Prowl and Nacelle waits for the two reconnaissance officers on the landing platform on the top of the Joint Investigation Unit's headquarter in Praxus. Nightfire slows down in speed when he approaches the platform, and Shadeweaver disengages the magnetic locks that secures her to his alt-mode before Nightfire transforms and catches her securely in his arms.
"Was it a success?" Prowl asks while Nightfire gently lowers his partner to the ground.
The invasive interrogation of Hotglide had unfortunately only led them to the identity of his contact person, and they had instead turned their attention to the transport shuttle. The syndicate had conveniently delivered the transport right into their arms, and while the flames had consumed most of the evidence, their technicians were able to retrieve damaged log files from its flight systems.
It had taken time, but their findings had led them to the large building in the center of Iacon.
"You have no idea." Shadeweaver says enthusiastic.
Nightfire activates a holographic projection of his depth scan of the building and surrounding facilities, and he highlights the areas where he detected the presence of strategically placed ground to air artillery as well as various other types of defensive systems.
"The perimeter is going to be an issue." The dark grey seeker states.
"I know." Prowl says grimly while he studies the projection.
Normally he wouldn't have hesitated to use heavy artillery to combat the members of the syndicate, but with how fortified the base seems to be, he risks that the center of Iacon turns into a warzone if the syndicate retaliates.
"They have efficiently managed to hide the building's true purpose. There are even small companies located on the first few levels to make its presence as an office building even more realistic." Nightfire explains, "I have never seen a more perfect hideout. The entrance is heavily guarded and you are only allowed to enter if you can prove that you have an appointment within the building. They are strict in confirming your identity and scans secretly everyone for weapons."
"And with good reason." Shadeweaver interrupts seriously, "I can with certainty confirm that it is their operational headquarter."
"This..." She brings up a projection of Torrent, "...is their operative leader. He seems to be the one who ordered the kidnapping of Skywarp and Thundercracker."
Nacelle steps forward and crouches down in front of the smaller reconnaissance officer while his hands desperately grabs Shadeweaver's shoulders.
"Tell me you found them."
"I found Skywarp in the medical bay and had a brief talk with him. He couldn't tell me much, but they have taken his warp-gate. He appeared to be unharmed, despite Torrent showing a worrying degree of interest in him." Shadeweaver says with a little reassuring smile.
"What about Thundercracker?"
"I'm sorry, Nacelle. I found no trace of him, and Skywarp told me he hasn't seen him since they arrived. I overheard a conversation between Torrent and Skywarp about Thundercracker's mental state, and if what I heard is true, then it doesn't look good."
"Nacelle..." Prowl crouches beside his bondmate, "...we will find him no matter where he is."
"Come."
Prowl rises and slowly pulls Nacelle with him.
"The rest of the team is waiting for us inside the briefing room. Let's not keep them waiting."
Thundercracker once again sits at the windowsill after having satisfied Torrent's sexual needs, but instead of looking through the window he silently stares at Torrent while the imposing sire stands in front of the large screen and has a vid-conference with several unknown cybertronians.
To his surprise, there is a carrier among them and he can't stop staring at her. She radiates haughty authority and it is clear that the other leading members of the syndicate is showing her deep respect.
Even Torrent shows an almost fanatical deference towards her as he speaks with her.
The vid-conference ends, and one after one the communication links terminate until only the carrier remains on the screen.
"Thundercracker." Torrent turns towards him, "Come here. I want to present you to someone."
He obediently leaves the windowsill and walks over to stand beside Torrent.
"This is Retrograde, our psychiatrist. Her special ability to influence the mind means she handles our most valuable or dangerous assets." Torrent explains, "She controlled the facility where you were stationed before the Joint Investigation Unit discovered it and shut it down. I intend to send you to one of the other facilities she controls."
He knows what it means, and his spark fills with sorrow at the prospect of once again being sparked, solely with the purpose of his creation being sold to the highest bidder when he has given birth to it.
His life as Torrent's personal pleasure slave is, as insanely as it sounds, actually better than his fate at one of the syndicate's breeding facilities. Because how many more forced sparkings can he survive before the subsequent loss of his creations finally drives him completely insane?
::I look forward to work with you again.:: Retrograde says with a friendly smile before she turns her attention back to Torrent, ::I assume he is perfectly obedient and submissive?::
"He is. I am greatly satisfied with the result of his conditioning." Torrent answers and moves behind Thundercracker.
::Look at me.:: Retrograde orders Thundercracker, and he stares into her appraising optics while Torrent's hand moves between his legs. He spreads them obediently and his valve cover slides aside to allow the sire's digits to enter him.
He hears Torrent release the spike as the digits leave his valve, but he keeps his optics focused on Retrograde, knowing that he will be punished severely if he doesn't do as ordered.
She is languidly stroking her neck cables and moans lustfully when Torrent penetrates him.
::Overload him.::
His anterior node gets stimulated and he fights desperately to keep his focus on her as he overloads.
::Perfect.:: She groans and overloads at the sight of his complete submission, ::Do you still intend to have him breed with his lover or can I choose one of my own?::
Hope blooms in his spark at the question.
Skywarp is alive?
Overwhelming emotions fills him, but he keeps his facade of indifference while Torrent's spike begins to move in and out of him.
"He has turned out to be harder to break than anticipated, but I still plan to breed on them." Torrent answers and groans deeply in desire, "If you want to breed him with one of yours, then you will have to wait. Right now I want to see what their mixed CNA can bring us."
Torrent overloads the next moment, and Thundercracker moans as his gestation chamber fills with the sire's transfluid.
::Yes, I am definitely looking forward to work with him again. It still fascinates me that their will to withstand our methods seem to be weaker, if they have been free for a little while.:: Retrograde concludes, extremely pleased with Thundercracker's performance. ::I will have to return to my work, but let me know when they are ready to be transferred.::
Torrent nods in respect and then the connection terminates.
"I am going to miss your valve, but it is safer for us if Retrograde controls you. You already know too much and she will take care of that." Torrent says as he finally pulls out, and Thundercracker collapses on the floor.
"Skywarp is alive?" He asks in a moment of boldness.
"He is, but he is not making it easy for me and I am considering killing him. I can't use a disobedient slave to anything." Torrent growls in anger.
His hope grows, but he has to intervene before Torrent decides that Skywarp no longer is worth his time.