(Please see all previous disclaimers)
As Optimus was trying to get a group of bots setup to find Mirage, Mirage found himself waking in a strange place – a cave that was located who knew where. And that wasn't the only thing. Mirage found himself slightly busted up, carefully bound and his vocal processor and most of his communication array not functional and turned off. Mirage was terrified, but tried not to show it. He was not worried so much about himself, but the precious life he was carrying inside of him.
In the cave, barely lit up by a fire, Mirage spotted a dark, large bot who seemed to be missing an arm. Mirage feared this bot was a con that had suffered the war, and not being able to see any insignia made Mirage even more wary.
"Oh good, you're awake" the other bot announced in a grovelly voice. Mirage looked at the bot, unsure of the bot's intentions. "I've been waiting for you to wake up, you privileged brat." Mirage wanted to respond but wasn't able to, thanks to the what the other bot had done. "My name is Boltlock. And you are going to listen to what I have to say, you high class brat."
Mirage, hoping to protect his precious developing little ones merely nodded, unable to anything else. Mirage didn't recognize this bot, but he would soon learn they were very connected. Mirage just hoped he would survive this.
"You think you and you're twin were the only bots sparked to Onyx and Quartz?" Boltlock asked. Mirage was confused, because as far as he knew, he and his twin were the only bots queen Quartz sparked. Boltlock could see the confused look, as Boltlock had a special feature that he could always things like they were in bright light even in low light. "Well, to set the record straight…you and your departed twin were not the only bots sparked to Queen Quartz. You and he were the last bots sparked, as Quartz couldn't have anymore after you, but you weren't the first….just the first ones without a defect or glitch that they could keep and pass off as 'real' royalty." Mirage wasn't sure if he liked where this was headed.
Meanwhile, Optimus informed the group of bots about Mirage missing and that even Bee couldn't get a hold of the bot. Hide, knowing how important this was to Optimus, agreed to go, but made sure Red Tide knew everything possible to watch the Prime while Hide and the others left. Optimus could only hope that they located Mirage in time and in one piece. Only time would tell.