Azura was panicking as she say within the chassis of Wheeljack, or whoever this was. She wished she had some way to reach out to Optimus to let him know where she was. She did not want to be taken to the decepticons. She was terrified of what they might do to her. She knew that Wheeljack claimed he didn't want to hurt her, but she didn't know if she could trust him on that. She barely heard anything through her tears. She did know that he caught back with Miko who was showing him around the base, and there was no way for her to scream at her to stop.

However, after ten minutes of crying, Azura calmed down a little as she looked around the chassis. She began to wonder if she could do something. She knew that cold could really hurt them, but she did wonder how they could handle heat or electricity. Azura could do a bit of damage to Wheeljack if she wanted to. She also had to be careful to bot hurt herself either. She knew she could easily hurt herself since she was inside Wheeljack. She looked at the restraints around her waist and ankles thoughtfully. She squeezed the Stitch toy as she considered her options for the time being, even though she had to really think fast.

Meanwhile…

Optimus was walking to Azura's room to see what she was doing. He had wanted to check on her as Bulkhead seemed to notice something was strange about Wheeljack, and that had him worried about his daughter. He knew Wheeljack did not know where her room was, but Miko could unintentionally show him where it is. And he did not particularly want that to happen. He had heard her through the monitor, but the noise stopped fifteen minutes ago, so Optimus was concerned.

"Azura?" He called as he walked into her room and looked around. "Azura, are you still here? Wheeljack is not in the lobby right now if you want to come back with me." Silence. Optimus hummed as he walked to the bathroom to see if she was there. There was no sign and he looked around. "Azura, this is not funny. If you are hiding or wanting to play a game, this is not something that I appreciate right now. Bulkhead has noticed something about Wheeljack and I want to make sure you are okay."

There was no response. And there was also no sign of her toy either. He knew she would still have it. But there was one problem. There was no where else she could be, and Optimus knew that. He became concerned, and he worried that she has decided to leave the base again for a short time, but he had doubts she would do that. She wasn't even big enough to transform. Optimus walked out of her room to see if Azura was somewhere in the halls.

"Azura!" He shouts, hearing his voice echo through the halls. "Please respond if you can hear me." No response or sound. Optimus's concern only grew further as he walked through the hallways to locate her. "Azura, please, you are making me worry. Are you hiding somewhere? I hope you aren't practicing somewhere and caused something unintentionally. I won't be mad, but you do need to be in an open space to practice." Still no response. He began checking some of the empty rooms, and the training room as well. Still nothing. "Azura, respond!"

Optimus felt his spark pulse speed increase as fear filled his core. It was no coincidence that this happened when Miko took Wheeljack on a tour of the place. He clenched his hands as he knew that if Wheeljack did hurt his daughter, he would wish he did not set foot on this planet. The one thing that all Cybertronians knew was that carriers were extremely protective of their sparklings. And even Optimus, who is known for self control of his emotions and actions, will snap if someone hurts his daughter.

"Optimus?" Optimus turned his head when he heard Miko's voice. "We heard you calling for Azura. Is everything okay?" The girl walked towards him with a curious expression. "Azura was not in her room when I showed Wheeljack where she sleeps."

Optimus glanced up at Wheeljack and narrowed his optics at him before looking back at Miko. "I have been unable to locate Azura. If she was not present in her room, I am concerned she is hiding somewhere that we cannot get to right now."

"I am sure the kiddo is just playing with her toy somewhere around here," Wheeljack said in a calm tone, smiling at Optimus. Optimus did not appreciate the smile, but he did not react to him at this time. "Miko and I have not seen a sign of the sparkling. And if you have not, she might simply be too shy of me to come out. She will be fine, you will see."

"This is not the first time she has disappeared. It happened three years ago too, and I do not want that to happen again." Miko widened her eyes as she knew what Optimus meant. "But I am curious about something. Miko…" He looked down at the girl curiously. "Has Wheeljack been with you the entire tour?"

Miko widened her eyes in surprise. "I am surprised you are shaping him of anything, Optimus. Anyway, I was the one who ran ahead of Wheeljack because I was so excited, and he lost sight of me, not the other way around."

"I see." Optimus was still suspicious that Wheeljack had done something. "I know Azura did not pass by me when I came to check on her." Optimus knew it looked bad that he was suspecting Wheeljack, but after hearing Bulkhead's suspicions, he could not help but also be suspicious. "Where did you meet up with Wheeljack?"

Miko rolled her eyes and thought about. "Hmm…I met him just outside the training room. He was no where near the nursery when I found him. So you can relax, Optimus. Azura is probably back in the lobby. I am almost finished with the tour anyway."

Optimus was still concerned about where Azura is, and his suspicions were on Wheeljack. He did not want to cause commotion in the base, so he would relent for the moment. "Very well. But I hope you understand that if we do not locate Azura, we will assume she has either left or that you…" Optimus points at Wheeljack, making the bot narrow his optics. "Have taken her within your chassis."

"Understood, boss," Wheeljack responded affirmatively. "You have my word that I understand."

Optimus's suspensions only grew with that response. Wheeljack did not try to deny that he could have Azura within his chassis. He felt a lot worry about his daughter right at this moment, and he wished he could rip that bot's chassis open, but he did not want to scare Miko. Optimus said nothing as he walked away. His spark felt heavy as his worry for his daughter filled his processor. He prayed that she was okay. And he hoped that she could do something to force Wheeljack to pull her out. He knew she could make things uncomfortable, but he also did not want her to hurt herself.

Optimus walked into the lobby and Ratchet looked up from his work to look at him. He was surprised as he saw Optimus did not have Azura with him. "Where is Azura?" Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Arcee, Jack and Raf look at Optimus as they overhear Ratchet.

Optimus shook his head. "I do not know." Ratchet widened his optics in worry almost immediately. "I have not been able to locate her."

"Again?!" Arcee gasped in shock. "Wait…and Miko had taken Wheeljack for a tour almost thirty minutes ago…"

"Miko wouldn't be that stupid to allow anyone to take Azura," Bulkhead said bluntly with a frown. "However, it doesn't seem like a coincidence. Azura has no reason to leave the base like she did before." He immediately seemed guilty as he looked at Optimus. "Optimus, if I am somehow wrong about Wheeljack…"

"It would not be your fault, Bulkhead," Optimus said gently as he responded to the wrecker. "I do not think this was a bait set by the decepticons." He rubbed his chin with a deep frown. "We do need to proceed with caution."

"But this could also be a big misunderstanding," Jack said calmly as he glanced between the bots. "There are a lot of places here that you yourselves are too big to get into. Azura could have simply found a place to hide."

"Yes, but she would not have ignored my calls for her. And she has not told us about a hideaway she has found either. She almost never leaves my sight." Optimus rubbed his forehead in frustration. "She has no reason to leave, and she cannot hide among humans anymore, so she is still here somewhere. I am just…worried…"

"That's to be expected," Ratchet said in an understanding tone. "We will know if Azura is safe soon enough. But I am going to give her a good talking to when she does come back. I do not like being worried like that at all."

"Agreed."

Jack huffed in amusement. "For all we know, she's wrestling with Stitch and she has no idea she is in trouble. At least she will know for next time."

"She won't be in as huge trouble as you might think, Jack. We do not punish sparklings if their actions do not deem punishments. And in this case, Azura will not get one. She will simply be spoken to and made to realize why she had scared us." Optimus looked at the hallway again with worry. "Although…I do really hope she is simply hiding."

"Yeah…I agree." Ratchet looked back at the screen with a frown. "And I am almost there with the defrag for the ground bridge too, so I cannot leave to go and look for her. But since you already did, she might not come out even for me."

"It definitely seems very strange." Bumblebee was also very curious and suspicious of everything at this time. He was wondering where Azura was, and if she was really hiding. "I haven't noticed anything about Wheeljack. But now that you mentioned it, Bulkhead, he was reluctant to tell the story. Which says to me he isn't fully familiar of the story, or he never was there."

Bulkhead nodded in agreement with Bumblebee's thought process. "And yet, I am curious if he really is Wheeljack. He doesn't seem like himself." Bulkhead frowned at the hallway before looking at the other bots. "Look, I know Wheeljack better than anyone, so even if we are having some kind of misunderstanding, he is still acting strange."

Just as Bulkhead finished speaking, Wheeljack walked into the lobby with Miko. "Hey, what are you guys talking about?"

"I was just telling the guys about you and me," Bulkhead responded to the bot. "At the battle or Dark Mount Pass."

"That's a heck of a story," Wheeljack said with a smile as he approached the bots calmly.

"Yep. Tell it!" Bulkhead barked at the bot with narrowed optics, surprising Wheeljack and Miko with his order.

However, Miko rolled her eyes at Bulkhead as his snap had annoyed her and she thought he was being ridiculous.. "Talk, talk, talk. How about after we go off-roading?"

"Miko! Stay out of this!" Bulkhead snapped at the girl, startling her again as he did not want her to get involved with a possible decepticon.

"Bulkhead, easy," Arcee said in a soothing tone to try and calm the wrecker down and not take it out on the human.

Wheeljack frowned a little as he glanced at Arcee. "I'm not sure I…"

"Tell it!" Bulkhead snapped, interrupting Wheeljack angrily, narrowing his optics a little more as he was starting to lose patience with him.

Wheeljack stared at Bulkhead with a frown before he replied. "Fine. You want to live in the past, Bulkhead." He glanced down at the humans as they look up at him curiously, though they all seemed to be uncertain, especially Jack and Rafael. "The wreckers were trapped between a decepticon patrol and the smelting pit. The cons were vicious, bearing down on us with everything they had." Optimus listened intently to the bot while not taking his optics off him for a second. "Me and Bulkhead engaged the enemy, left them for scrap. Then I made us a way out using their backsides as stepping stones to cross the molten metal." He glanced at Bulkhead with a slight smirk. "Ain't that how it happened?"

Bulkhead had a surprised expression on his face as though he didn't expect him to know it. "Yeah. That's exactly how it happened." Wheeljack smirked as Bulkhead confirmed that the story was true. "Except for one little thing." The bot widened his optics in shock as Bulkhead said that sentence and he tensed a little. "I wasn't there."

Ratchet turned his head in shock as soon as he heard that sentence, and Optimus tensed as he watched and listened to what was happening in front of them. Miko had a look of disbelief on her face, while Jack and Raf were immediately concerned because they knew that this was bad. And they likely had a decepticon right in the lobby of the base, and the bots were all on alert now that Bulkhead dropped that bombshell of not being present with Wheeljack.

"I'd already left the wreckers to join up with Optimus," Bulkhead explained bluntly as he continued to glare at Wheeljack before he began pointing directly at him. "But you wouldn't know that if all you did was access Wheeljack's public service records."

Wheeljack glared at Bulkhead before grimacing a little with a shudder. "So you are a decepticon," Optimus said in an angry tone. Then he realized who he was. "Makeshift."

Makeshift grinned a little at Optimus. "Hmm, I guess the façade has finally come crashing down. It has been quite the pleasure, Optimus Prime." He grimaced again and placed his hand on his chassis. "What the frag?"

Optimus stepped closer to Makeshift with whole body being tense. "It seems your disguise abilities are not as good as you thought they were. You know where Azura is, don't you? Where is she, Makeshift?! Open your chassis! Now!"

Miko looked at Optimus and Bulkhead in confusion. "Bulkhead, Optimus, what does all this have to do with…WOOOAAHH!" She shrieked loudly as Makeshift grabbed her suddenly and ran closer to the bridge consoles.

"Miko!" Bulkhead exclaimed with a frown as everyone in the lobby were startled by the sudden reaction from the imposter.

Makeshift turned held the girl up with his hand. "Stay back! Or I'll squeeze her into pulp!" Bulkhead narrowed his optics, grinding his jaw angrily as they were now in a sticky situation as they now hear Makeshift's real voice. "Ugh, what…" He opened his chassis suddenly and cold, misty seem hissed out as he reached in and pulled something out. Optimus widened his optics when he saw Azura. She was shivering a little as ice crystal stuck to her hair and protoform, but she had also successfully caused a deep freeze to the restraints from Makeshift and the seat. Makeshift held the girl as she clutched her toy. "How did you do that?" He glanced down before smirking. "Hmm, seems like there's a bit of Matrix in you after all." He looked at Optimus who was glaring angrily at Makeshift now. "I wouldn't, Optimus Prime. After all, she is more valuable than this human…"

Miko looked at Makeshift fearfully as she struggled in his grasp. "Wheeljack! What are you doing?!"

"Decepticon coward!" Bulkhead barked the con angrily. "Let the girl and the sparkling go! And face me!"

Makeshift chuckled at the wrecker. "Don't fret, plenty of time of fighting to come." He glanced at Azura as she was taking deep intakes and she shook off some of the icicles from her body. "But why waste good energy on it right now? After all, we need a little bit of patience."

Jack stared at Makeshift with worry and glanced at the bots. "Is there a real Wheeljack?!"

"Oh, indeed," The con responded to the boy's question sarcastically. "And I expect Lord Starscream is making sport of him." Bulkhead growled as he listened to the decepticon's words. "Just as I am with this human. Here, catch!"

Bulkhead widened his optics as Makeshift threw Miko suddenly, and it was a hard throw. She screamed and Bulkhead managed to jump and catch her, but she hit his hands hard and she grunted upon impact. Makeshift pulled out one of his swords as the bots look at him with a glare and he aimed the blade at Azura. She whimpered and looked at Optimus. She desperately wanted to be in his arms. Optimus softened his expression as their optics lock, but only briefly as he glanced up at Makeshift with a glare.

"I have to admit, if I were Megatron, I would be very disappointed at how small she is." Azura tensed and widened her optics in shock. He said what?! Optimus also had wide optics in surprise. "Oh, ha, ha, ha, I see…" Makeshift moved the blade closer and Azura leaned away from it nervously. "You did not know, did you, Optimus? Well, that's a little detail for you. But at least he would be thrilled to know she has special abilities thanks to your Matrix. It is so wonderful!"

Optimus clenched his fists as he narrowed his optics. "And what do you intend to do, Makeshift? Megatron is dead…" The con glanced at Optimus with a grin. "She has no part in the decepticon ranks."

"On the contrary, Starscream already has it all figured out. And you would not need to worry. She will be well looked after. We might be decepticons, but we are not monsters." None of the autobots gave him an expression that they believed Makeshift, and it made him chuckle. "Although, the fact she tried to freeze my spark from the inside makes me want to do something…" Azura whimpered suddenly as she felt his grip tighten around her. "But I know how special she is, so I am going to be a nice decepticon and leave her unscathed."

Azura whimpered nervously as tears fall from her optics. She was terrified at the moment and she didn't know what to do. She thought about trying to freeze his hand, but he would catch her and hurt her. She did not want that at all. This felt like a stand still right now, and she did not know what was going to happen. She glanced at the ground bridge console and saw on the screen it was almost finished, and this was likely what Makeshift was waiting for.

Makeshift stepped closer to the console. "Makeshift…" He glanced at Ratchet with a glare when the medic spoke to him. "You do know she still needs to be with her carrier. She cannot leave him right now."

"Pfft! Oh, shut up!" Makeshift snapped at him with a roll of his optic. "This girl was doing just fine before we found her. So don't tell me she needs Optimus. She will be well cared for under the watchful eye of Soundwave." Optimus growled and Makeshift turned to smirk at Optimus with a swipe of the sword to point at him. "And you don't need…" He flinched as he swiped the sword and was surprised at the blade caught the Stitch toy and sliced the head off, causing the inside of the toy to go everywhere and making Azura shriek in surprise, pulling her hands away in shock. "Oh, scrap…oh well."

Optimus was furious at that. Azura stared at the beheaded toy in her hand and she whimpered and sniffled as she tried to contain herself, but she was very upset because Jack had only gifted it to her and she had been attached to it since. She couldn't help it though as she began to sob as she felt as shattered as the torn toy. Especially as she heard Makeshift telling exactly who would look after her, and she hated that idea. Especially after the last interaction she had with him.

She threw the toy at Makeshift's face, making him flinch in surprise. "It's just a stupid toy!" She glared at him and looked away. "Now, this youngling and I will be taking our leave." He typed on the console now that the bridge was ready and activated it. "About time." He glanced at the bridge as the vortex was activated and he seemed to be feeling victorious because of it. He began to back to the ground bridge slowly, keeping the blade towards Azura as she sobbed. "Come now, if you really want her to be safe, you will let her go. What do you say, Optimus?"

Optimus had no words. He was struggling to figure out how to get Azura from Makeshift. He wanted to kill him right now, but Azura's need for comfort and safety was a bigger priority, and he knew it. With Makeshift just a few feet from the vortex now as he moved closer to it, Optimus was worried that he would be forced to watch as the decepticons kidnapped Azura. He knew that if they tried to do anything though, Makeshift would hurt Azura. And especially since she used her abilities to cause discomfort within his chassis using ice as her choice of element.

With him being close enough to the vortex, Makeshift raised his hand in victory. "Let's get this party started!"

Just as he finished say that line, a bot leaped through the vortex and kicked Makeshift from behind. The force of the kick forced Makeshift forward and he lost his grip on Azura, sending her flying towards Optimus. Prime caught Azura quickly, and cradled her against his chassis. Azura was relieved she was in Optimus's arms as she wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into it as she felt the warmth of his body around her.

Optimus glared at Makeshift as the con looked up at him and Optimus delivered a strong uppercut to the jaw and nearly broke it, sending Makeshift into the platform and almost knocking out his sensors. "You will not be forgiven for your actions today." He turned his head to look at the new bot and saw this was Wheeljack, and hopefully the real Wheeljack. "I hope that you are who we were waiting for."

Wheeljack nodded before glancing at Ratchet. "I'd shut that whole before the stink comes through." He glanced at the crying sparkling and he was immediately concerned. "Don't tell that fragger hurt your sparkling. At least I have come to settle some scores." He punched his fist as he turned to face Makeshift, stepping forward, only to feel the stuffing of the stuffed toy on the ground and he looked down in surprise before realizing it must have been Azura's "Oh no…now I gotta make you pay now, con!"

Ratchet shut off the vortex just as Makeshift stood back up, glaring at Wheeljack now that the vortex was shut off. The bots and humans stepped back, even Optimus as he rubbed Azura's back to try and comfort her. He wanted to do some more damage to Makeshift, but he refused to let Azura go. He watched Makeshift and Wheeljack circle, aiming their blades at each other as the tension rose in the lobby. Ratchet stepped back from the controls to give them space, and he glanced at Azura with worry for a moment, before looking back at Makeshift and Wheeljack as they eye up each other.

Bulkhead glared at Makeshift and attempted to join in the fight, but Wheeljack gently stopped Bulkhead as he extended his sword to move Bulkhead back. "Ugly's mine."

Azura turned her head slightly just as she saw Wheeljack and Makeshift clang their swords together as they fought. She didn't know if Makeshift was able to copy Wheeljack's fighting style because he seemed to be able to mimic everything else so far. The clanging of the swords was very loud as she watched them fight. Azura didn't know who was who though, so she did hope that the real Wheeljack would beat Makeshift. She's had enough for one day, and needed to relax and spend time with Optimus.

Jack, Miko and Raf began to struggle with keeping track of who was who as well. They kept their distance as they watch. Jack glanced in Optimus's direction, feeling very sad that Azura lost her toy because of a decepticon. He was definitely going to replace it for her. There was no way he was going to let her go without it. But he didn't know if she would accept a new Stitch after what happened today. Even though it wasn't her fault.

It took some time before Makeshift made some hard, strong hits at Wheeljack and he managed to slice one of Wheeljack's swords. Wheeljack was a little surprised, but he sliced Makeshift's sword and grabbed his wrist to knee him in the chassis and snatch his sword. With that, he gave a final punch to Makeshift and knocked him down as he hit the ground hard, aiming his sword at Makeshift with a glare. Azura was glad that the con was taken down.

"That's my Jackie!" Bulkhead said in a very proud tone.

Wheeljack glared down at Makeshift before opening his mask and glancing at Ratchet. "You, hit the switch. It's time to take out the trash." Bulkhead stepped closer as the medic turned to activate the ground bridge. Wheeljack looked at his friend with a smile. "All yours, buddy."

Bulkhead reached down and picked up the weakened Makeshift, and the con does not see as Wheeljack plants a grenade to his side just as the vortex is opened. Bulkhead lifts the con above his head in a humiliating way as he walked towards the ground bridge before he spun around several times quickly and used the momentum to throw the decepticon through the ground bridge, sending him through and hitting any decepticons that might be trying to get through.

Wheeljack was very pleased about what had happened and glanced at Bulkhead. "Nice lob." He glanced down at the remains of the toy and leaned down to pick up the head and body. "I am going to guess this was the sparkling's." Bulkhead nodded as his expression turned sad while the vortex was shut off. "Man…if only I wasn't knocked down by the cons. I would have been here and not that imposter!" Wheeljack turned to face Optimus and approached him with a calm demeanor. "I am terribly sorry about all of this, Optimus Prime. I…I do not know if today has severely traumatized your daughter, but I hope that I can properly introduce myself."

Optimus smiled at Wheeljack as he relaxed now that the danger was gone. "This was not your fault, Wheeljack. It was clear that Soundwave had picked up our communications, and Starscream had Makeshift take your place." He glanced down at Azura as she sniffled loudly and rubbed her optics, turning her head to look at Wheeljack. "Azura will…she will be okay."

Wheeljack looked at Azura with a gentle smile. "I am very sorry, little one. Not only did he try to take you from your carrier, but that fragger also destroyed something you own. I think I can try and do something about it."

Azura listened to Wheeljack and she smiled at him as she didn't feel any kind of bad feelings. "It-It was not you…it was…Makeshift. You did nothing wrong…I am glad to meet you…" She sniffled as she looked at the torn toy. "I…I'll just get a new one."

"I promise that I will get you another one, Azura," Jack said affirmatively with a smile. "And it'll probably be way better than what I got you."

"Maybe." Azura wiped her cheeks for a moment as Wheeljack seemed happy. She shifted in Optimus's hand to face him. "Um…maybe…um…"

"You don't have to be held by me right this minute, kiddo. You stay with your carrier." Wheeljack looked at Optimus with a smile. "With your permission, I would like to bring my ship in here. I would like to do some repairs to it. If that is okay with you."

Optimus nodded affirmatively. "Yes, you may bring it in here, Wheeljack. I would help you…"

"No, no, no! You worry about your little one." Wheeljack leaned down a little as he looked at Azura. "I know how important it is to make them happy. And I have to say, you're one of the cutest, little sparklings I ever have met." He playfully tapped the middle of her face, making her shake her head and grin at him. "Maybe if you feel up to it, I have a few stories that you might love to hear."

"I would love to," Azura said enthusiastically. "I am…I am glad you are safe, Wheeljack." She sniffled again as she still felt upset about today. "I hope you stay."

Wheeljack did not respond to that. "Well, I do plan on spending a bit of time here. So I might as well kill the time getting to know you and everyone else here."

Azura was very happy to hear that. Optimus rubbed her back gently and turned to Ratchet. "While the ship is brought in, I would appreciate if you can check Azura's system, Ratchet. Especially since she was exposed to cold temperatures."

"I am very curious about how that happened," Jack said curiously, making Azura tense a little. "Does she have special abilities? I mean, that's pretty cool, but I am surprised."

Optimus glanced at Azura for a moment before looking at Jack. Wheeljack himself was surprised as he listened curiously. "We will discuss that later, Jack. But the short answer is, yes." He turned to walk out of the lobby. "For the moment, I need to be with Azura."

Ratchet looked at Arcee and Bumblebee. "You will be okay without me, won't you? Let me know if the bridge is still playing up."

"We got it, Ratchet. Go and take care of Azura." Arcee glanced down as the kids began gathering the torn pieces of the toy. "Oh…this has not been a good day."

Even though Azura was not totally happy that the kids would learn she could influence the weather and use elements, she was glad she able to force Makeshift to reveal her to the autobots. Azura, having seen that Wheeljack attached a grenade to the con, was glad because she would have been blown up along with the decepticon. She hoped that there was some damage done on the other end. But right now, she wanted to be with Optimus. She could not help but start to cry again because today was just too much for her, and she needed to let it all out.