The patrol went off without a hitch. There wasn't much trouble, and any fights that broke out, Ben and Rook handled themselves. Of course, Bumblebee was determined to join in, but had to be held back by Steeljaw. They were both surprised yet relieved that they weren't the center of conflict for once.

After one last look around, they head back to HQ. They enter the building and make their way to the main communications hub. Max and a dozen Plumbers are present.

MAX: "Back already? That was quick."

BEN: "Yeah. Apparently, nobody wants to steal or try and destroy the world or whatever else bad guys want to do today."

ROOK: "To be fair, we are holding most of the high-profile criminals here right now, so it is just small inconveniences running about."

BEN: "But that makes things so boring! At least fighting him was fun…"

The teenage hero pointed to Steeljaw, referring to their fight the other day.

BEN: "When the Omnitrix was actually working, anyway."

Steeljaw chuckled.

SJ: "It certainly was entertaining from my end."

Ben scowled, then turned around and smirked.

BEN: "Uh-huh, until I turned into Echo Echo and blew your brains out!"

Steeljaw grimaced and scratched his ear.

SJ: "Yes, until then. That was quite unpleasant. I suggest you don't do that again."

BB: "Steeljaw, no threatening people!"

SJ: "What? The kid doesn't seem like one who is intimidated easily. If anything, I believe he takes it as a challenge."

Ben puffs out his chest and crosses his arms proudly.

BEN: "You got that right!"

MAX: "Alright, calm down, you two. You can spar later, if you want. Right now, we still have some work to do."

Rook walks over to Max. Ben follows after winking at Steeljaw. He huffs, amused that the teenage hero wasted no time in accepting a chance at fighting again.

BB: "Steeljaw…"

SJ: "No need to worry, Lieutenant. I promise not to hurt him too badly."

Bumblebee closes his eyes and shakes his head, then moves to join the others by the giant monitor. Steeljaw rises to his feet and takes a few steps, but is suddenly overcome by an unknown feeling. He stands still and grips his head.

What the frag was that?

BB: "Steeljaw, you okay?"

SJ: "Fine, fine, probably just some organic body thing."

BB: "I guess you're still growing used to the new form."

SJ: "I hope I don't have to grow too used to it."

Bumblebee hummed in agreement. Steeljaw waited for the feeling to pass before joining the group. Rook was just finishing his report, while Ben added something every few sentences.

MAX: "So just a couple of troublemakers, good to know. Now, before we do anything else…"

He looks at Ben.

MAX: "Have you heard from your cousin or Kevin?"

BEN: "Nope."

Max then looks to Rook.

ROOK: "I will call them."

MAX: "Use the hub so we can all hear them."

Rook nods and takes a seat at the console. He initiates the call in a matter of seconds.

Elsewhere…

Kevin is just about to go crazy and punch something when Gwen's phone ringing interrupts his violent thoughts.

KEVIN: "Please tell me that's Ben and Rook calling about an emergency!"

GWEN: "Give me a sec, Kevin."

She digs out her phone and looks at the caller ID.

GWEN: "Huh, Plumbers headquarters. I guess Grandpa Max is trying to get in contact with us?"

KEVIN: "Well answer it!"

Gwen rolls her eyes as she accepts the call and holds the phone up to her ear.

GWEN: {Hello?}

ROOK: {Ah, hello, Gwen…}

Gwen interrupts Rook, not wanting him to say her full name around the newcomers.

GWEN: {Yes, hi, sorry for interrupting, but is there something you need?}

MAX: {I thought we should check on you. You are taking longer than I expected you to.}

GWEN: {Sorry, grandpa. We're trying to, but someone keeps getting distracted.}

There was an audible groan from the other line.

BB: {Knockout. He may dislike humans, but his love and fascination for human culture can lead to him being a bit… difficult.}

GWEN: {Well, luckily for him, Moonracer and I are here to keep things under control, but Kevin and Starscream won't hold out much longer.}

There was silence for a moment.

BB: {Starscream hasn't lost his temper yet?}

Gwen didn't immediately answer. She glanced at her group of newcomers out of the corner of her eye.

Knockout is fawning over how polished and intricately designed the jewelry is in a display case at one of the many shops he's forced them to stop at. Starscream is begrudgingly by the red medic's side, cursing his unfortunate predicament of being dragged around by his team-mate. And poor Moonracer is their designated babysitter.

GWEN: {Not really. I mean, he hasn't caused a scene… yet.}

BB: {Oh thank Primus!}

GWEN: {Why? Is it normal for him to lose his temper?}

SJ: {Starscream is one of those individuals who doesn't know when to keep their mouth shut.}

BB: {Which makes it nearly impossible to get along with him.}

GWEN: {Good to know, I think. Anyway, if there's no emergency?}

MAX: {No, just checking in.}

GWEN: {Then we'll be on our way, as soon as we can drag Knockout away from all of the shiny things he's been eyeing for…}

She checks the time.

GWEN: {Almost a half hour.}

Bumblebee and Steeljaw laughed.

SJ: {Good luck with that!}

BB: {Knockout loves anything that shines.}

GWEN: {Great. Well, thanks for the tip. We'll see you guys soon.}

She closed her phone, which ended the call, and took a breath.

Back…

As soon as the connection was properly cut…

BEN: "Sounds like they're having fun."

The others knew Ben was joking, but couldn't help rolling their eyes.

BB: "I'm just glad Moonracer is there. She knows how to deal with Knockout, and Starscream seems to respect her enough to listen to her."

ROOK: "So what you are saying is that we should not be worried?"

Bumblebee hums and mulls over the question.

BB: "Maybe not as much."

ROOK: "Ah. Sounds like you all know each other rather well. It must make working together a little easier despite your differences."

Bumblebee rubbed his head, a sheepish smile forming. Steeljaw closed his eyes and snorted in amusement.

ROOK: "Or perhaps not."

BEN: "Why are you guys even together if you don't exactly like each other?"

MAX: "Ben…"

But Bumblebee laughed and waved it off.

BB: "It's alright! I understand the confusion. I wouldn't have believed us capable of building this team and forming a connection a year ago."

The others looked shocked for some reason.

BB: "What?"

BEN: "You've only been together for a year?"

BB: "Yeah…"

SJ: "A lot happened."

Silence fell for a moment.

ROOK: "Well, we have some time before Gwen and her group return. Perhaps you could share some of your story?"

BB: "Didn't we tell you yesterday? Or was it the day before? Sorry, my clock's a little off."

MAX: "Understandable, since it's only been a couple of days since you all arrived."

BEN: "And I'm pretty sure what Rook was really asking for is more details. You know, expand upon what you already did tell us."

Steeljaw stiffened at the thought of sharing something more personal. Within a matter of seconds, memories of the journey with Bumblebee, Knockout, Starscream, and Moonracer resurfaced, only a few of them pleasant. The worst ones, reminders of his trauma, were quicker to appear and slower to fade.

Bumblebee immediately noticed the shift in Steeljaw's emotional state and crouched beside him, resting an arm around his shoulders.

BB: "Steeljaw, are you okay?"

No response.

BB: "Steeljaw?"

Bumblebee gave Steeljaw a light shove. It was enough to break him out of his trance.

SJ: "Huh?"

BB: "Are you okay? You just froze."

SJ: "I'm fine."

Just reliving a few mentally, emotionally, and physically scarring experiences is all.

Steeljaw subtly curled in on himself. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Bumblebee.

He understands exactly what is going on.

BB: "How about you go for a walk and clear your head? I'll still be here when you come back."

Bumblebee perks, suddenly remembering something important. He looks up to Max.

BB: "If that's alright with you?"

Max looked the two over, uncertainty written all over his face. However, there was something else there. A hint of understanding, perhaps?

MAX: "I don't think it will be a problem, so long as he avoids confrontation."

Bumblebee takes a breath and smiles, then turns to Steeljaw. He nods, and without a word, lets his team-mate go.

Steeljaw couldn't bother with a response. He just wanted to get out of there, away from the memories. He runs out of the room and wanders around the building, having no place in particular in mind. He's too caught up in trying to calm down to notice where his paws were taking him.

Snap out of it, Steeljaw! You've moved past this…

He stopped and released a deep sigh, one of longing.

With help from Ramulus.

The weight behind the name of his mate is heavy. Thinking of Ramulus, releasing that he's been forcing himself to not even think of that name, nearly makes Steeljaw have an emotional breakdown. A wave of heat crashes into him, making him nauseous and tears form. He quickly shakes the feeling away and rubs his eyes.

What is wrong with me? I miss Ramulus, yes, but this has never happened before.

SJ: "Curse this organic body. I bet it's the cause of whatever is going on with me."

"Pardon me, but it sounds like you have a problem that requires a solution."

Steeljaw jumps into a defensive position and flexes his claws. He pinpoints the location of the speaker: a tall, red-eyed, black and white humanoid alien, trapped behind an energy barrier.

Wait.

He looks around, finally realizing that he had padded all the way to the prison. This time, he's more irritated than intimidated.

SJ: "Of course."

The alien chuckles.

"Normally I wouldn't converse with a Plumber or related under these circumstances, but I don't believe you are one of them. Then again, it's not like a Loboan would be on Earth, let alone anywhere near humans."

SJ: "Is there a point to this?"

"Just trying to make small talk. You couldn't possibly imagine how boring things are around here."

You could be frozen in stasis lock.

Steeljaw shakes the thought from his mind. While being locked in a pod wasn't as traumatic as what occurred during the journey, it's still something he'd rather not be reminded of.

Why did I come back here, anyway?

"Ahem!"

SJ: "What?"

The alien started to become annoyed, his friendly facade dropping quickly.

"Are you always this easily distracted, or do you simply bore of others easily?"

SJ: "Depends on who I'm forced to listen to when I'm in a bad mood."

"Ignorant fool. Do you honestly not know who I am?"

SJ: "Doesn't matter. I couldn't possibly care less. I have more important things to attend to, anyway. I neither have the time nor interest in pampering someone else's ego."

The alien balked at Steeljaw, eyes wide and mouth agape, as if he couldn't believe he was being talked to in such a dismissive, uncaring manner.

That moment of silence is when Steeljaw heard it.

The whistling!

Without word or thought, Steeljaw allowed his body to carry him towards the sound. He eventually lands on the bottom floor of the prison and looks around. He spots a closed door with a security pad next to the handle and pads over. Utilizing his ability, Steeljaw unlocks the door.

The door opens up to a corridor, which leads down to another door, and beyond that, a large room. A quarter of it is open space with two benches, each pressed against opposing walls. The rest of the room appears to be minimalist living quarters: a bed, table and chair, some books, and a lavatory – secluded from everything else, of course. The two parts are separated by an energy barrier.

Another cell? Why is it all the way down here?

"If you're here to question me, can't you wait until after I finish getting some shut eye?"

Steeljaw jumped slightly, startled. He knew someone or something was in here, – this is where the whistling came from, after all – but he didn't see anyone.

"What, no backtalk?"

Steeljaw walked closer until he was a foot away from the barrier, and received a good look at the room's occupant. Another humanoid creature wearing dark clothing, but the similarities ended there. This one wore silver gauntlets, and the only exposed part of his body – the head – is very different: turquoise skin, a strong jaw, and what appears to be gills under his cheeks.

The alien sighs.

"You're really going to make me work for this, aren't you?"

He sits up and is about to get off the bed, until he opens his eyes, dark red gaze immediately locking onto Steeljaw. He freezes in place, unsure of what is going on.

The room is silent as the alien looks over Steeljaw.

"How did you get in here?"

Unlike the other alien, something about this one made Steeljaw feel comfortable, in a way.

SJ: "I hacked the keypad."

"And how long did that take?"

SJ: "About a minute, maybe less."

Those sunken red eyes brightened as they widened.

"Really? How interesting. I must admit, I'm intrigued. Surely this is something you honed to perfection over a long period of time."

SJ: "You have no idea."

Especially when war was on the horizon. The precluding social unrest was a heck of a time.

"What's your name, if you don't mind my asking?"

Steeljaw tilted his head, eyes narrowing in confusion as well as suspicion.

SJ: "Why?"

The alien chuckled.

"I can tell you aren't one to trust others. I can respect that. Neither am I, but that doesn't mean I won't socialize, to a degree. If it helps, I'll introduce myself first."

The alien rises to his feet and gives a slight bow.

KHYBER: "My name is Khyber, the galaxy's greatest huntsman."

SJ: "And yet you are here."

Khyber huffed, attempting to hide his agitation behind amusement.

KHYBER: "Yes, well, I made a mistake, and it cost my freedom."

Khyber looked like he was about to say something else, but closed his mouth before any sound came out. During the reprieve, something occurred to Steeljaw right out of the blue.

A lot like Lockdown, aren't you?

Steeljaw stiffened. Khyber immediately noticed the change and stood to attention.

KHYBER: "What's wrong?"

SJ: "Nothing!"

Unfortunately for Steeljaw, Khyber – despite being a complete stranger – is not so easily fooled.

KHYBER: "Don't think an experienced hunter such as myself is blind. I know you are bothered by something."

Suddenly, a hidden ember of anger flares within Steeljaw.

SJ: "I am not bothered by anything! Why does everyone keep saying that?"

He huffs and claws at the floor.

SJ: "I'm fine. It's just this organic body. As soon as I'm back in my original form…"

Coming to his senses, Steeljaw realized what he was saying and quickly shut his jaws. He looked up to gauge a reaction from Khyber, but he couldn't distinguish anything from a statuesque state.

Scrap. I'm an idiot.

SJ: "Forget I said anything."

Still, Khyber didn't move.

Must be trying to figure out what I meant. Curse the Pits, what else…

The train of thought never finished.

"STEELJAW!"

SJ: "Frag my life."

Steeljaw turns around and comes face-to-face with Bumblebee, Max, Ben, Rook, and a group of Plumbers.

BB: "What are you doing down here? How did you even get in here? Wait, don't answer that one. I'm pretty sure I already know."

SJ: "Yes, you should, and I did as you suggested, but then I heard the whistling again and decided to investigate."

ROOK: "Which makes sense, since Khyber is capable of that. Using his gills…"

BEN: "Not the time for an anatomy lesson, Rook."

MAX: "Either way, we need to get you out of here and calm the rest of the building down. Everyone started panicking when we realized where you were, afraid you would release him or the other prisoners."

SJ: "Why would I do something like that?"

It took every ounce of Bumblebee's willpower to not retort. If he did, then the Plumbers would learn of Steeljaw's criminal background, and nobody needs the extra drama.

BB: "Let's just go. The others should be here any minute."

Reluctantly, Steeljaw fully turned away from Khyber and started to follow everyone out of the room.

KHYBER: "Steeljaw…"

The group stopped and turned back to the hunter.

KHYBER: "Interesting name. You know, I met someone a long time ago who, and I'm being completely serious, was a lot like me. He had an interesting name as well. Perhaps you know each other, and that is why you felt a kinship with me. I remind you of someone from wherever you come from."

BEN: "We don't want to listen to you, skull face! Just save it for someone else."

Surprising the Plumbers, Khyber didn't flinch. His attention is solely on Steeljaw.

And Steeljaw can't help wondering what Khyber is getting at.

SJ: "Who?"

The hunter smirks.

KHYBER: "Lockdown. Ring any bells?"

Anxiety spikes, not just with Steeljaw, but with Bumblebee, too.

Lockdown, the infamous, Decepticon-aligned bounty hunter. There isn't a Cybertronian who doesn't know him, personally or through reputation.

But, Khyber couldn't possibly be insinuating that he knows about them! Who they really are.

Right?

BB: "And if it does?"

Khyber spares Bumblebee a glance. He looks him over, smirks, and returns to Steeljaw.

KHYBER: "Well, if I put together all that I have learned, as well as theorized based on experience…"

BEN: "Oh, here we go again. Don't make me give you another ego check, Khyber!"

ROOK: "Ben, let us go, before you do something you will regret."

KHYBER: "Especially before I get to the part about Cybertron."

The room instantly fell silent.

What Khyber just admitted, garnered everyone's shocked attention.