Author's Notes: I notice that my chapters for this story are getting longer on average. That makes sense, given that there are a lot of characters to keep up with now. If you've made it this far in the story, then you are an MVP! I love this story, but even I must admit it is quite long, and still has a long way to go. Thank you for reading, and if you want to support my original work please look up "Panhandling The Stars" as well as other stories on Kindle Vella under the name Madness Jones :)

Chapter 43

Separation

One by one the Autobots scrambled to reach their base. Optimus had sounded urgent when he called for everyone, though many of them were concerned that no one was left to defend the outer perimeter from the attacking Decepticons. Jazz was the last one to enter, two new friends in tow, and he could see that everyone inside looked forlorn.

"What's going on, Boss Bot?" Jazz asked.

Everyone was silent for a few seconds, a short amount of time but a pregnant pause during such a make-or-break moment. Optimus was the first to speak, though Jazz could hardly believe what he heard.

"I have given the order to abandon the base."

"Abandon? You mean leave our stronghold to the Decepticons?" Jazz asked in shock.

"The base is lost," Optimus replied, melancholy shining in his blue optics, "Our only priority is survival."

"Optimus, I haven't been able to get in touch with the children," Ratchet informed him, "We might not be able to find them again."

"It's probably for the best," Arcee replied, "They've been in danger since the moment we met them. We should wait until the tide turns in our favor before we seek them out again."

Her words were seemingly punctuated by the shaking of the rock walls surrounding them. Clearly the Decepticons were shooting at the base, trying to lure the Autobots out.

Optimus went to the ground bridge controls and activated them, his countenance heavy with regret. Everyone knew the order was coming, so when he turned to them they all stared back with grim resignation.

"Protocol 14 is initiated," Optimus said, his spark heavy with those words.

"What is Protocol 14?" Klunker asked.

"Standard Autobot procedure," Bulkhead told him, "We're separating into groups of two or three. That way the 'Cons can't capture us all."

"I see," Klunker nodded, "Come along, Saline. We are leaving this place."

Saline got up and walked toward Klunker, and Bluestreak walked after her to finish reading her vitals.

"You're good to go, Saline," Bluestreak said, "However, I would advise intaking lower grade energon for a while. Your jaw won't be able to heal well if your systems are overstimulated."

Saline nodded, but it was clear she couldn't care less about doctor's orders at the moment. She held out her servo, and Klunker clenched it in solidarity. When the portal opened, Bulkhead and his parents were the first ones to go through.

Seeing that three were already gone, Optimus adjusted the ground bridge's coordinates to a new location.

"Arcee, Chromia, and Smokescreen. You are together," Optimus ordered.

"Yes, sir," Smokescreen nodded professionally, "We won't let you down."

"We'll see you soon, Prime," Chromia replied stiffly, keeping her military composure, "Elita, I'm glad you're with us again. You might not be fast anymore, but you're still the best 'Con crusher since Ironhide."

"Take care of yourselves," Arcee added, "We'll be together again soon."

With those words the young mech and two femmes went through the ground bridge.

"Hey, Optimus?" Jazz spoke up, "If it's all the same to you, I've already got a team to take care of."

Optimus turned to Jazz and noticed for the first time that two mining drones were following him.

"Have they defected from Megatron?" Optimus asked.

"Yep," Jazz nodded, "Wheeljack helped them get their processors unscrambled, and now they need someone to watch their back. I'm volunteerin'."

Optimus smiled back at Jazz, knowing there was no way to talk him out of something once his mind was made up. It was good to see the old saboteur still had a spark full of compassion and drive. Optimus changed the coordinates of the ground bridge for them, and Jazz gave a casual salute as he walked away.

"Wait, Jazz!" Springer called out, "Where are we going?"

"We'll know when we get there," Jazz replied nonchalantly.

That wasn't the answer either Vehicon was looking for, but they followed Jazz through the swirling green light regardless. After all, any place was safer than where they were at that moment.

Once Jazz and his new friends were through, Optimus changed the bridge again, but that was when Bumblebee pointed something out…

/Where's Dreadwing?/

"Dreadwing isn't here?" Bluestreak asked nervously, "We should go back out there and find him!"

"We don't have time for that," Elita told him point blank, "The Decepticons will break through these walls any breem now, and if we're captured we will be executed. We are all that is left of the Autobot resistance. If he doesn't get here soon, then he's on his own."

"But…but…!" Bluestreak tried to refute.

"I'm sorry, but Elita One is right," Ratchet interjected, "We have to leave. Now."

Bluestreak wanted to cry, but he couldn't. He wasn't physically capable, but it was more than that. He understood that they were watching everything the Autobots had worked for crumbling around them in this moment. The Omega Lock was destroyed, the base was being taken by the Decepticons, and they might never see each other again. Dreadwing was a good and honorable mech, but he was only one piece of this tragic tapestry.

"Ratchet, Bluestreak. You should go together," Optimus said gently, aware of the tension and pain everyone was feeling.

Ratchet then shambled toward the portal, his frame sagging and his joints creaking. He looked older than anyone had seen him look before. Bluestreak took his sire's arm to steady him, and Ratchet stopped walking to address Optimus one last time.

"I…never thought it would end like this," Ratchet said, broken and defeated.

"Neither did I, old friend," Optimus replied; his tone apologetic.

With so much more to say but no time left to say it, Ratchet and Bluestreak walked through the ground bridge. Optimus closed their location and rerouted the bridge one last time, for its final occupants.

"Elita, Bumblebee…" Optimus hesitated, clearly not looking forward to what he was going to say next.

"You're not coming, are you?" Elita stated rather than asked.

"I must stay here and destroy the ground bridge, so that no Decepticons may follow your coordinates," Optimus explained.

Bumblebee looked stricken by those words. Optimus wasn't coming? But…what would the Autobots do without him?

"No, you should go with Bumblebee," Elita insisted, "I can stay behind and destroy the ground bridge. I might even get away with it. Megatron can't tell Vehicons apart. I can act as a spy on board the Nemesis. I can-"

"Elita," Optimus sighed as he held her arms reassuringly, "I lost you once. Please, don't ask me to lose you again. Bumblebee needs you, the Autobots need you, but more than that, I need you. I need to know you are safe."

"Anything you face, I face," Elita said with conviction, "We have always been a team. You've fought alone for so long, but you don't have to anymore. We can stay with you. We can fight."

"And you will," Optimus promised her, "But not now. I will not die here. We will rebuild. For now though, you and Bumblebee need to leave."

/Optimus…!/ Bumblebee keened sadly.

"Optimus, if you die, I will kick your aft," Elita said cheekily.

Optimus smiled down at her, and then in a rare tender moment kissed the top of her helm. Elita was stunned for a moment, and found her fingers reaching for his. She still didn't quite feel like herself, being trapped in a useless Vehicon body, but when Optimus looked at her like that she felt more and more like a femme.

"Take care of yourself," Elita whispered.

"Go," Optimus ordered, forcing himself to let go of her.

Elita and Bumblebee walked to the ground bridge, and both simultaneously turned their helms to look back at Optimus. He took out his Star Saber, and looked at the ground bridge controls with determination. Elita made herself turn away, and she took Bumblebee's hand to lead him into the unknown.

When everyone was safely across, Optimus forced himself to intake air. He steadied his arms and held his sword aloft, ready to forever lock away the secrets of his friends' locations. Megatron would not capture the Autobots, not so long as Optimus Prime had energon flowing through his frame.

As it turned out however, Optimus Prime's fears were unfounded. It was not his loved ones who were in danger, but himself. As the Star Saber slashed down on the ground bridge console, a giant plasma beam careened down onto the mesa that was Autobot Headquarters and tore their fortress asunder.

Shockwave's repairs were nearly complete, and even as Skywarp felt the elation of a job well done the kids felt a looming sense of dread. They knew that Shockwave was unstable, and Raf especially understood the risks of working with such a pitiless mech.

"He wants to what?" Miko asked when Raf explained the situation.

"Make more Predacons," Raf repeated, "He wants them to take over Cybertron so that neither side can ever occupy it again."

"I don't think I've ever heard of someone being so aggressively neutral before," Jack commented offhandedly, "What do you think he's going to do with us?"

"I don't even think he knows," Raf replied, "Shockwave doesn't really care about us one way or the other. We have to alert the Autobots about our situation, but I don't see how. Skywarp spends most of his time near the communications terminal, so I don't think we can sneak past him."

"I can't believe Skywarp is really gonna do us like this," Miko huffed, "He was our friend! Why is he being such a big jerk?"

"He's a Decepticon, Miko," Jack reminded her, "They're just like that. I guess we shouldn't have expected him to be any better."

"No! I don't buy that!" Miko snapped, "This ain't about who's winning to him. This is about family. So, you guys get along with your families. What do we say to Skywarp to make him see this is all a load of scrap?"

"I don't think we can," Jack shrugged, "I mean, if we follow your reasoning, then he would do whatever his brothers wanted. If it were my mom, and someone told me to give up trying to ever see her again, I'd tell them to shove it."

"But being a Vehicon doesn't mean he can't see Starscream and Thundercracker again," Raf pointed out, "It just makes it harder for them to believe him."

Before the others could reply to Raf's observation, they heard pede steps coming toward them. They could tell from the brisk yet deliberate pace that it was Skywarp. Jack and Raf schooled their features so they wouldn't look too nervous or upset, but Miko couldn't help but scowl at her former friend.

"Hey, guys," Skywarp said chipperly; unaware of their feelings toward him at that moment, "We just need one more part for Shockwave's arm cannon. It's a positronic fluctuation valve. Problem is, we don't have it here. I remember the Autobots had one in the storage room, so I guess that means we're going on a field trip."

"You seriously want us to steal a part from Autobot HQ?" Jack asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Skywarp replied, "I'd do it myself, but they'd know it was me. You guys can get in there easier than I can. Don't worry, I'll be waiting outside for you. Come on!"

"No!" Miko shouted, much to the surprise of the others, "You've gone too far! You're just using us, and I'm not gonna take it anymore! You wanna squash me? I dare you to try."

"Miko, I explained this. I don't wanna squish you," Skywarp said placatingly, "I just want my body back. Please Miko, we're so close! I promise, I'll let you go when this is all over. Just stick with me a little longer, please."

"He won't fix you, you know," Miko argued, "Shockwave doesn't care about you or your brothers. He only cares about himself, and if you cared even a little bit about Starscream and Thundercracker, then you'd kill Shockwave while he's vulnerable. Then he won't be able to hurt anyone else, including them."

"You think I'm not worried about them? Why do you think I'm doing this?" Skywarp asked harshly, "Every breem Starscream and TC are close to Megatron they are close to death. Megatron turned me into a Vehicon for one failure. You think he won't do something worse to a traitor like Starscream? Or what about a soft spark like TC? Megatron is a greater evil than even Shockwave could ever be! Shockwave is indifferent, but Megatron is sadistic. He enjoys beating Starscream, he enjoys the pain of reminding Optimus Prime of their friendship, and he enjoys turning innocents into mindless drones. I have to be Skywarp again, so I can warn them. So I can save them."

Miko's features were softer after hearing Skywarp's true feelings. She still worried he would be betrayed, but she understood now what was at stake for him. If Bulkhead was in danger, she'd move heaven and earth to save him.

"Okay, I'm in," Miko said.

"What? We can't steal from Team Prime!" Jack contested, "What if they need that part for something?"

"They won't," Raf interjected, "A positronic fluctuation valve is a part used for mechs with dedicated plasma weapons. They're considered obsolete because most mechs don't have limbs incapable of transforming into a servo. Shockwave's body is actually rather rudimentary by Cybertronian standards."

"Ouch! Don't tell him that," Skywarp said, a smirk in his tone, "By the way, do you think I should ask Shockwave to take a look at my sticky odometer, or would that be annoying? I fixed my comm link, but still have a few kinks that could be worked out."

"Let's just focus on getting that part," Miko replied.

The ground bridge deposited four uncertain forms, one a drone and three allegedly human. They had ground bridged a quarter mile away from Autobot HQ so that Shockwave couldn't trace the exact location of the base. As it turned out, that was a wiser move than even they realized.

"There's a lot of flying stuff in the distance," Skywarp commented as he looked up, "That kind of looks like an Eradicon flight pattern. You think they're having war games or something?"

"Wait, Eradicons?" Jack asked as realization began to dawn, "You don't think…"

"They found the base," Raf finished his dreadful thought for him.

"No way!" Miko refuted, "How could they? Skywarp isn't even in contact with them."

"Hey! I resent that!" Skywarp snapped defensively, "You just assume that I would betray the Autobots for free? Puh-lease!"

"Come on. The Autobots could be in trouble." Jack ushered them on, "We have to find Optimus and the others."

Jack, for once, ran first instead of Miko. The others quickly followed suit, with Skywarp transforming into car mode and driving ahead without the kids. He passed Jack in short order, and soon found himself face to face with several Decepticons scouting out the area of the former base's rubble…including Megatron himself.

"What do you report?" Megatron asked Skywarp, unaware that this wasn't one of his minions.

Skywarp, despite having so much he wanted to say to Megatron, found himself silent at that moment. Even though he resented having his wings clipped by the old warlord, he was still afraid of him at the same time.

"Master," Starscream interrupted the awkward moment, "Our troops have captured some prisoners that I believe you will be very interested in."

"Is it Prime?" Megatron asked demandingly.

"Oh, um, no, actually," Starscream stammered, "It is Wheeljack, a Wrecker, as well as your former second in command, Dreadwing."

"Those two were together?" Skywarp found himself asking, "That's hilarious! You should totally execute them side by side. They'll be giving each other the stink-optic the entire time! Hah!"

"Interesting," Megatron rumbled, "This Vehicon appears to be broken. Starscream, take this piece of junk to Knockout."

"Oh, right. I don't work for you anymore," Skywarp reminded himself out loud, "Well in that case…"

Skywarp then took the opportunity to shoot Megatron in the face! The shot wasn't enough to fell the Decepticon leader, but it was enough to make him cover his faceplate in his hands and cry out in pain.

"Decepticons!" Megatron roared through muffled glossa, "Destroy that traitorous Vehicon!"

Skywarp, upon hearing that, transformed into vehicle mode and started racing away. Well, so much for getting that part for Shockwave's cannon. He would be lucky to get out of this alive.

Jack, Miko, and Raf meanwhile, had split up. This decision was not intentional, but the Eradicons forced their hand.

Jack was running away from a jet that was shooting in his general direction. He knew this was probably the end for him, but he had to push himself; had to keep running. At least by distracting the drone he was giving the others time to escape.

As the drone's shot grew closer to Jack's ankles, he could feel his heart in his chest pumping to the point of bursting and his legs ready to give out. He couldn't stop running though. He had to hang on just a little longer. He had to find Arcee, Optimus, and the others. Surely one of them could save him…if they weren't already dead or captured.

Just as Jack thought he couldn't run anymore, a Vehicon suddenly pulled up in front of him with the driver's door open.

"Get in!" Skywarp hollered.

Jack, not thinking twice, dove for the car. Skywarp drove off without even closing his door, and Jack had to hang on for dear life while he tried to secure the seat belt around himself. That was when he noticed they were no longer being chased by one Eradicon, but now over a dozen.

"The frag!?" Jack screamed.

"Megatron ordered me destroyed," Skywarp explained, "Don't worry. I'll drop you off somewhere. By the way, where are the others?"

"I don't know," Jack replied, "If you see them, get them. For now though, drive faster!"

Skywarp obliged, and soon they were outrunning salvos and blasts the likes of which Jack had never seen before, all while he was being whipped by the desert breeze due to the open car door.

…

Miko, meanwhile, was sneaking around looking for an opportunity to rescue the Autobots. She knew they had to be around here somewhere, but where? All she could see were drones loitering about and Knockout occasionally lifting a piece of rubble with his foot.

Boy, talk about lazy, Miko thought to herself, How does this prissy 'Con manage to keep his job when Megabutt kills the Vehicons for so much as standing the wrong way?

Miko shook her head, thinking that the Decepticons were all a bunch of chumps. Once behind a different piece of rubble however she was able to comfortably examine the wreckage left behind in Megatron's wake. Normally she liked seeing action and disasters, but the sight of the flattened mesa made her want to cry.

This was Autobot Headquarters…her paradise…her Botswana…and it was just…gone. This place felt more like home to her than her own home, and Team Prime felt like her family. If those 'Cons hurt Bulkhead, she knew that any sense of joy or justice would die inside of her. She knew revenge would be all that was left, and that thought scared her. It reminded her of Hardshell, and how empty she felt when she killed him.

As Miko turned away from the sight of Eradicons searching through dust and debris, she saw a cluster of Vehicons walking toward a giant metal fortress.

Wow, how did I miss that? Miko thought. Wait, is that…?

Being led into the metallic castle, surrounded on all sides by drones, was Wheeljack and Dreadwing. At first Miko thought Dreadwing was the one imprisoning Wheeljack, but then she noticed there were energy shackles on his wrists too.

Since the children didn't know about Dreadwing's defection, Miko didn't quite understand what was going on. One thing she did know however was that Wheeljack needed her help. Without so much as looking to see if anyone was around, Miko ran after the procession that was entering Megatron's fortress. She would save her friend, and maybe others, if it was the last thing she did.

…

Raf was undetected by the drones as he inched his way around the wreckage. Being small was definitely helpful in this situation. He had lost track of his friends while running to Autobot HQ, but he knew they both would likely come to this spot too. This was where the control room had been, and it was where any survivors would be buried if they hadn't abandoned the base.

There were Decepticons in the distance, but none close enough to impede Raf's progress. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby, and confirming that they weren't, he took out his laptop and began scanning for spark signatures.

It only took a moment to find one, but it was very weak. Raf was afraid this would happen. Someone had been caught in the destruction of the blast before everyone could be evacuated. Could this be Ratchet? Or Bumblebee? Or Optimus? It also occurred to Raf that some of the Autobots could have been crushed to death. There was no time to waste.

As Raf began to dig, it took less than a minute to realize this wasn't going to work. He was so small, and there was so much rubble. If he didn't act quickly then whoever was down there would die, but there was only one way he could think of to speed up the retrieval process.

Raf nervously looked around one more time. No one was there…no one was watching him. It was now or never…

Contorting gears and servos in a matter he was no longer accustomed to, the rusted recesses of transformation gave way to the living death that was Refit's natural form. He felt himself grow taller, felt his mechanical parts shift and settle, and felt his spark sink. For the first time in over two years, he had to acknowledge his true self and use the gifts Shockwave had given him.

Now a fully formed Vehicon, Refit transformed his servos into a shovel and a drill to begin the process of digging. Whoever was in there, he would not let them die if he could help it.

Skywarp and Jack were far away from the base, but still being chased by Megatron's hordes. If they couldn't find a place to hide or a way out, they were toast.

"Skywarp, if I got out do you think you could shoot them?" Jack asked.

"All of them?" Skywarp shouted incredulously, "Jack, you're a cool kid, but you're not all that bright."

"Seriously? You're calling me dumb?" Jack exclaimed, "You once asked me if jelly was a dairy product!"

"Sour milk looks a lot like jelly!" Skywarp argued, "Look, just tell me which way to turn!"

"Right," Jack acknowledged.

"Right it is!" Skywarp repeated, misconstruing the meaning.

"No, Skywarp! Don't turn yet!" Jack screamed.

Skywarp, unable to stop himself, turned and hit a cliff side. Jack was thrown out of the driver's side door, Skywarp's grille was bent, and both groaned in pain. Skywarp transformed, no longer able to maintain car mode, and the Eradicons transformed around them and held their weapons threateningly.

"Surrender, defective drone!" One Vehicon ordered.

"Oh, scrap," Skywarp cursed.

"Hey Skywarp, if you have any bright ideas, now would be the time to use them," Jack whispered.

Skywarp, not really the thinking type, knew they were probably beat. There was only one idea that popped into his processor, and he knew it probably wouldn't work. Still, to save himself and Jack, he had to try.

/Skywarp to base,/ Skywarp comm'ed Shockwave, /We need backup. Surrounded by drones and in distress. Please send help. Like, now!/

The Eradicons walked closer to Skywarp and Jack, ready to capture their fellow drone. Jack didn't know what they had in store for him, but he knew how much Megatron likely resented him. He had, after all, at one point in time helped Optimus Prime get his memory back and thus saved him from Megatron's grasp. Beyond that however, Megatron just didn't like anyone that was pro-Autobot.

An Eradicon grabbed Skywarp's wrist, and Skywarp didn't even resist. He was afraid a fight could result in Jack getting stepped on, and he had grown to like his human friends. His only wish now was that perhaps he could speak to his trine one last time before they deactivated him. Then again, he doubted Megatron or Knockout would be that merciful.

As Jack was being picked up by a drone and Skywarp was being led away, there was a sudden burst of light from the sky. A ground bridge had been opened, and out flew Shockwave's dog of war: the Predacon!

"Woo!" Skywarp cheered, "Long live the Predacons!"

"Um, how do we know that thing knows to help us?" Jack inquired, "It could just destroy everything."

"Oops," Skywarp winced, "Hadn't thought of that."

The Predacon however, did not disappoint. He flew down majestically and flung the full force of his body into the assembled Eradicons. Skywarp grabbed Jack while he had the opportunity and transformed into car mode. Even as they drove away, Jack could see in the rear view mirror that the Predacon was decimating the drones. A moment of grim clarity made him realize that those were likely Autobots that would never be reborn, but he knew it was necessary.

"Hey Skywarp?" Jack said softly as he looked back at the carnage, "Do you think the Decepticons would turn on Megatron if they knew what he did to you?"

"To me?" Skywarp pondered, "I don't see why they would care. Decepticon culture is pretty selfish. It's how we survive, by not caring too much about those around us."

"But don't you see? If this could happen to you, it could happen to anybody," Jack pointed out, "Listen, if and when you get your body back, I need you to promise me something."

"Uh…promise?" Skywarp replied uncertainly.

"Yes," Jack said firmly, "I need you to promise me that you'll tell everyone what happened to you. Don't let Megatron know peace. Don't let those other drones' lives go down in vain. Autobot drones can't do this. It has to be you. You're a voice your own people will listen to. They need you."

"Wow, you sure do give good speeches," Skywarp remarked, "No wonder Optimus Prime likes you so much. You really think I can do anything though?"

"I think you have enough power that Megatron wanted to take it away from you," Jack told him, "I think Starscream and Thundercracker will listen to you, and that's pretty powerful on its own. I think you could be a great mech for your people, and you shouldn't let getting your body back distract you from what this form felt like. You're not like other Decepticons, Skywarp. You have a mind open to change, and if Cybertron ever does get rebuilt it'll need mechs like you."

"Whoa…that's deep, Jack," Skywarp replied, touched, "TC used to talk like you. I hope he still does. Don't worry, Jack. I won't let them down. Not the drones, not my brothers, and not even you kids. Megatron will be sorry he messed with the elite trine."

Refit managed to dig up enough wreckage to find a servo. Upon seeing that he was close, he scraped away the debris with renewed vigor. His laptop said the mech was still alive, but the spark signature was getting weaker. He had to hurry!

Digging like a dog trying to retrieve a bone, dirt flew as Refit got close to being able to pull out whoever he found. Upon seeing the familiar red and blue paint it was clear; he had found Optimus Prime.

"Come on, hurry up!" Refit said to himself, "Hang in there, Optimus. You're going to be okay."

Wheeljack and Dreadwing were locked together in a prison cell in Darkmount. Dreadwing was gravely wounded and still unconscious, and Wheeljack was sore but managing to keep his systems online.

"Hey, ugly. Wake up," Wheeljack ordered as he roughly pushed Dreadwing.

Dreadwing groaned, and blearily managed to sit up.

"My helm feels like it has been split in two," Dreadwing mumbled.

"It was," Wheeljack informed him, "Think you can stand?"

"…Not yet," Dreadwing breathed.

"Well I'd work on that if I were you," Wheeljack replied, "Because I'm pretty sure our jailers will come for us soon, and you're gonna have to keep up with me in order to escape."

"I do not intend to escape," Dreadwing said grimly, "I have no place left in this war. The Decepticons desecrate the dead, and the Autobots doomed Cybertron. Starscream turned my own twin into a mindless husk; a living dead Terrorcon. How can I keep living this way?"

"By putting one pede in front of the other, and then doing it again," Wheeljack replied matter-of-factly, "Things won't get better if honorable mechs allow the scum of Cybertron to kill them. If you lay down and die, then Starscream and Megatron win. Is that what you want?"

"I want to know peace," Dreadwing hissed, "How can I do that in this life?"

"Well now, that's a thinker," Wheeljack remarked, "Personally though, I don't feel like getting my internals ripped out by a bunch of filthy 'Cons. You stay here and die if you want to. I'm gonna find a way out."

"Did someone say 'way out'?"

Wheeljack looked down, and saw Miko was standing there with a smirk on her face and a crowbar in her hand.

"Alright, now it's Wreckin' time!" Wheeljack exclaimed, "I think the weakest wire to the force field is right over there near that wall panel."

Miko went over and removed the panel as instructed, and Wheeljack showed her exactly where she would need to sever the connections to lower the force field. The whole time they worked Dreadwing just dazedly watched them. He could barely concentrate on anything other than the pain, and he wasn't listening to what they were saying, but he could see the camaraderie between them. Dreadwing had no great love for humans, but he didn't hate them either. They were merely pests…at least until Optimus sacrificed Cybertron for them.

Dreadwing wanted to hate the humans, wanted to crush them and feel vengeance had been served. Would the hate bring an end to his suffering though? Logic said no, and for once logic was starting to override his baser impulses.

Skyquake had always been the passionate one, the mech that allowed anger to fuel him like energon. Dreadwing had always been the calmer twin, but now he wished he wasn't. He wanted anger to comfort him in his time of need, but he couldn't even manage that. He wasn't angry, he wasn't sad, he was just…tired.

"Got it!" Miko cried out triumphantly as the light dimmed in front of their cell.

"Well Dreadwing, what's it gonna be?" Wheeljack asked before leaving, "You gonna curl up and die, or are you gonna live and stick it to the filthy 'Cons that tried to break you?"

Wheeljack didn't wait for Dreadwing to answer. He grabbed Miko and ran out of the brig, ready to take on whatever was waiting for them outside Darkmount.

Dreadwing, meanwhile, sat in place for a moment. Technically he was free. He could walk away, could fly beyond the stratosphere and leave the war behind. All he had to do was push his broken fragmented body to move.

Nodding slowly, and then pausing to let the dizziness subside, Dreadwing came to a decision. Decepticons and Autobots alike had betrayed him, so he would abandon them in turn. There was a bigger universe out there beyond Cybertron and earth, and Dreadwing was going to find his place among that vast cosmos. From now on, Dreadwing was a rogue.

Refit dug Optimus out of the ground and scanned his body yet another time. Finding a way to repair him on the field was nearly impossible without Ratchet. He needed to get Optimus to safety, but the only lab available to him was Shockwave's. Bringing the leader of the Autobots to a Predacon-crazed former Decepticon seemed like a terrible idea.

"What do I do?" Refit asked himself, "I'm good with computers, but I'm not a medic. Optimus needs his spark stabilized, but how do I-"

Blam!

Refit fell to the ground, shot in the back by laser fire. Wheeljack ran forward, his gun still smoking, with Miko riding on his shoulder.

"Optimus!" Miko screamed at seeing the terrible condition of the Autobot leader.

"We gotta get him to the Jackhammer!" Wheeljack declared, "Miko, I'm gonna put you down, and I need you to keep up with me, alright?"

"You got it," Miko nodded soberly.

Wheeljack knew moving Optimus was risky, but he had no choice. The battlefield was pandemonium at the moment, but he wasn't about to leave an Autobot behind. He hefted the large frame onto his shoulders and started running slowly to the Jackhammer with his burden. Miko kept up, made easier by the fact that Optimus was weighing Wheeljack down.

Just as the Jackhammer was in sight, a Vehicon drove in front of them and blocked the doorway. Wheeljack was in no position to fight, but he would do his best no matter what threat was put in front of him.

As it turned out, Wheeljack wouldn't have to fight at all. Jack ran out of the car and the Vehicon transformed. Wheeljack, naturally, was confused.

"Skywarp!" Miko cheered, "Woohoo!"

"What happened to Optimus?" Jack asked hurriedly.

"No time to explain, kid," Wheeljack drawled, "Everybody in the Jackhammer!"

Wheeljack ran into the spacecraft with Optimus, followed by two kids and one Vehicon. Wheeljack then layed Optimus down on the floor behind the cockpit and rushed to the driver's seat to get them the frag out of that battlefield.

"Hey, cool! This thing has a radio!" Skywarp exclaimed as he went to touch the dial.

Wheeljack smacked the Vehicon's hand and glared for a second before returning to piloting his ship.

"Party pooper," Skywarp sulked.

"There's no time to party," Jack reminded him, "We have to repair Optimus."

"I'll get to it after I find a safe place to land," Wheeljack told him, "Don't worry, kids. I'll do everything I can to save the big guy."

"Uh, Jack? Skywarp?" Miko suddenly piped up, "Where's Raf?"

"I thought he was with you," Jack replied, "Wait. You mean he's not in here? Wheeljack, we have to go back!"

"No can do," Wheeljack said, "If I go back we'll get shot down. Then we'll all be one with the matrix. Raf's a smart kid. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"But he's only 12!" Jack persisted, "We can't leave him!"

"We'll go back when we can, but right now we're in retreat," Wheeljack tried to explain, though his patience was running thin, "Now sit down and shut up so I don't crash into anything."

Jack wanted to argue further, but Skywarp picked up both him and Miko and took them to the crew quarters of the ship.

"Guys, he knows this is bad," Skywarp said quietly, "I hate it too, but this happens during war. Hopefully the Predacon will find Raf and take him back to Shockwave."

"We're trusting the dragon to save Raf?" Miko asked skeptically.

"Yeah, I know, it's a flimsy plan," Skywarp admitted, "But we already have someone who needs us right now. Optimus might not be as cool as Raf, but he's dying. If he dies, then the Autobots are pretty much doomed. No one else can stand up to Megatron's power like him. We have to put the team first. Frag, I can't believe I just said that!"

"So, does that mean you're not gonna go crawling back to Shockwave?" Miko asked pointedly.

"I dunno," Skywarp shrugged, "I want my body back, but…I like you guys, and you're Autobot sympathizers. Besides, the Autobots gave me back my mind. I guess that's worth something. I dunno. Maybe I should just see where this route takes me."

"But how are we gonna find Raf?" Jack brought them back to the present moment, "We left him. What will his family think?"

"Who knows? Maybe he'll find a way to stop the 'Cons by the time we get back," Miko said optimistically.

Jack felt like garbage, but didn't know what he could do. Raf was the most helpless and innocent member of the team. How could they have just left him? As Jack looked out the window at the setting sun, he wondered what would happen if the Decepticons found Rafael.

The light was bright. Too bright. Artificially bright. None of the lights in his house or Autobot HQ were this…wait. Autobot Headquarters. It was destroyed, and Optimus was…

Refit awoke remembering what he had been doing, and as his visor onlined the bright lamp above him was pushed aside by a shiny silver servo.

"Finally, at least one is awake," Knockout replied offhandedly as he turned away from Refit, "KL-72! Are any of the Eradicons online yet?"

"No, sir!" A Vehicon replied in clipped tones, "Do you require anything else, sir?"

"That will be all," Knockout dismissed the drone before turning his attention back to Refit, "Now, can you transform?"

"Into what?" Refit asked before thinking.

Knockout sighed sharply and looked up to the ceiling in exasperation.

"Let me guess, you're having weird dreams and think you're someone else," Knockout surmised.

"No, sir," Refit replied, knowing where the situation could lead, "May I return to duty now, sir?"

"Fine. Whatever," Knockout waved him away, "You weren't damaged too seriously anyway. Triage has been a nightmare, but at least this time the Decepticons have a decisive victory. It won't belong before the Autobot cause is finished, and then maybe I can move on with my life. What? Are you still here? Get out!"

Refit did as instructed and calmly walked away. It had been a long time since he could look another mech in the optic, and honestly he didn't like it. He wanted to get back to his tiny human frame as quickly as possible, but to do that he would have to escape from wherever he was first. He just hoped he could do that without being detected as the AWOL drone that he was.