(Please see all previous disclaimers)
Meanwhile, far away from all the craziness going on at the Autobot base, Mirage was deep undercover in the Decepticon base. So far, he had remained undetected as he tried to figure out just what Megatron was planning on doing next, or what wack-a-do scheme Starscream was trying to cook up. As Mirage invisibly made his way through the evil base, he came upon a discussion that eventually would disgust him. But figuring listening in might give him an insight.
"I can't believe he got away!" Blitzwing angrily mentioned to Astrotrain.
"Me either. I wanted to Frag that bot to kingdom come along with you and Megatron" Astrotrain replied. Now the conversation had Mirage's full attention - who was this he they were talking about.
"Well, when we catch him once again, he won't get away so easily" Blitzwing cackled wildly.
"Silence, you fool the walls have audios" Astrotrain warned.
"You big scaredy triple changer. Almost all of the base is out scanning the earth for energy. Who could possibly hear us talk about wanting to Frag the submissive Lancex? Besides, I recall you were extremely eager to exploit the submissive bot" Blitzwing revealed. Astrotrain Just sighed. It was true, but he didn't feel like it needed to be talked about so casually. Mirage, having heard the full conversation was thoroughly disgusted, not sure if it was due to the three cons wanting to forcibly take Lancex or who the three cons were – Megatron, Blitzwing and Astrotriain.
And so as carefully and stealthily as Mirage entered, he made his get away, the disgusting conversation replaying in his head over and over as if revealing that was Megatron's next move. Mirage wasn't sure if it was or wasn't, but Optimus needed to know about this. And so, once free from the con base, Mirage raced back to the Autobot base. His report surely would upset many bots, including Optimus, but it had to be made.
Elsewhere, as Mirage raced back, Aquaformer stared at her mates and Optimus. "So what brig am I going to now?" She asked, figuring she was in trouble.
Her mates stared at her like she had grown a second head and Optimus looked at her as well, confused. "You are sparked. I would never send a sparked bot to the brig. Why do you even ask?" Optimus asked, a bit confused.
"Only time I ever see those in charge coming to see me is when they think I've screwed up and need to be punished" Aquaformer revealed. Her mates were stunned as was Optimus.
"Aquaformer, I don't know who you served under before, but Optimus isn't like that" Ultra Magnus offered up. Aquaformer wasn't sure, but she decided she would trust her mate, and soon Ultra Magnus and Skyfire headed out with Aquaformer to head back to their quarters.
Optimus was left with Ratchet. "Why would she react like that?" Optimus asked his old friend.
"I am taking from her experience that many mechs who were her overseers treated her like that. It is the only thing I can say" Ratchet replied.
Optimus was going to ask more, but Mirage soon burst into the med bay. Optimus knew then something was wrong, the question was what was wrong. He would find out soon enough.