Nightshade had planned to leave at sunrise, not risking going outside, they waited by the entrance until someone opened the door so they could see. They hadn't noticed Starscream approach them.

"What are you doing awake so early? It's 6 AM, Nightshade." Starscream said in a tired voice.

"Oh! I'm sorry I didn't see you there. I'm waiting for sunrise to leave, but I didn't want to jeopardize the safety of the base just to check." Nightshade said in a matter of fact tone.

"Ah. Well sunrise is normally just a few minutes from now" Starscream began "but before you depart, there's something important I need to tell you." He finished with a yawn

"Actually I wanted to ask you something." Nightshade spoke up, cutting off Starscream's yawn. "May I?"

"Go ahead then." Starscream replied coolly "ask away."

"Earlier, you said something to the effect of 'GHOST would be the ones to recapture me' if you had left me in Mandroid's laboratory. How would GHOST even know where his laboratory is? Well, was." Nightshade inquired, staring up at Starscream.

"Ah, well that ties into what I was going to tell you. It ties in very well, actually.

Nightshade, you need to know this, for your safety and for the safety of anyone you hold dear." Starscream said with an unmistakable solemness and urgency in his voice.

"Dr. Meridian, is, working in tandem with GHOST. Which is why you must know to keep away from GHOST at all costs. If meridian gets his claws on you… well I'm unsure, but I am sure that neither of us want to find out. Once you get home, shelter yourself. It's a dangerous world out there, and sometimes, the risks aren't worth taking." Starscream finished speaking in voice that shifted closer to anger, but unsettlingly calm.

Nightshade couldn't find the right words to say. They felt their spark drop. "Thank you for telling me, Starscream." Were the only thing they could say.

"Of course, Nightshade." Starscream said with a gentleness in his voice. "You know where to find me, if ever you need me. And please, prioritize you and your loved ones safety. As I have with the Decepticons." He added.

Nightshade nodded before transforming and flying away As fast as they could.

The flight over the Pennsylvanian countryside wasn't terribly long, and went uninterrupted, luckily. The houses were few and far between, and none of the residents seemed to be awake this early.

Finally, they touched down at the family farm, the stillness of night still lingered, and the sun had barely risen from the horizon. Nightshade stared at the sunrise for a few moments, admiring the likely brief moments of peace. With a faint sigh they quietly opened the barn door, seeing three of their siblings. They spotted the fourth, Hashtag, having just awakened.

They approached Hashtag, quietly but the sound of hay alerted her. "Ah? Whoissit?" She said in a somewhat groggy voice. As soon as she turned around to check, her eyes lit up. "Ohmigod! Nightshade- you're back-" she started but was cut off by Nightshade.

"Shhh, not so loud." They said seriously "it'll be less overwhelming to explain it one by one."

"Sorry, What happened? Where were you? I have so many questions." Hashtag started up again, though quieter.

Nightshade sighed, giving her a worrying look.

"Mandroid captured me, and tortured me. He used that mind control device on me." They said in a small voice, looking down.

"Oh my god… I-I'm so sorry." Hashtag said with a deep sense of empathy, embracing Nightshade. "How- did you escape?"

"His lab was bombed by Decepticons, Starscream and Soundwave. They were the ones who saved me. So I went to their base and slept there. It was the only real option." Nightshade explained. "I was too injured and disoriented to fly home. It was safer there than anywhere else. I only just arrived home."

Nightshade awaited Hashtag's response, but it never came.

"Listen Hashtag, Mandroid is working with G.H.O.S.T." Nightshade finished speaking looking down once more.

Hashtag let go as the direness of the situation dawned on her. "Oh my god… this- this is terrible! W-what do we do? We have to warn the rest of our family! We have to tell mom and dad! And Megatron! And Optimus! All of the autobots! They need to know GHOST's dangerous to them…

Oh my god, this is even worse. Mandroid wanted to eradicate all Transformers. If Mandroid's working with GHOST, then that means he could actually do it… and we haven't even begun to figure out how to stop him!" Hashtag said in a rushed panic, though still trying to be quiet, her voice wavering.

This time Nightshade was the one embracing Hashtag.

"I'm sorry to pour out all of this on you Hashtag… I'm not so good with words." they sighed "i don't know what will happen next, but I promise I'll do anything in my power to protect all of us." Nightshade said with a solemnness.

And the sentry owl stood guard, protector of all in need.