Jack awoke from sleep feeling groggy. His recharge had ended early, an unsual occurrence that had never happened before. Silence met his audio receptors as he rose from his berth. Strange. There was always something going on in the base, whether it was Ratchets murmured complaints or Miko blaring rock music. He clinched his hands as he felt anxiety well up in his spark, then left his room in search of the others. Had something happened?

Coming up to the rec room, he found Ratchet hunched over the computer consoles as usual, but he was not mumbling under his breath. The medics face seemed especially sour today. Miko and Raf were at the couch, staring up at the computer as well. Raf seemed sad, while Miko was not her normal self, and was, for once, quiet. She seemed worried almost, and it showed in her eyes. Arcee was next to the doc bot, hands at her sides. Jack arched a metal brow, now even more curious than before. He didn't hesitate to voice his questions.

"Hey, everything okay Ratch?"

The medic glanced to the side briefly, and Jack almost laughed as he saw the irked doctors scowl at his shortened name before he received an incoming transmission cut off whatever it was he was about to say. Optimus voice sounded through com.

"We have found Bulkhead." Optimus informed them in his gravely voice, sounding even more solemn.

"Optimus...is Bulkhead...?" Arcee asked, unsure if she wanted to know the answer.

"Bulkhead is alive." The tension in the room lifted slightly, only to return with his next sentence. "However, Dreadwing has planted a bomb on his chest and we cannot remove it without risking setting it off."

"Optimus, Wheeljack locate Dreadwing immediately." Ratchet said to them, typing coordinates in and zeroing in at their location, and began to search the area. "Dreadwing is the only person capable of disarming the bomb." Jack sharpened his audio receptors at the name. It sounded...familiar. Had he heard it before? He wasn't sure.

"Have a little faith Doc. I can disarm that bomb no problem."

Wheeljack sounded so confidence that it was difficult not to believe him. But with confidence came arrogance, and Jack didn't want to risk Bulkheads life on that. Ratchet was of the same mind.

"Even so Wheeljack, I would not want Bulkhead blown into twisted metal if you were to make a mistake."

Wheeljack snorted. "Ain't you worried about me becoming scrap metal Doc?" The Wrecker retorted, amusement coloring his voice. Ratchet fumed.

"Don't call me-" He began, ready to go into a tirade when the com was cutoff. He thought he felt a headache coming on, and pressed his face into his hand. Cursing Wheeljacks name, he never noticed a hand reaching for the groundbridge lever.

Wheeljack gave a dry laugh as he was prying Bulkhead loose from the metal container, looking behind to see that the Prime had disappeared. "Figures." He muttered while taking the cover of the device off. Dozens of wires laid underneath. "He ran away." Bulkhead shook his head.

"Jackie, look up!"

And sure enough, Wheeljack saw Optimus climbing up an unfinished structures with cranes littering area, to Dreadwing. The Seeker scowled at him, bringing out his sword, which transformed into a machine-gun like weapon.

"Dreadwing, remove the bomb." Optimus demanded, dodging swiftly as gun was pointed at him and whirred to life. "Bulkhead has nothing to do with this and killing him would be pointless!"

Said mech scowled, running and jumping around the beams to keep up with the Prime. "My brother will be avenged, if I have to destroy every last Autobot in the universe!"

"Dreadwing, I know you to be a Decepticon of honor, just as your late twin Skyquake was before you." There was a pause, where Dreadwing narrowed his optics, anger in his face plates at the mention of his brother. A hand went briefly to his chest as he felt a weak pulse thrummed through the thought to be severed bond. His optics widened a fraction. It went unnoticed as Optimus continued. "I implore you to switch sides to the Autobots. Megatron does not understand the concept of the honor that you so value."

"I'll never side with a Prime!" He snarled, brushing away his pain and allowed his anger to overtake him.

Almost sighing, Optimus assumed a grim frown as he was attacked again. There was just no getting through some people, he thought sadly.

They fought, landing blows and avoiding some, until Optimus knocked Dreadwing to the ground, pinning him underfoot as Wheeljack and Bulkhead strode over, the three overlooking the scowling Decepticon. Optimus pressed harder as he struggled to get out from underfoot.

"Disarm the bomb Dreadwing." Optimus ordered once again with more force. The blue mech looked like he would spit in Optimus face if had been capable of it.

"Never. I would gladly give up my life if it meant offlining you."

None of them, stubbornly refusing to leave Bulkhead behind. Optimus proudly stated, "And we would gladly die for our comrade." The Autobot leader and fanatical Decepticon follower stared at each other, the timer ticking down fast. With a heavy sigh, Dreadwing nodded glumly.

"Very well."

Removing his foot, Optimus allowed him to stand. He moved over to Bulkhead, kneeling slightly to look inside the wiring. Dreadwing waited a moment, causing the others to twitch with anticipation before tugging on a thin blue wire just before the clock reached zero. Bulkhead sighed, immensely relieved and grateful not to have been blown into smithereens. That had been close! Wheeljack muttered something about having narrowed down to red or the blue. Or the yellow. He was given a dry look, which was returned with a wry grin.

"Whew!" Exclaimed the green mech. "That was close."

"Indeed." Said Optimus.

Dreadwing kept his optic on the two, reaching for a detonator when the sound of a groundbridge ripping through the air halted his hand.

Jack wasn't sure what made him do it. One minute he was listening to Ratchet typing away and muttering curses, and the next, he was transforming into his alt mode for the first time. He had shot through the groundbridge, causing Raf and Miko to fall backwards from the force of his thrusters. Even Arcee had skidded a few feet. Neither of the bots were close enough to stop him, and stared at where he had been. Jack thought that perhaps he had been tired of waiting for another word from the Prime, and blamed that on his ever increasing anxiety. It had built up quickly in the short time, nearly to the point of being unbearable.

Now however, he was glad he had done so, as the wind caressed his wings. He flew over the docks, unaware at first of the four below him, staring at him. He was too engrossed in the sensation of flying, the cold air cooling his heated plating. It felt so good. Why hadn't he done this before! How could he had ever been afraid to try?

He glanced down, and only then realized that he was being watched, most intently by the large blue one he'd never seen before. And Jack couldn't help but stare at him, and he at Jack. There was something about him that he just couldn't tear his attention away. Even from here, he could see the disbelief in the mechs optics. Then the blue one, Dreadwing he assumed, started at a run and transformed into a jet that was identical to his and within a moment was next to him.

And in an second all the weight that had been on him since he had entered this body disappeared, replaced with instead an insatiable craving for the emotions surging through him, that certainly weren't his. He felt loved and missed, and so very happy. And then he found his own feelings back and realized that the mech flying next to him was the source, connected by a link he couldn't explain.

Feeling as though he had no control over his body, and someone else had taken control, he lifted upward in sequence with the blue jet, and they spun around one another in a tight corkscrew. Upon reaching the top of their ascent, they split off, only to return to each other and dance through the sky together. It was quite a spectacle to the Autobots watching, who never took their eyes of them. Or more precisely, on Jack. At least until they had to throw themselves to side as the two took a nose dive, and transformed at the last possible moment before crashing. Their heavy landing caused the ground to shake, and left thick cracks in the concrete. Jack watched the mech shamelessly, only a few feet away from him. Dreadwing stared back at Skyquake, looking the happiest that anyone had ever seen him, a soft(ish) smile gracing his faceplates. Jack saw that he was his twin, in all but color.

Jack felt a strange longing fill his spark, and, unbidden, a single word bubble on his lips.

"Brother..."

Jack reached a hand to his lips, feeling as confused as the Autobots looked. Dreadwing was curious.

"Skyquake..." Dreadwing voice held affection, even as he tried to burying it while the Autobots were watching. "What has happened?" Jack kept a straight, serious face, though did allow a tiny smile, hoping that he was keeping true to Skyquakes personality. Dreadwing spoke again. "I felt your spark die through our bond. You had joined the Allspark! And yet you stand before me now!" Even though he burned with questions, and wanted to demand answers, he was merely glad to have his twin returned to him. He was not about to sully this miracle that Primus had bestowed on him.

"It's a long story." Jack replied calmly, and an idea struck him. A rush of emotions were flung at him through the bond, and just barely managed to catch himself before he gasped or flinched.

"Then inform me later." Said the blue seeker, clasping his hand on Jacks shoulder. "We must inform Lord Megatron of your arrival. He will be most pleased." As he said this, he fiddle with something on his forearm, and sent a com to Soundwave, requesting a groundbridge. While he was distracted, Jack sent a silent com to Optimus.

'Trust me.'

A short nod was his reply, and a bridge flared behind Skyquake and Dreadwing, and Dreadwing gestured him to follow with a jerk of the hand.

And Jack strode forward without hesitation, following his 'brothers' lead.

Wheeljack was seething, drawing his swords as Skyquakes back was turned away from him. He knew it. He knew that they shouldn't have trusted him! With a battle cry, he charged toward the green seeker, intending to slice Skyquakes back open for the world to see. His swords were stopped by Dreadwings thick blade, and pushed Wheeljack away from his twin. The Wrecker was then restrained by Optimus own hands.

"You lying pit-spawned son of a glitch!" Wheeljack shouted after him, trying to break free of the tight grip.

"Wheeljack! No!" Scolded the Prime.

"But Optimus-" Bulkhead started, only to be cut off by his leader.

"Enough!" Optimus shouted in a rare moment of anger, causing Bulkhead to flinch. "Freedom is the right of every sentient being. If Skyquake wishes to return to the Nemesis with his twin, so be it. We have no right to stop him.

His tone rang with finality, and Bulkhead stepped backward. Wheeljack snarled angrily, and elbowed the Prime in the face, forcing Optimus to release him. Wheeljack raced for the retreating forms of Dreadwing and Skyquake, jumping just as they passed through and the groudbridge vanished. His swords clanged loudly as they collided with the concrete, and Wheeljack screamed in frustration and anger.

Hey. I finally posted another chapter. Sorry I've taken so long to update, but I've been going through some stuff like depression among other things. Plus, when I went to watch Transformers: Age Of Extinction, I was really put off writing for awhile. Worst Transformers movie yet. Full of contradictions, and thought that action could take up for a lackluster plot. It sucked and I'm still trying to burn it from my mind.

But I hope you all enjoy this new chapter, and that it makes up for all that lost time. Until next time.