simple choice, give up Michael who really is a deniable asset or give up everything else? You'd do the same Admiral"

"You sure there is nothing more you can do?" Baines asked coldly.

Control knew what he meant. He raised his hands up "No, I won't until I'm sure the Decepticons know I didn't tip you off. You need to appear to have worked this out by yourself. I'm not putting my people at risk. Until you can make a credible claim that you know the Decepticons are the perpetrators to this whole thing, only then will I stand up and back you up. But not before then"

Baines took a long breath "You still owe me. Don't forget who got your team out. Russian sonar nets are easy to pass through, especially both ways. I didn't have to do it, but I did anyway"

"I still remember that. But the risk I face is even greater than back then. I will pay my debt soon, but not right now"

Baines stepped back. This fists were clenched, he didn't like it but knew he had to agree with it.

"Fine" Baines eventually replied. He turned away and headed back to his car and got out of the rain.

Optimus considered the options as he and Arcee transformed to leave. Though Elita wasn't done yet. She transformed back into vehicle mode and activated her hologram which stepped out into the rain.

Control saw this and watched the hologram approach.

The hologram's dress turned from a light shade of pink to a darker shaded as it got increasingly wet from the rain. The matching high heel shoes were getting mud all over them. The hologram being careful stepping across the uneven ground.

"I have to admire Ratchet's work on our holograms. Before we could only use them to imitate humans driving our vehicle forms to blend in. Now we can interacted with humans like we couldn't before" She explained as she stepped right up to Control's face "Now it means I can do this" Before Control could react she landed a quick sharp jab to his stomach. He grabbed his abdomen has he was inhaled sharply. Then for good measure she kicked him with her pink high heels between his legs to which he vented out a cry of pain as he collapsed to his knees and rolled onto his back in the mud.

Then the hologram walked back to her vehicle form, got back inside and melted from existence. The pink sports car's engine fired up and slowly followed the other back towards the road.

Control slowly got back onto his feet to see the red glow of rear lights disappear in the driving rain. He grunted in frustration and kicked an imaginary object before getting back in his own black saloon.

"The Decepticons?" Ratchet said in shock "But that doesn't make any sense. Why would Megatron bother trying to get Michael locked up?"

Optimus looked at the faces in the base, Baines had remained silent since they had returned. He was still struggling to grasp hold of the fact.

"We already know that Megatron has made attempts to dispose of Michael in the past and failed. So it would stand to reason that he has now decided to take a different approach to achieve the same aim. This way will not ensure Michael's demise, but it would put him out of the picture indefinitely and it would seem that is enough for Megatron"

"So Megatron has a serious gripe against Michael?" Folwer asked. Optimus merely nodded as a reply. "Michael must have done or said something to really irritated the 'con" Fowler said mostly to himself.

"I would imagine that threatening to kill Megatron and his inner circle would be sufficient" Optimus clarified.

Optimus carried on to explain to the rest of the team the full details. The most shocking part for them was learning that Mr Barnaby was the Decepticon's inside man.

"So what's the plan now?" Jack asked the Autobot leader, who in turn looked to the Admiral.

Baines came out of his day dream to see all eyes on him. He looked at each and everyone of them. He was expecting someone else would make the decision instead, apparently not.

"We confront this head on" Baines started "No more treading carefully. We find Barnaby and we get the information out of him. When we have a signed confession that he has been working on the Decepticons behalf, we bring that to the tribunal panel and order the release of Michael. And we'll have to act quickly before he is put up before court"

Optimus looked to his medic "Ratchet, see if it is possible to get a fix on Mr Barnaby's current location"

Ratchet stepped up to the main base computer and did a quick location fix on Barnaby's mobile phone. The search took less than twenty seconds which was down to the fact that mobiles will constantly make a connection to the nearest network cell once every few minutes. So the longest it would ever take to locate one would be a very short time, that's if a mobile phone is in a cell and not out of range and not switched off.

"He's at his address of residence, in an outlining town from the city of London" Was Ratchet's answer.

He displayed it on a map on the giant screens for all to see.

"Reading?" Fowler said, confused at the name and saying it wrong.

"It's pronounced as redding" Baines corrected. "Takes about half an hour to get to Paddington railway station on the train from there. Big town, nothing special other than it's commuter distance to the city"

"So we gonna bring him here or what?" Miko asked excitedly at the chance of some action. There hadn't been much action lately so she was desperate at the chance of any.

Baines couldn't answer that question. The base wasn't under his command, so he glanced the question to who the base was under the command of.

Optimus without hesitation agreed "We will bring him here. That way we can talk to him being sure the Decpticons cannot get involved in any way. But we will have to take precautions to ensure the safety of the base"

Baines gave his plan of action "Ok, this is what we're gonna do. We are going to locate Barnaby's exact location which is most likely at his home. I'm going to hazard a guess that the Con's are watching that place to so we'll have to somehow lure him away from his home and when he is deemed far enough we'll make a grab for him, check him for any bugs and bring him here"

"Kidnap him?" Fowler wanted to confirm. Baines nodded.

"Can we come?" Miko asked.

"Miko, I don't think that's wise" Bulkhead interjected, his concern for the safety of the child in his charge.

"Actually Bulkhead, I think it would be a wise idea" Baines contradicted.

"Huh?"

"We need to track him, the more people on the ground the better. She can take a role of merely observing, and when things hot up she'll be far enough from any harm. Maybe you two can team up?"

Miko face beamed in excitement. For once she was going to be allowed to go into action.

Baines spoke to the two boys "Well if you want to as well, I don't have a problem. But don't think you have to, I won't think any less of you if you decline"

"That's okay sir" Jack said "Michael helped me before when I was in trouble, and I know he'd do the same for me"

Raf nodded, probably was going to say the same thing.

"Well that's sorted then" Baines said "If you're ready to go, let's get going"

Baines followed the children down the steps, as they raced to their guardian's as he went back to his Jaguar again.

Optimus declined to go this time, stating his vehicle form would stand out too much in a densely populated area. June also declined as she had not long finished her shift at the hospital. Baines understood both their reasons. He climbed into his car and prepared to follow the others through the groundbridge portal.

Back at HMP Southwark the prisoners were put in their cells for the night. Michael laid in his bunk under the covers. The clouds had drifted away and the moon shown brightly. He knew it was the only thing he could look at that the Autobots could see as well. He could hear the noise of the prison. Some of the imates were shouting things he couldn't make out. Some were bashing things around and the one that really got to him was the sound of crying.

He'd had time to think about what was going to happen to him. He was sure that he was never ever going to be realised again. His future would be incarceration, never to end. Then a more chilling thought came to mind. If he was to forever remain behind bars, he'd never see the Autobots or the others ever again. He'd never get to see those he considered as family again. But the worst part was that he'd never get to see Elita again, or speak with her, or be held by her loving embrace. He knew she was out there fighting the Decepticons and also fighting to get him out of this imprisonment. Or would she move on? Forget about him knowing he'd never be realised ever again? He tried to think she would strive to set him free. But something deep down was telling him at some point she would have to move on. Would he be abandoned by by the one who'd promise to love and protect him.

The more he thought about it,the worst it got. He kept his sight on the moon, his only connection to her at that moment. His eyes watered and slowly tears rolled down his face as he cried silently. He couldn't bear to feel the pain of been abandoned and left all alone again.

In the town of Reading the team was set up. They had been coordinated by Baines who had gave the orders of where everyone needed to be. He sat in the drivers seat of his old Jaguar with his mobile on the hands free.

"What's happening Miko?" He asked.

Miko was sat in the front passenger seat of Bulkhead. She looked out of the window at a fairly large house. She looked over the stone wall, through the bushes and through a window in the semi detached house. She could see Mr Barnaby inside.

"He's still watching TV" She answered back through her mobile.

"Okay"

"Guys, how long are we going to wait?" Jack's came through the shared communication link "It's starting to get chilly outside. I mean we can't wait all night for him to do something"

"Have you got any suggestions?" Baines asked.

"No" Was Jack's reply.

Miko kept an eye on the house. She saw movement. Barnaby got up from his seat and stepped out of view. The TV screen still threw constantly changing light in the room so it was still on which meant he would come back. Miko didn't bother reporting this as Barnaby had done this a few times already and went straight back to watching the television again.

This time was longer than usual, he'd only take no more than a minute or so before, but this time he was hidden from view for quite some time.

But then he came back to view and this time he was putting a coat on and bending down to presumably turn the TV off.

"I don't think you'll need to come up with a plan after all. It looks like he's about to go out"

"Okay, if he gets in his car then stay with Bulkhead, if not then you'll have to follow him on foot. Bulkhead, stay close to her on either count"

"As if you had to tell me" Bulkhead said back.

Miko watched from within the warm and safety of her guardian. She waited to see what would happen. The front door opened and the porch light spooled out across the garden. Adding to the soft orange glow of the outdoor light. Barnaby stepped out and closed the blue wooden door behind him loud enough for Miko to hear. He checked the door had locked and padded down the straight paved path. Opened the waist high gate and closed that behind him then walked down the pavement to Miko's left.

"I think he's walking" She said.

"You know what to do. Be careful Miko" Baines told her.

"You ready?" Bulkhead asked her charge with some anxiety.

"Don't worry 'bout me Bulky. If someone wanted to hurt me I know you'll scrap 'em" She answered with were ever youthful flare.

Bulkhead groaned "Just be careful, as the admiral said"

Miko stepped out quietly and waited till she was sure she was out of ear shot of Barnaby. She watched from the cover of her guardian's vehicle mode as Barnaby walked around the corner at the end of the street. She patted the panel of Bulkhead's door and walked around his frame, crossed the empty street and followed Barnaby in the chilly night air.