Hot Rod and Mountrek made their way alongside the River where they had last seen Flashflood, although sadly they had found no sign of the rogue Decepticon. But while they couldn't see Flashflood anywhere, what they did find was a red stasis pod; it had been cracked open and a tree was growing through it, with its roots tangled up with the occupant inside.

"Whoa… poor fella," remarked Hot Rod, noticing the occupant's Decepticon insignia on his shoulder. "Well, not exactly poor, but I wouldn't want a tree growing through me."

"I don't know if they're even still alive," said Mountrek. "There's no telling how long the pod's been open."

A groan from the Decepticon answered her question, and they both drew their weapons. Red optics glowed for a moment, focusing on the two Autobots. "So, you found me," he rasped, letting out a humorless chuckle. "If you're here to kill me, you're too late."

The Autobots didn't say anything else, just looking at each other in thought.

Chapter 8: Choice

Aboard the Exodus, Optimus stepped towards the recovering prisoner, who remained still. "Evac, is he…?"

"He's recovering, Optimus. Although what we'll do with him afterward is another question."

The humans stepped forward, climbing up to the operating table. "So, this Bonecrusher guy, I guess you knew him," surmised Matt.

"I did, Matt. Bonecrusher was one of the first Decepticons, and a confidant of Megatron's, but while I left, he didn't." Optimus sat down, knowing that the humans would want to hear more about it. "It was the aftermath of the second war. As different factions rose and fell, many Cybertronians were forced to choose a side, Bonecrusher included..."

"It was the Predacons who found me in Polyhex." Everyone jumped at this voice, Bonecrusher sitting up on his operating table. "Territorial brutes from the Lithium Plains. They forced me into their warrior class, but Megatron was able to liberate me. It's not that I didn't choose, Optimus, I owe him my life."

As the Autobots stared down their prisoner, it was Evac who made the next move. "No sudden movements," he said, applying a liquid substance to the wounds on Bonecrusher's side. "This stuff won't hold unless you remain still."

"I understand, doctor."

"Before we do anything else, did you disable his comm?" asked Speedstar.

"Come on, we don't want to-"

"They've got a point, doc. They can't find me this way."

Evac grimaced, but went through with the process. "Taking out a bot's comm," he mumbled. "Of all the things…"

Along the waterline, Flashflood and the Crawlers were resting when they heard a "ping" through their comms. "Did you hear that?" she asked the other two.

"Was that Bonecrusher?" asked Kingrab. "Is he here too?"

"There's only one way to find out. Burrowface, can you track that ping?"

"It's coming from deeper in the mountain range, mistress," the rhinoceros beetle responded, pointing to the southeast.

"A deep-enough stream runs in that direction. I'll meet you three there." Flashflood stepped into the river, transforming to boat mode and motoring off, with the Crawlers heading out on land.

As Speedstar checked Bonecrusher's file, the humans approached the Decepticon. "Are you natives?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah. I'm Matt, that's my girlfriend Anna. So… you stayed with the Decepticons because Megatron helped you out?"

"It's more than that, it was also his ambition. By wiping out the factionism and unifying Cybertron under one flag, he would have improved our race for the better. If you were around after Gigatron's war, you'd agree.

"I'd beg to differ," interjected Mountrek, sitting next to him. "From one beast to another, I understand where you're coming from, but that doesn't mean I agree. You're happy with your 'one faction' crusade, but I'd rather not fly under any flag at all. I only joined the Autobots because the Decepticons would have forced me to join."

"Is that right?" Bonecrusher placed a hand under his chin, contemplating what he had been told. Her description of those events sounded too familiar to him...

Bonecrusher couldn't see anything through the doors of the crate he was in, forced to crouch down in his beast mode. Eventually, the crate was opened, and the neutral found himself staring at a much larger figure, sporting two halves of a beast head for hands and a wide, toothy grin on his face.

"So, this is what you've found me, then," he remarked to the two soldiers carrying the crate. "I am Rendmane, leader of the Predacon Militia. And you, my friend, are our newest recruit."

"I… what? I'm just a programmer from Polyhex, I don't-"

"Silence, beast!" Rendmane gripped the "recruit's" neck with one of his claws, lifting him off the ground. "You are what Rendmane says you are, and I say you're a warrior. Am I clear?" After earning a meek nod, Bonecrusher was dropped to the ground. "Take him away, give him a nice, shiny brand right on his forehead, and have him refitted for war."

"Gotta say, Evac did a nice job on your shoulder, Bony," remarked Hot Rod, continuing on before the prisoner could say anything. "Much better job than that ground bridge."

"Yeah, guess our medic isn't a very good engineer," agreed Speedstar.

"Unfortunately, we currently lack personnel that specialize in engineering work," finished T-AI, before she analyzed the file pulled up. "Although, we do have someone here who's good at programming."

The green one seemed to understand what she was saying, as they instantly said, "No. Absolutely not."

"Hey, if he's not doing it, it'll never be done," said Evac. "There's no way I'm gonna waste another micro-second on that stubborn hardware."

"If I might speak up," interjected Bonecrusher, rising to his feet. "When I was injured, just cycles away from certain deactivation, you helped me. Now, I'll help you." The Autobots looked to Optimus, who gave an approving nod. "But know this: my actions aren't for the Autobots, but for the countless neutrals hidden across this planet."

With that said, the Decepticon was led to the ground bridge, Mountrek and Speedstar keeping a close eye on him in case he tried anything. Matt and Anna wanted to see how events played out, but fatigue was catching up with them, so elected to head home.

"Tell us what happened tomorrow, yeah?" yawned Anna, as Hot Rod drove them home.

Nearly three hours later, Bonecrusher had made significant progress on repairing the ground bridge. While he worked, Speedstar chose to make small talk-well, they called it small talk.

"So, Bony-"

"It's Bonecrusher, Autobot. Only one other being has called me 'Bony,' and I won't hear it from anyone else."

"Whatever," shrugged Speedstar. "It's been a while, so the details are a little fuzzy, was I the one who arrested you?"

"No. I'd remember your ugly mug if you were," said Bonecrusher. "If you're going to stand there and be annoying, be useful and give me a drivebit, if you don't mind?"

Speedstar handed him the tool, then continued talking. "I think I'm a good judge of character, but I can't figure you out. You stay with the Decepticons, the group that wants to enslave all the civilians, but you also want to save the civilians? Am I wrong?"

The Decepticon set down his tool, rubbing his chin in thought. "I stay with Megatron, because he saved me from the Predacons. We've known each other a long time, I've been incredibly loyal, I'm sure if I voiced my objections he'd stop his plan."

"Don't you believe it." But Bonecrusher was too busy thinking to hear their remark.

Bonecrusher came online to find himself in a very dark structure; all he remembered was Rendmane sending out the whole Predacon army after him, then getting damaged right at the Neracrax border. Was he one with the AllSpark? A voice caught his attention very quickly, as a large grey mech stepped into the room.

"I'm pleased you're awake," he stated, taking a seat next to the escapee. "Those Predacons are a nasty bunch. How do you feel?"

"Sore," coughed Bonecrusher, looking up at the stranger. "Who are you?"

"You can call me Megatronus. I empathize with your plight, everyone on Cybertron and the colonies expects you to be part of some group, they think that anyone not with them is against them. You being here only proves that, and you're not the only one."

"Bonecrusher. What exactly are you proposing? Even the CDF has fallen victim to this factionism."

"Exactly. What Cybertron needs is someone powerful, someone who has the means and desire to end this constant division. Join me, Bonecrusher, and I'm sure together we can make that happen."

"By my estimations, work on the ground bridge is ninety-two percent complete," announced T-AI.

"Thank Micronus," remarked Speedstar, "then we can put Mutt here in an empty stasis pod and throw away the key."

"I can hear you."

"I know, that's why I said it."

Suddenly, a proximity alarm went off, the others checking to see what caused it; four Decepticon signatures had been detected at one of their alarms, heading in the direction of the Exodus.

"They must have detected Bonecrusher's comm," deduced Mountrek. "We can't let them find the Exodus!"

"Autobots, hold them off!" As the fighters departed, Optimus turned to Evac and Bonecrusher. "I'm not sure if it will be safe for you here."

"I'll go, Optimus. If they see me depart, they might leave you alone." The Autobot leader weighed the choices in his head, before nodding in agreement. "Thank you for healing me, Evac. I hope our paths cross again."

Outside, the Autobots found Flashflood and the Crawlers approaching their territory. It was Hot Rod that made the first move-against the wishes of his teammates-by shooting flames in the Decepticon's direction. Flashflood returned fire with a hot water cannon, putting the flames out and temporarily disabling Hot Rod's cannons.

"Uh-oh, looks like someone's useless," she teased.

"Nah, I got more where that came from," retorted Hot Rod, reaching for his wing.

Detaching his sword, he used his leg jets to charge at the aquatic one, but his swing was cut short by Kingrab, who gripped the sword with one of his mighty claws and held firm. While this happened, Speedstar ran towards Tearwing and grabbed at his wings, keeping him from flying off.

"UNHAND ME, AUTOBOT SSSSSCUM!" he bellowed, trying and failing to flap the wings free. "YOU SSSSSHALL PAY DEARLY FOR THISSSSS TRANSGRESSSSSION!"

"Shut up, bug-eyes," said Speedstar. "You're giving me the biggest processor ache I've ever-"

They were cut off by Burrowface slamming her horn into their back, falling to the ground. "How about a backache, Autobot?"

"Enough of this! Crawlers, combine!" ordered Flashflood. "If the Autobots are here, their base must be close by. Push through!"

"You heard our mistress, combine!" ordered Kingrab, as the three robots merged once more into Pestilus.

"That's gonna be an issue," remarked Mountrek. "Anybody taken down a combinber before?"

"Can't say I have," replied Speedstar, before noticing a familiar truck approaching. "But he can!"

Optimus tore forwards, slamming into Pestilus' legs. This knocked the combiner off balance, allowing the Autobot leader to transform and begin blasting at his joints. Pestilus roared, grabbing Optimus with his right claw and lifting him upward, unaware that his right arm was still free.

"PATHETIC, DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE YOU CAN STAND UP TO THE MIGHT OF PESTILUS?"

"I believe, as long as Energon runs in my veins, nothing will stop me!" he declared, before producing his energon axe and swinging at the claw.

Pestilus roared again, dropping his captive. As this happened, the other Autobots focused their attention on Flashflood, who quickly realized she was outnumbered. "Heh heh, let's not do anything hasty, fellas," she said slowly, quickly pointing behind them and shouting "Oh my stars, is Megatron kissing Starscream?"

Surprisingly, that worked; and while the three had their backs turned, Flashflood darted for the river, and was already out of sight when they turned around. Deciding she could be dealt with later, they turned to help Optimus face Pestilus. He swung his claws at them, but with their combined firepower aimed at his joints, he couldn't stay together very long.

"LOSING INTEGRITY… MUST STAY… CAN'T STAY… TO… GETH… ER…"

But he didn't stay together, and the Crawlers separated and fell to the ground. The Autobots prepared to move in and capture them, when headlights and approaching vehicles caught their attention.

"Humans," said Optimus, grimacing. "This is where we leave."

And so all parties transformed and fled, vanishing into the night as a group of trucks pulled up where they once were. Agent Branson stepped down from the passenger side of the first truck, stepping towards the middle of the clearing. He could see several large footprints, some even bigger than others. The fact that this happened the same night of the collision was no coincidence.

"Sergeant," he called to someone in another truck, "Get in touch with the nearest military base, we might be here for a while."

"Yes, sir," replied the sergeant, as Branson knelt down to analyze the footprints.

Bonecrusher waited until he was three kilometers from the Autobot base before wiping its location from his memory, allowing it to stay secret. Spotting a wolf sauntering through the night, he scanned the animal before transforming. Before he could disappear into the night himself, a beat up white van drove towards him, before coming to a stop and transforming into Beater.

"Bonecrusher? I detected the ping, but didn't know you were alive," he gasped, then transformed back to vehicle mode. "Quickly, you must come with me to our base."

"Of course," nodded Bonecrusher, climbing into the back of his fellow Decepticon's alt mode. "I've heard that Megatron is going after the fallen stasis pods. Is this true?"

"You know it! You're gonna help us out, right? After all, Megatron gave you something the Autobots never could."

Bonecrusher didn't say anything else, finding himself thinking once more.

The Predacon stronghold was mostly underground, but any surface installations had been turned to scrapmetal by the Seekers. While this happened, Bonecrusher led a team into the compound, capturing or destroying any Predacon warrior foolish enough to try and oppose them. It wasn't long until they reached the center of the den, where Rendmane was waiting on his throne. To his surprise, the lead Predacon was laughing.

"You weren't said you weren't a warrior, Bonecrusher, yet you've led a strike so effective not even I could counter it-"

"Silence, beast," snapped Bonecrusher. "For too long you've had power, destroying anyone who dared act against you."

"And what you're doing now is any better? The Predacons have done nothing to the Decepticons." Rendmane clasped his hands together, glancing at the soldiers in his throne room. "If you make me leave this chair, you won't be happy."

The sentence was worded like a threat, yet he responds to it with, "You'll have to, if you want me back.

Rendmane bared his teeth and stood up dramatically… before Bonecrusher shot him multiple times in the chest. The once-proud Predacon let out a final grunt before collapsing forward, his spark extinguishing.

Bonecrusher steadied his hand, placing his weapon aside as one of the other Decepticons approached him. "Uh, everything good here, Bony?"

"We're finished here, Kremmel," was all he had to say, marching back out of the chamber. No matter what, he thought to himself, he would be grateful that Megatron gave him this.

Everyone does a lot of thinking this chapter, as they all have a lot to think about. I wanted Bonecrusher to be a conflicted character, one whose motivations are understandable, and I hope that came across well here. But yeah, that's all I have to say about this chapter, hope you enjoyed.

Next time: Almost a dozen stasis pods are discovered in one spot, and both Autobots and Decepticons rush to recover them all.