Author's Notes: So, this will be a bit of a strange deviation from the main story, but I swear, there is a method to my madness. For those who have not read the mid story, Robot's No Longer in Disguise, that takes place between Words Unspoken and Twisted Glimpse, some characters or themes mentioned in this chapter will make little to no sense. I was originally going to add this bit to the end of the last chapter, but I realized it would be waaay to long, so I have left it a stand-alone chapter. Hope ya'll don't mind if we hang out with the Rescue Bots during chapter 22!


Date: March 14th 2021 Early Morning, Griffin Rock, Maine

Officer Cody Burns

The radio woke him up, a full hour before he had set it to, and for the fourth time that night. He wished it was an odd occurrence, but over the course of the past few weeks, it was far from it.

Cody groaned, slapping his alarm clock into silence. It was still shifting through channels, even after he shut it off. "Uggg… Megatronus, stoooop," he moaned from under his pillow.

The disembodied, ancient evil Cybertronian didn't heed his request. He finally had to unplug it. An odd event for most people, but hey, this was Griffin Rock. Tech got strange more often than not, and that wasn't even accounting for the Cybertronian ghost. If the event wasn't caused by their dimensionally imprisoned frenemy, then his radio had gained sentience. Would be far from the first time. But no matter what had woken him up, sentient radios or ancient destroyer Primes, he decided it was way too early for that kind of activity.

He got up regardless, because the earlier he prepared for this crazy day, the better. A flood of Cybertronians had already Bridged in from Cybertron the night before, and of course, people would be coming to witness their continued activities. His phone was already beeping with all the messages, from both human and bot. His sentient radio would have to wait for a less busy weekend to bug him.

The hall was dark, his dad still snoring away. Good, he got to sleep late. He really needed to sleep in. If he didn't, Chase would get on his case. And then Chase would get on Cody's case to get on his dad's case. It could all be avoided if his dad just got eight hours of sleep.

He didn't know why he was surprised the coffee pot was empty, even at five in the morning. Kade got up a full half an hour before him, and Cody's older brother would apparently rather jump naked into Maine's ocean in the dead of winter than refill the coffee pot for the rest of his family to enjoy.

Halfway through refilling the pot, the water in the coffee maker shook, as did the floor. Then it did so again, and Cody had to catch the falling mug before it shattered on the ground.

"Cody!"

Another Firehouse shaking boom, then he heard Whirl's excitable voice call him again. It was waaaay too early for this.

He turned to the window. It was just in time for him to spot the excitable Cybertronian's bright face beaming in the window of their second story living area above the garage. Then she went back down, and the ground shook again as she landed. She appeared in the window again, "Good! You're up!" Back down she went, and a picture frame fell this time.

Snickering, Cody left the coffee to brew before he went over to the window and slid it open, "Mornin' Whirl. Are you excited?"

She squealed from the ground, though she wasn't far from the second story window to begin with, she still jumped again to be more eye level with him. "How did you know! I was supposed to recharge last night, but I couldn't manage to get any rest! When do we all end up back home at the same time these days? And The Dinobots, Silverwing AND Sharpshot are here! Grimlock finally just Bridged in. Heatwave said he is hung over, so we aren't supposed to be too loud around him. That's why I came over here to be loud! I am too excited not to be! OH! And plus, Uncle Woodrow found another good dig site off the coast and half the town is already up and taking the ferry over!"

"Where is everyone else?" He asked, meaning the rest of the Cybertronian rescue squad. He assumed the human half were downstairs.

Whirl couldn't keep still as she gave her report, so she just marched in place as she spoke, "Ok, so Heatwave, Boulder, Hoist and Medix are already with Uncle Woodrow off the coast... I know Danie is with Blades for a final sweep of the main island before they head back over. Chase should be back soon, because he said, and I quote, 'the chief has been forgetting to take his doctor prescribe medication, and I need to be sure to remind him.'"

"I think he forgot, like, once last month, but that was it," Cody pointed out.

Whirl shrugged, the rotor blades on her back spinning as she did so, "You know how worried Chase gets. But anyway! Me, Wedge and Hotshot are staying here to wait up for everyone else, you included! I couldn't stop being excited, I already did my excitable sky circles to try and burn off the excess energy. That didn't help. So, I came here to see who was up, and that's when I found you! But, maybe you need to take a bit more of a nap, you still look reeeeeal tired."

The door down the hall opened, and Cody winced. Welp, so much for his dad sleeping in. Sleep was hard to come by with a metal giant jumping outside your house.

"That Whirl?" his dad, supposedly retired Chief Charlie Burns, said between yawns as he shuffled into the kitchen.

"Yeah, just me Chief! Sorry, did I wake you?" Whirl said, and she stood on the tips of her peds so she could peek into the window without having to jump.

Charlie yawned again and poured coffee into his world's best police dad mug, "No, it was another shapeshifting alien that got me up."

"Oh, ok good. I must have missed them on my way over," Whirl said, totally missing the sarcasm. "By the way, Chase wants to make sure you remember to take your blood pressure meds, and that little white pill your doctor added to keep your heart from exploding."

Charlie wrinkled his nose, the motioned bristling his mustache, "It is a heart murmur, nothing explosive about it… And I swear, between Chase, Graham, and Danie reminding me every day I don't know how I could possibly forget." He took a seat on the couch by the window with his coffee, newspaper, and of course, his medication box. "Another busy day," he huffed, already sounding exasperated.

Cody laughed in agreement and sat on the couch across from him, "You're telling me. But isn't every day?"

"Somehow, yes. Even retirement has yet to be relaxing."

"To be retired, you would have to stop working, dad," Cody pointed out.

Charlie gave him a stern fatherly look over his paper, despite Cody being just shy of thirty. "I manage the emergency call center. I'm hardly running around in the field anymore."

"But you're coming in the field today," Whirl reminded from the window.

"True, though I won't be doing any digging for metal bones," Charlie assured them and turned to the next page of his paper.

"Well, we do have the Dinobots for that," Cody said with a shrug.

"Grimlock and the guys!" Whirl cheered with so much excitement Cody thought she may be the only explosive threat in the area. "And oh, my, GOSH. Body, you haven't met Sharpshot yet! Silverwing's main squeeze! I still haven't been able to ask them everything I wrote down to ask them so I wouldn't forget anything. Like, what does a Con Lord do all day? Is it fun, or mostly boring? I need to know, but Heatwave keeps grabbing me away before I can ask my questions! I keep swearing not to say anything that will put the Autobots in a bad position with the Cons, but for some reason no one believes me!"

"Sharpshot…" Charlie hummed thoughtfully and glanced up at the ceiling, "One of the three space dictators, right?"

"Yep, the short one," Cody confirmed.

"Ah," Charlie said with a nod.

"I know we are Autobot and all," Whirl started, and she was jumping again so they both had to take hold of their coffee cups so they didn't rattle off the table, "But like, it just goes to show that even someone as short as me could become a space dictator someday! The thought makes me so excited I could puke!"

"Rule over the stars and beyond, Whirl." Cody snickered.

"We still have a little time," Whirl said, seemingly realizing something. "I can't puke in this body, but I can jump into the Sim real quick and binge eat pizza before everyone gets here!" and she jumped down a final time.

"Not a healthy habit to get into!" Cody shouted after her from the couch.

She was already running from the fire house, "Send me a chime to get me out if I don't come out in like thirty minutes!" and she was gone.

Cody leaned back in his couch, relishing in the quiet. "Speaking of the Simulation…" he began.

His dad groaned, "This again?"

"Yeah, why not? It's just concepts right now." Cody assured him. "What would it hurt to try it out?"

Charlie sighed and put down his paper, "I'm not keen on being the first lab rat for the thing. Sure, it's amazing tech and Dr. Frankline and her dad have outdone themselves as always. Even the Cybertronians have a ball with the thing, but the whole concept is uncomfortable for me."

"I've been in it," Cody assured him," You can't tell it's not the real world."

"Exactly," Charlie huffed, "That's what's strange. The idea of logging into a simulated world and just, never getting out again. That's a little much for me… And plus, everyone acts like I'm a week out from kicking the bucket. My dad lived well into his 90's. I'm aiming to break the record."

"No more aching joints," Cody reminded him with an eyebrow waggle. "You could pick any age for your forever avatar to be. Thirty years old and immortal. Not a bad gig."

"True," Charlie said, and he picked his paper back up. Cody heard the subtle hint of somber in his tone as he said that. "I would be able to see you and everyone else. No more aging. See my grandkids and their grandkids, and even beyond. Of course I could get back into work with Chase, even from a virtual world. But…"

"But, what?"

Charlie gave him a soft look, "I would never see your mother again."

Oh. "Well, I guess that's fair." Cody said, scratching his hair. He shouldn't have pushed.

"Of course, I could stick around for maybe an extra fifty or so," Charlie said, maybe sensing the mood shift towards the sorrowful.

Cody managed a grin, "Ultimately, it'll be up to you, dad."

Thankfully, the mood lifted at once as the door to the garage burst open, Kade grumbling with his large thermos in hand and Danie right behind him. "All I'm saying," Danie said with a mocking tone trailing after her brother, "You never needed TWO massive thermoses of coffee to stay in the game, bro. You really should get that sleepiness checked."

Kade scoffed, "I used to guzzle this stuff in my twenties! Me needing more of it does not make me old."

Danie inhaled sharply through her teeth, again mocking him. "You did find gray hair yesterday. It really is never too late to start following Dad's shuffling footsteps into retirement."

"I'm forty! That is not old!" Kade snarled.

Danie rose her hands up, sarcastically blocking out his sour mood, "Whatever you say, Boomer."

"Um, morning, by the way," Cody said to his siblings.

Danie beamed brightly at them, even as Kade stewed at the coffee pot, "Morning Cody and Dad! We ready to dig for more Predacon bones? You took your meds, right dad?"

Charlie's head fell back and he groaned. Doing his best to slam a newspaper together, he stood. "I am going to get ready. Is that ok? Do I need my meds to do that too?"

"Chase worries," Danie reminded him.

Charlie sighed as he shuffled back into the hall. "I know, his Spark is in the right place. I'm sure I'll appreciate it someday."

Danie turned to Cody, and she grimaced, "Cod, you look like death. Still that dimensional guy keeping you up?"

Cody just nodded, sipping his coffee with a defeated sigh. She huffed, "We really need to find a way to calm him down. Team Prime doesn't want him out, I get that, but like, he isn't keeping them up all night and day… By the way, is Whirl ok?" She is passed out face down in the grass down the block."

"She's in the Simulation, I'm assuming." Cody assured her.

Danie nodded knowingly. "I figured. Just thought I would make sure."

Cody's phone buzzed. He half expected a series of random numbers and letters, something that came through from his electrical stalker when frequencies were being ignored. "It's from Heatwave," he informed all those present, and with a sigh of legitimate relief. "The Dinos and the team off the coast are getting started… Grimlock just Bridged in, finally," he had a hard time not grinning as he read on, "And Heatwave says not to rush, or Kade might break a hip."

Kade angerly chugged his thermos of coffee before storming back down into the garage. "I am going to break his hip, or whatever that oversized fire hydrant has for a hip!"


Cody jumped into the dusty trail as Whirl landed, just as the light of the early morning painted the landscape. He unhooked his helmet and yawned, still dead tired, but there was work to do. He took in the large crowd scattered up and down the cliffside pathways. What was most noteworthy, other than the few excavated Predacon fossils laid out on tables under tarps, was the arial chase between winged robots happening over the cliffside.

People were cheering from the ground, snapping pictures of the spectacle as the massive metal dragon honed in on what looked to be Hotshot's jet mode.

"So, not much digging happening I see," Cody hummed, hooking his thumbs into his gun belt and taking up a stance next to his friend Frankie.

She was tisking her tongue in disappointment, taking inventory of their finds so far under the tents, "Very observant of you, Officer. You see, it started out promising. There were bagels and donuts to feed the excitable volunteers. Grimlock finally stumbled through an open portal from Cybertron to reign in his crew who have already been here a whole night riling up Hotshot and Whirl… But any form of order quickly turned into a competition to see who could find the most bones. That then devolved into a general competition against bots. Then Silverwing and Lord Sharpshot arrived, and they split that up again, this time Bots against Cons. Finally, as you can see here, they all wanted to see who could outlast hiding from Silverwing. Ya know, the Predacon. The ancient Cybertronian literally designed to hunt down anything?"

Cody glanced up, just in time for Hotshot to zoom overhead, his thrusters burning hot and chanting "No no NO!" and then the massive beastly form of Silverwing snatched him out of the sky like an eagle catching a trout.

Cody followed her path back, carrying Hotshot's jet form back to the cliffside where she deposited him into a growing pile of sour looking bots. "Wedge has christened that the 'losers who would be dead if this were real' corner." Frankie went on to explain.

Cody whistled, "Wow, she even caught Swoop?" he said, noting the winged Dinobot seated amongst Blades, Medix, another Dinobot, Sludge, and now, finally, Hotshot.

"Sludge can't fly though?" Cody pointed out. "Why is he there?"

Frankie was trying hard not to laugh, "God bless him he tried. He jumped off the cliffside, and Silverwing managed to catch him before he hit the water. I think he just wanted to be part of the fun."

Behind them, Whirl's rotors came back to life, "OH OH! Me! Try pretending to kill me!" she cheered before she punched it hard and took off into the sky. She didn't make it far. The wind under Silverwing's wings roared as she came down upon her, cradling her in her claws so not to snag her rotors.

"That leaves…" Frankie scanned the sky with a pair of binoculars. Silverwing caught the trail before anyone else, her snout turned to the eastern sky.

Out of the cloud cover, a Cybertronian jet appeared. Insanely fast and already breaking the sound barrier. Once Whirl was deposited amongst the other losers, the massive metal beast shot into the sky in pursuit. "That's the Con Lord, right?" Cody said.

"Yep. You haven't met them yet. For a space dictator, they are remarkably friendly. I can see why Grimlock and Silverwing love them."

Sharpshot had a head start, but Silverwing was closing the gap fast. She flapped her dark wings and snatched the alien jet from the clouds. They came crashing downward, only a few hundred yards from Cody and Frankie. They landed hard, but when Cody came running up, they were both in bot mode again and laughing. Silverwing still had Sharpshot in a hold, but it was playful.

"Absolutely not fair," Sharpshot snickered, even lacking a mouth or face.

Silverwing tisked, and brushed a bit of rubble from Sharpshot's wings, "Should not have run, my sweet Spark. I know your Energon scent more than anyone's."

She helped the Decepticon Lord out of the crater their combined crash had created. It was kind of hard to determine where their focus was, considering this Cybertronian did not have a trackable face, but Cody surmised Sharpshot was looking at him.

"Lord Sharpshot," Frankie said, and patted Cody on the back, "This is Officer Cody Burns. The one we were talking about."

Cody managed a respectful head tip, sort of like the one his dad often utilized, and he was growing fond of as well. "Welcome to Earth. More specifically, welcome to the state of Maine. We're honored to have you."

Sharpshot knelt on one knee, a remarkably rare gesture from the massive alien race, especially from the Con side, "The honor is all mine. I've been told you facilitate a good many of these excavations, considering you have a knack for finding bones."

Cody shrugged off the praise, "Call it a lucky gut feeling. And the resources you have been sending have helped far more." Really, having a few fun archaeological digs for ancient alien bones in exchange for TONS of Energon and raw Cyber-matter was a great deal.

Silverwing snickered through her fanged metal teeth, "Oh Primus, seems we found one just as humble as you, Shots."

"Yeah, it's annoying," grumbled another gruff voice accompanied with a tell tail tremble in the ground. Grimlock, currently in his slightly less terrifying bot form, shuffled up to their group. He dropped a large metal bone on the ground vaguely near Frankie's tent. He also looked miserable.

"Morning Grim," Cody greeted cheerfully.

Grimlock growled in place of saying anything decent.

"Don't mind him," Sharpshot said, "He spent all night drinking at Maccadam's bar, apparently."

Grimlock turned fast to face the Decepticon lord. Then he appeared to regret the sudden jostling of his massive body, "More than that! I woke up to that damn dog of Thunderblast's yappin' his fur off. Then I learn later there was some crazy tussle that went down in town, and I missed it!"

That seemed news to Sharpshot, "A 'tussle'? I've been here on Earth since last night, but I didn't hear anything about that."

Grimlock shrugged, "It was small, what I hear. Probably why you haven't heard nothin'."

It was a suspicious comment, but Sharpshot tapped their commlink, probably checking for incoming comms. Their sharp digit dropped back to their side, so all appeared well. "There will always be more bar fights, Grimlock. I'm just still surprised you didn't take the chance to jump in on our little game of catch. That high-grade is catching up to you."

Grimlock snorted from his massive vents, "it ain't cuz I'm hung over! You all decided to have a race in the damn sky, and if ya can't tell, I ain't the flyin' type! Does anything about this-" he motioned to his whole self from the helm down, "-look nimble to you? If we have a strength contest next, call me over, I'll wipe the floor with ya."

"Nope," Frankie sighed, "Getting back to work will do fine."

Cody followed her and the others back to the tent. He mostly stood back, letting his science savvy friend go over their findings so far. There wouldn't be much time for him to utilize his semi famous 'gut feeling' to find bones anyway. There were too many bots and people for him to facilitate. Crowds this large were a recipe for accidents. Then again, basically the whole of their rescue team was on site. If anything did go wrong, this would be a good place for it to happen.

Once caught up on the ground level, he ended up standing over one of the cliffside check points alongside Chase and Heatwave, overlooking the excavations below.

"Nothing new to report?" Cody inquired.

Heatwave eyed him curiously, "Nope, which is amazing for this crowd. But are you up for look out duty? You look like you're ready to drop, and it isn't even nine in the morning."

Cody shrugged, "Nothing a fifth cup of coffee won't fix."

"As long as you are aware it may have adverse side effects regarding your pressurized blood," Chase intoned seriously. "I have warned the Chief against such over consumption of the caffeinated beverage many times, though much like his refusal to observe his medication schedule, he chooses when to heed my advice."

"He did take his meds Chase. I literally watched him do it," Cody assured the police bot to his right.

"That is good to know," Chase said, an optic finding Charlie down with his brother with the others in one of the dug-out gullies. They were all hovering over a metal skull and laughing, but from their current vantage point, Cody couldn't hear what it was about. "I understand the Chief is uncomfortable with my probing, but despite my many years spent on your world, I have done very little research in human customs regarding 'aging'. That is an error on my part."

"I mean, the topic is kind of a bummer," Cody offered with a shrug, "And he knows you are trying to help."

"I don't know what I'll do when Kade starts that aging scrap," Heatwave mused. His servos were crossed, gazing over the many groups scattered about. "He's already miserable on a good day. I can't imagine what he'd be like having to deal with back problems." He snickered, adding a little humor onto his originally sullen comment.

"Changing the topic," Cody said, allowing for both his immortal alien friends to reflect off the aging conversation, "I've heard strange things are happening on Cybertron… Either of you care to share?"

Heatwave huffed, "You probably have heard about as much as we have. I haven't been back to Cybertron in at least five months. To much scrap to do here."

"You would think us having endless access to instantaneous interplanetary transport would allow for us to visit home more often," Chase mused. He then looked to Cody, "In fact, it has not."

"I can tell ya, if my word means scrap to anyone," Grimlock offered on his way tromping up to their perch. He sat on the cliffside with an exaggerated huff and shaking a few rocks loose. Thankfully, there was no one directly under them to have that be a danger. "Apparently, weird Cybertronians are runnin' around with poison Energon. Plus, they still haven't found the poor losers lost in space, and that is an aft load of ships that went missing, both Bot and Con. No one knows scrap. But they are all going to have that Memorial in a few days so they can smile and pretend everything is all fine. No idea why they haven't postponed that thing. I'm sure OP and Meg's won't hold it against them for skipping one."

"It's more than just remembering both fallen leaders," Heatwave reminded him. "It's a time to reaffirm the Treaty. That is sort of important, especially in crazy times, like right now."

"Crazy times indeed," Cody hummed as he watched Sharpshot fly alongside Silverwing to the camp being organized by Wedge and Hoist. "I heard more chatter between Chopshop and a few of his Con friends about the scuffle in Kaon and the hunt going on for these poison blooded Cons… I am amazed Sharpshot has not been called away to deal with that."

Cody was not at all surprised by the suspicious cackle emanating from Grimlock, "Yeah, I may have everything to do with that… Shot's was already here last night when that scrap went down. I did tell Shot's they needed a break from Lordin', and I was gonna make sure they did even if I had to force 'em. I I figured the commlink scramblin' tech I swiped a while back would come in handy for that." Chase and Heatwave both turned in unison to glare at him. Grimlock shrugged, "hey, if they need Shots, they can send for them. This is a break for them and my boys. I ain't lettin' something stupid like politics or responsibility ruin it."

Cody's hand jolted to the radio on his belt when it scratched out a new series of static complaints. "Sorry, it's been doing that." He said as he silenced it. Then he growled when it turned itself back up and he had to wrestle the batteries out of the back to silence it for good.

"That's still happening?" Heatwave inquired with a risen optic ridge.

"Yeah," Cody growled, "About everything that gets a radio signal has been shouting at me every hour of the day and night."

"You are, indeed, a popular police man," Chase said, offering his own lighthearted reasoning for the phenomenon.

It did help to return the smile to Cody's face.


When noon was overhead, all parties had reconvened in the shade to take a break or go over their findings. Cody was tired already, no thanks to his ever-talkative bedside alarm clock, and his radio. He saw his dad napping in a hammock between two trees, and he decided that was a great idea for later. Just a short nap, enough to take the edge off his chronic sleepiness.

He observed from the shade of Frankie's tent, the 'A' group, consisting of Graham, Boulder, Silverwing and Sharpshot, had discovered a rather intact specimen. Silverwing was extra excited about this one, as it appeared to be the same beast form as herself. She and Sharpshot helped pull it from the earth and lay it gently in order. She even transformed to mirror the fossil's snarling pose.

The moment Heatwave and Boulder were distracted, Whirl took the chance to sneak up and tap on Sharpshot's servo to get their attention. The Con lord knelt to hear her whispered question. They pondered whatever she had asked, then shrugged, "It actually is kind of boring, most of the time," they admitted with a chuckle. "Paperwork and meetings with your side's reps most days. But boring is better than battle, I figure."

Whirl was amazed, even with Sharpshot's unremarkable answer regarding their ruling statues, "But, that's basically what Heatwave says about it too! Those losers on the internet are so wrong about us fighting again! We basically think the exact same thing!" she determined with utmost confidence, and not at all whispering any longer.

Heatwave spun around in a near panic, just in time for Hotshot to pop out of a hole near Sharpshot's ped… How long had he been there?

"But I mean, your city doesn't have laws like Iacon or the other Northern cities, right? Just whatever you say goes?" he asked from his hole.

Heatwave was rushing over as Sharpshot carried on talking. "We have common sense laws. No killing, unless somebot is actively trying to kill you first, or somebot else. Otherwise, do whatever you want, unless it imposes on somebot else's life."

Hotshot leaned far out of his hole, "But I mean… You could order everyone in the city to like, throw a massive party in your honor, right?"

Sharpshot snickered, somehow even without having to utilize a face, "I may hear some complaints from my fellow Lords, but technically, yeah, I could."

Heatwave finally arrived to pluck Whirl and Hotshot out of the situation, murmuring a apology to Sharpshot before storming away.

"No! I still have so many questions!" Whirl complained, reaching out from under Heatwave's arm.

"My sister asks why they ever fought," Frankie hummed thoughtfully.

Cody glanced up from his folding chair to his friend. She shifted her gaze from Sharpshot then out onto the fields. More of their allies arrived from Groundbridges to help. Other Rescue Bots from around the globe, and even a few Cons they had befriended when they assisted in the crashing of the Alchemor. "What do you mean?" he wondered, rightfully so, considering her remark was a little vague.

"The Autobots and the Decepticons," She elaborated. My sister was reading about the war but has never seen anything but their peace time. In fact, she's only ever known all of them as our fun transforming space neighbors. Crazy it was only like, fifteen years ago we didn't even know they existed, and all these guys were out in space ripping each other apart."

"Crazy," he echoed in agreement. But then he leaned back and grinned at her, "But the scariest thing about that thought is the 'fifteen years ago' bit. That makes me feel old."

One of Frankie's Walkie Talkie's close to Cody on the table buzzed to life, but it spew only gibberish. Cody sighed as Frankie finally silenced it. "This is still happening," She growled as she slapped the device a few times, "no amount of frequency blockers have worked."

Cody's head lulled back in frustration, "Yeah, and it's getting worse. I get this Megatronus guys is stuck in between dimensions, but his obsession with me is getting really old. If he wants to communicate with someone who has the smarts to help him, he should really give you a call."

"Maybe our inter dimensional prisoner is just lonely and needs a friend to talk to," Frankie said. "You are the best when it comes to communication skills. I know from personal experience. You sometimes don't know when to stop being the most fun guy in the room."

"I try," Cody said with a shrug.

Another of Frankie's devices pinged, but this time it was her personal com pad, and it was far more coherent than their mysterious bot trapped in-between dimensions. She had programmed it to ping a certain little sound when the transmission was coming from Cybertron. Strictly on instinct, he glanced at her pad before she reached it on the table. It was addressed to her, obviously, but what was odd was the message sender. "Soundwave?" he said out loud, but the next message under the Decepticon Lord's name was 'Private query' and he realized this was not meant for his eyes. He glanced away, now feeling guilty for snooping.

"Two Con Lords in one day? Well, aren't we blessed," Frankie snickered. She didn't seem at all bothered he had seen the message's front text. She read it, then her face turned down slightly, and she scanned over the same document again. Cody had to fight the urge to ask what Soundwave had asked her. "Hold on," she told Cody, and she walked a few paces away so she could respond. He wasn't trying to overhear, but he did catch Frankie utilizing the talk to text function on her com pad, responding to whatever Soundwave had asked her with, "Sorry to be blunt, but considering the technology is still being tested, that would not be a good idea…"

A Bridge opened near their main party, and Cody decided to leave Frankie to her private matter to check in on who was coming through.

The bot that arrived was one Cody had never seen before. Tall (obviously) though on the lanky side and sporting black and silver wings on a slightly bent over frame. They also seemed a little uncertain of themselves as their portal closed and many nearby humans looked up to take note of his arrival.

"Autoclave?" Sharpshot said, and in doing so, Cody had already gleaned the new bot's name. And he also recognized it. This was the Cybertronian Scientist Frankie, Boulder, and Graham were sometimes in contact with regarding all sorts of alien sciency things.

Autoclave perked up, finding Sharpshot in the crowd of bots quickly, 'Oh, good, you are alright.' We were starting to grow concerned.' Autoclave said in an odd buzzing and monotone voice.

Sharpshot tilted their helm, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Autoclave glanced around himself again, eyeing curiously a group of humans talking to Heatwave. 'All attempts to communicate via your commlink have failed. Starscream was ready to come here personally, but I volunteered. He knows I harbor curiosity for organic worlds.'

Despite lacking an expressive face, Sharpshot was radiating confusion, "Really? All the other Decepticon frequencies are getting through… why would-" A few of the plates making up the side of their helm split, and a small device fell out into their awaiting claws. Sharpshot examined their commlink, paused, then slowly panned up to face Grimlock. Again, Cody couldn't know for sure, but he felt as though the Con Lord was glaring at the now snickering Dinobot.

"Hey, I did say you needed a break, and I would make sure you got one, no matter what." Grimlock said, at the same time incriminating himself.

"Oh, the commlink scrambler!" Snarl realized, "Bout time you used that thing, just sittin' around collectin' dust after you swiped it from ol' Magnus."

Sharpshot sighed, shifting their commlink back into place, "What am I needed for?"

"Probably not a big deal," Grimlock assumed.

'We have one.' Autoclave informed them with a serious expression, 'Those Energon poisoned sub Cybertronians. One was captured early this cycle, and we have managed to stabilize their condition. Now all Cybertron's Southern region is in search of the others.'

"That sounds like a big deal," Whirl noted as Sharpshot was already scrambling to their feet.

"Um, yeah it is!" Sharpshot fidgeted in place, struggling to decide what to do first. They finally turned to the group and gave a slight bow, "Sorry, I need to leave prematurely. Thank you, for your hospitality, and your continued help to reconstruct the Predacon race." They said hurriedly. Then they faced Silverwing, who remained seated, intending to stay. "See you soon," they said, tapping their helm to hers gently. Her being seated helped them be the same height for the affectionate display. But soon Sharpshot was hurrying away, rushing through a Bridge of their own that soon blinked back out.

All focus landed on the lingering Autoclave. He didn't appear at all comfortable with being the center of attention, so he shifted the topic at once. 'Um, before I depart as well, I would very much like to speak with the creator of this simulated reality I have been hearing so much about.'

That was Cody's cue to jump in. "Frankie is busy for a few minutes more. She's, um, answering emails." He said, deciding not to mention who sent the emails in the first place.

'Very good, I am happy to wait,' he said merrily, and stepped over to admire the extracted Predacon bones. 'Excellent specimens! Their core ZNA samples are sure to be retrievable and ripe for cloning. I have been studying Shockwave's process for the task. I intend to assist in this next batch, if of course, he will allow it.'

"Isn't Shockwave the creepy guy who ripped out your voice box?" Kade blurted. Thankfully, karma for the comment swiftly came in the form of Danie and Graham smacking the back of Kade's head so hard he fully bent forward. "OW! What, I was just asking! If someone on my fire team ripped my throat out, I wouldn't be excited to hang out with them anymore!"

All eyes and optics fell back onto Autoclave, who was now seemingly trying to sink out of sight despite not being able to move. 'Indeed, Shockwave did. It was during the beginning stages of the war, you see. I believe we have all grown from those days. I am… We are all very different.'

Cody stepped forward, taking a seat next to his siblings and then patting the large empty space between himself and Whirl. "Frankie will be a while. How about you come join us."

Autoclave, perhaps needing to do something other than standing over their assembled party, nodded a few times and sat stiffly in that spot.

"It's really impressive, how forgiving you are," Whirl said to him after a prolonged pause following Autoclave joining them amongst the Predacon bones.

Autoclave buzzed a nervous chuckle, 'I don't know about that. I just understand not all things are within our control, some things are beyond even Shockwave's control. I, understand."

"Again," Kade said, and he was ready to dodge the slaps coming his way this time, "The dude, ripped out your voice box. How was that beyond his control? That's a hard thing to do accidentally."

Grimlock rose his monstrously large hand, "Yeah, I'll second tiny's comment. Shockwave always knows what he's doin'. Especially when he's choppin' up bots."

Autoclave shifted again, 'No, you are correct, it was not an accident. It is a complicated mess to be truthful…'

Of all the small bots in their company to speak up, Cody was surprised it was the usually reserved Hoist. "Does it have anything to do with him having gone through the empurata?"

Again, silence, and now Cody felt lost. Every human in the company, along with Silverwing shared his confounded expression. Boulder, Heatwave and the other older members of the team were the only one who appeared knowledgeable, but he was now very uncomfortable.

"Papa Whirl went through that," Whirl volunteered grimly. There was a name Cody hadn't heard in a while, and a distant memory itched the back of his mind. Images of a crazy Copter outfitted with guns galore and blaring pop music over a heavily populated Australian city... "I still really don't get all that it entails, he never really talks that much about it."

'I can explain,' Autoclave volunteered. He seemed the type to educate, even if the topic waws grim, 'You see, young bots, and my new human associates. Before the war, Cybertron was far from a paradise. There were many brutish practices that we can now look back on and shutter. One of which, being the many variations of the empurata. It was a practice, or, more, a public punishment. Those that openly challenge the order of Cybertron, the Caste system, or rather, anything deemed 'unbecoming' were subjected to it. In short, a bot's hands and their helm were removed, replaced with claws and usually a single optic or screen. It was a very effective means of scaring the public into behaving.

At the time, Shockwave was an esteemed member of the higher Cybertronian Council that delt with the sciences. He was also very outspoken, passionate, and politically enthusiastic.'

The Dinobot Swoop snorted from his place laying back in the dirt, "The words, Shockwave, and passionate, just don't fit right together."

'The Council at the time thought so too,' Autoclave said, his tone implying what was to come. 'The same barbaric practice was done onto him, but in addition, they took the punishment one step further, and severed Shockwave's consciousness from the empathy centers of his neronet. They did this to destroy a powerful political activist, and also, hopefully gain from his genius, now unhindered with the burden of morality. It backfired on them in a spectacular fashion, as he joined the Decepticon cause, and his genius went on to benefit their side. But either way, the damage was forever done, to both Shockwave,' he paused to rub at his throat, and he even gave the Dinobots a pitying glance, 'and all those he later encountered in this unempathetic state."

"That's terrible," Whirl said, sinking down with her expression, "For everyone."

Most of the time, hearing about Cybertron and all the amazing things that came from it never ceased to amaze Cody. But sometimes, he would hear whispers from some lost time in the metal world's distant history. And what he would hear would be absolutely terrifying.

"You said it best, Smarty bot," Grimlock snorted, appearing far from bothered, "Everyone's different now, not a damn thing can be done to change the past. So why bother lingerin' on it?"

Autoclave's voice box buzzed as he shuffled in his place in the dirt, 'As a matter of fact, there could be means of correcting the past…' In response to everyone's inquisitive gaze, Autoclave pulled something from his subspace. It was a small data stick. Unassuming and plain. Cody assumed it was anything but, 'I have been researching the effects of the mind destroying effects of the empurata. Shockwave was not the only victim, you see. Some bots were severed from not just empathy. Some lost their ability to feel joy or were reprogramed to always fear certain stimuli. Many of these bots have come to me, who survived the war, of course, who wished to have these effects reversed. It was assumed impossible. But, over the years, I have made considerable progress.'

Whirl sprung up so fast she was almost airborne even without the use of her rotors, "You can reverse the empurata!? OHMYGOSH! Papa Whirl has lasting brain damage from it he could have that fixed! And! You could fix Shockwave's empathy problem! He could go back to normal with all the others!" She was so happy she was almost dancing. Cody sensed from Autoclave's hesitation, the time for dancing was not this moment.

'In theory, yes. There is still a great deal of progress to be made. If Shockwave had even half of his original emotional faculties, he would no doubt be able to build upon my work in record time and reverse the remaining damage done to himself and the others, and from there, reverse a great number of his more, regrettable scientific endeavors,' and he again, looked to the Dinobots. Now Grimlock and his team were even interested.

"But?" Cody guessed.

Autoclave winced, and he shifted the data stick away. 'But… That is where your original affirmations of me are misplaced. I am still utterly terrified of Shockwave. I have been forcing myself to work alongside him, in an attempt to cure myself of this unfortunate shortcoming of mine. But I have been unable to even open this dialogue with him. I fear what he will say, or do.'

"Being scared of someone who hurt you, no matter what their so-called reasons were, is not a short coming," Cody felt the need to assure him. "it's perfectly reasonable."

"And we may be all friendly now," Grimlock intoned, "But Shockwave is still unpredictable. He may take you up on the offer. Or, he may smash that data stick and you with it."

"Less then helpful," Boulder growled at the lazing Dinobot.

'But not out of the realm of possibilities,' Autoclave agreed with a shutter. 'I will find the time, and the courage to approach him with the concept, hopefully soon. Perhaps after the Memorial, and when this sub Cybertronian business is settled.'

"Ya need help with it?" Silverwing offered with a shrug. She was fiddling with one of her ancestor's bones in the dirt to rearrange how it sat among the others. But she paused her work to smile her fangs at him, "You help us, and Shockwave helps us too all the time. I can watch over you when you talk to him. Or, if you need me to hold him down and you fix what's wrong with his head, I'll do it."

It got Autoclave to a buzzing laugh, releasing a little tension in his shoulders and wings. 'A very generous offer. But I would want any who explore the treatment to do so willingly… Though, I may take you up on the offer. If you could be in the general area when I communicate this to him, just in case, I would most appreciate it.'

Silverwing held out her clawed hand to him. He hesitated, but he did finally take it in his own hand, having to steady himself as she shook on the promise, "Deal! Got your back plates, smarty bot!"


Cody yawned again, working on his sixth cup of coffee by the time their break was over. It wasn't helping the haze of exhaustion anymore, but was doing remarkable work making his heartbeat at an alarming rate. The words of Chase were now mocking him in the back of his mind as he sipped at the steaming cup.

Autoclave excitedly swapped notes with Frankie, Boulder, and Graham before he hurried back to Cybertron through a Bridge. He wanted to hear more about what was happening on Cybertron, but gauging the talk between the Rescue Bots, it appeared the Autobot side was rather out of the loop regardless. Sharpshot never returned, so it was assumed whatever was happening required all three Lords. Seeing Frankie continue to occasionally respond to Soundwave's messages was only making him more anxious.

He almost fell out of his chair when the commlink clipped to his collar buzzed. Somehow, it still always caught him off guard, "Seriously, I am not the guy to help you," he tried to reason with the interfering force while turning his commlink back down to a reasonable volume. It continued to crackle, the echoing voices of radio chatter all that answered. Sometimes, he made out repeating words. The trapped ancient Cybertronian may be picking apart radio frequencies to try and communicate. That had been Frankie's theory anyway. But the words never really made sense.

'Recharging.' Then 'Frequency,' and sometimes 'wavelength' was used interchangeably.

Not exactly helpful. He would often wake up to these same words repeating too. Whoever Megatronus was and whatever he wanted; he was at least persistent.

He didn't have time to figure it out or rest. Chase sent an urgent com about Charlie needing medical attention. He rushed over, finding his dad basically fine, only needing a bottled water and some shade. Uncle Woodrow was pushing them both again, 'like we used to when we were younger!' he insisted until Heatwave fully made him sit in the shade next to Charlie also.

The false alarm wasn't a total bust. From the tree line where his dad and uncle were made to rest, he finally got to utilize his famous 'gut feeling.' Following a sudden hunch that manifested in his brain, he wandered a little way into the woods until the cliffside stopped him. A cool draft brushed his face as he passed a section of rocks. He unholstered his baton and jammed it between some shifting rocks. A large pile of stones and dirt fell away, revealing a small cave.

Smiling, he swapped his baton for his flashlight and entered the small space. A few places he had to squeeze through, but it wasn't long before he came into a glowing blue cavern. He had unearthed a large collection of Predacon bones scattered amongst a massive cash of Energon.

Returning with pictures of his find, Boulder surmised the Predacons resting there must have been sent all those years ago to guard it during the war. A still functional Decepticon device placed there to cloak the Energon signature was the reason they hadn't found it so close to home. Score one for Cody and his awesome gut feeling, because his finding got him loads of praise from basically every bot in the general area.

They had to close off the whole cavern to onlookers on site. The alien life blood was so rare to see, outside pictures floating around the internet all most people got to glimpse. This batch was in the original crystalline form. The dripping echoing cavern went from being electric with energy and excitement to a quiet place until they could bring back bigger equipment to open the entrance and harvest the Energon at a later date. In fact, Cody took advantage of his find by utilizing the quiet space for his late lunch break. Amongst the silent Predacon bones and massive glowing blue crystals, Cody munched on his sandwich.

"-Recharge-" his finicky commlink buzzed.

Cody nodded. "That's exactly what I'm doing bud. I'm officially on break. Chase has the watch covered. I'm taking ten. You should too…" he yawned and glanced up at the Energon, many crystals having broken out of their original containers and grown into the walls and beyond. "I was just thinking, and I am sure others have thought about it too… But if you have been stuck in that other dimension, at least since the Alchemor crash eleven years ago, how have you not starved? Must be frustrating, seeing all this Energon around and you can't get it… Sorry about that. Maybe I should have just Bridged back home for a break."

His commlink continued to crackle incoherently. Cody carried on munching. "They say you aren't the best of guys. I know I'm a cop, but I try not to judge. Secundus and Boulder did say you somehow caused the Alchemor to crash land here. That's not exactly great. Hope you had a good reason."

"Cody?" Frankie called from the small entrance to the cave.

"Yep. Me and Megatronus are just having lunch." He responded to her voice.

The beam of her flashlight came down the path and she ducked inside the cavern he occupied. She still had her com pad open. For some reason, when she saw him, she frowned, "Cody, please take a nap. The bags under your eyes have bags."

He grinned, "Nope. This guy-" he tapped his commlink, "-was carrying on all last night and I suspect he will carry on well into today."

She sighed and took a seat next to him, "Give me a few more days, I should have a way to block out his frequency."

Regarding this most recent news, Cody's commlink spiked in volume. He yanked it off his collar and shoved it into his pocket, "Alright, time out for you," he grumbled. It did well enough to muffle the sound. He leaned back against the wall and sighed. "How is the world outside?"

She shrugged, "All quieting down now. Dinos and Silverwing are carrying bones through the Bridge back to Cybertron. I think this excavation was another success. In a few hours we're having a potluck for the volunteers and a bond fire. Also, a representative from the local government and a member of the Concurrence are going to stop by to make an appearance. That should bring out Huxley from the woodwork to get it all on tape."

"I'll probably need to facilitate that too," Cody assumed, "Press tends to make things complicated. Whether it's aliens or a house fire."

"The Concurrence is the most complicated of all when it comes to Cybertronian stuff," Frankie said, rolling her eyes. "Poor Shawn tries to run that whole organization, but he has mentioned more than a few times he feels like current political regulation ties his hands most days. Way more Cybertronian tech would be integrated into daily Earth culture if it weren't for all the red tape…" She pulled off the bag from her shoulder and retrieved a foot long box, "But talking politics is not why I'm here bugging you. I thought I would upgrade your ten-minute break." She pressed a button on the side of the box, and it unfolded. The hard shell of the box shifted away to unfurl a soft down comforter and pillow that lined the cave floor. Once the portable bed was finished, she motioned to it victoriously. "Tada! You can catch a quick nap before the press descends in a few hours."

He looked at the soft surface longingly, but was hesitant, "You sure I'm not needed?"

Frankie rolled her eyes again, tapped on her com pad and spoke into it, "Hey everyone? Mister sleepy police man wants to make sure he isn't needed. Anyone need him?"

The com pad then responded with a cacophony of all their teammate's voices at once.

'NO!'

'Go to bed bro!'

'We got this!'

'Seriously Code, you look deader than the bones we are digging for and it's bumming us all out.'

Cody laughed, "Ok, hear everyone loud and clear. But if there is an emergency-"

Frankie interrupted him, "Then one of the hundred other rescue workers in a fifty-foot radius will take care of it, I am sure. Let me relieve you of mister chatty in the meantime," she held out her open palm to him, silently demanding his commlink.

He pursed his lips, then pulled it back out of his pocket. It had quieted in the meantime, maybe having learned its lesson. "I'll hang onto it, just in case one of you need me."

Frankie gave up the stand off for his commlink with a shrug. "Fair enough. Just try prioritizing yourself, at least for a little while. There won't be much opportunity for you time when the town finally elects you Police Chief."

"I doubt that's happening any time soon," Cody said as she stood to leave him.

She gave him a pointed look, "Your dad retired, and Police Chief Burny, your supposed running opponent, is indorsing you. He's also begging to not be the Chief anymore. Call me crazy, but I think it's happening. Congrats, Chief."

"Fair enough…" he yawned again and shifted towards his new bed, setting a two-hour alarm on his phone. "Before you go, and I hate to be nosy, but is everything alright? The Decepticon Lord Soundwave contacted you. Did it have to do with what's going on with Cybertron?"

Frankie hesitated. Worryingly, she appeared uncomfortable with the topic, "Um, no actually. It was related to the Simulation. He wanted something altered. I told him I would look into it for him."

It appeared all she was willing to divulge, so he didn't push. He laid down and couldn't help but sigh in relief for his aching back. "Frankie, this bed you somehow fit in a foot long box is comfier than my bed back at the fire house. Have I ever mentioned how amazing your inventing skills are?"

She paused in the cave's small entrance to flash him a prideful smile, "You do, but I could always hear more of it."

The echo of her footsteps pattered out, and he closed his eyes.

"-Frequency-"

Cody opened his eyes and frowned, "Come on, I just told Frankie you would behave." He retrieved the Commlink as it carried on cycling through static. "Seriously, you do this every time I try to sleep. I'm running out of reasons to stick up for you."

"-Recharge- recharge- Co-dy. -Sleep-"

"Yes, you get it, Cody needs sleep!" He grumbled.

It repeated that same sentiment, and he turned the volume back down, then stuck it under the bed's pillow. "If it means that much to you, you can stay on while I sleep. But only because I don't want to argue with you anymore, and you need to promise to keep it down to an acceptable volume."

Remarkably, he heard the disjointed radio words form "-Yes-" before the volume lowered, but didn't turn off. Maybe the guy was just lonely. He tried to imagine being stuck out of sight of his family. No matter what he heard about this Megatronus guy, the thought welled empathy in him, even as he drifted off.


Cody didn't really feel the floor. There was a deep, resounding emptiness in his gut. And he sensed eyes on him.

He glanced around in search of anything familiar. Where was he? He couldn't make out anything of substance, save for the form standing in the mist, approaching him with unblinking red eyes. It was Cybertronian, and it was also huge. Unusually large, like Silverwing, but it wasn't her silhouette, or her optics. He was amazed, he felt no fear. This place, it didn't feel real… he was dreaming. Somehow, he knew that.

The form stopped only a few paces away, looking down on him, and then, in a booming voice, it laughed. "My hunch was right, and you sure did shrink… Thanks for finally catching on to what I was asking."

"Who are you?" Cody asked.

The red eyed silhouette paused, "You don't remember me? I won't remind you. I am absolutely not worth remembering. It would take way to long to explain and I have no idea how long this connection will last."

"What will last?" Cody said, still feeling disjointed from reality. Dreams were an odd thing, and it was hard to focus.

"The amplified frequency I am blasting with every last drop of my power. You just needed to hear it during a recharge cycle for me to patch this connection together. But you kept waking up. I figured, if I kept you up for long enough, this last attempt would stick, since you are so drained of power…."

Cody just shifted his head to the side, physically displaying his confusion like a dog.

"Again, it would take too long to explain the details. Short answer, you finally left your damn radio on and fell asleep long enough for this to work. You go by Cody now, right? Cody, there is something coming and the only thing that can stop it from destroying everything in its path is currently in the claws of a Decepticon named Steeljaw."

"Who's that?"

Even covered in shadow, Cody felt the ancient Cybertronian frowned, "He is a pompous, lowlife non-listening fool, and he has the only means for my escape. It is also one of the keys to prevent catastrophe. He was captured, and then rescued. He is currently in stasis abord the Autobot vessel the Lost Light. You need to make sure he is recovered and the staff he carries utilized to free me. I will explain everything… once I am finally free. They are being hunted. Our shared enemy knows of Steeljaw as well, and they are attacking every ship in that vicinity in search of him and what he carries. Evetually, their diligence will pay off and they will get lucky…"

"Steeljaw, the Lost Light…" Cody squinted into the mist, already worried he would forget all this information when he woke up. "Megatronus Prime. That's you, right?"

The shadowed form nodded.

"They say you can't be trusted. How do I trust you?"

Hesitation. The shadow shuttered with a tired vent, "I suppose, you cannot. Nothing I can say will convince you."

Cody frowned, "That is far from helpful."

"What will be helpful, is the eventual need of my power," Megatronus explained coldly.

"What power is that?"

"The power of a Prime," he emphasized. "The last Prime, Optimus, is no more. All others from my time have long since given up their power, been imprisoned… or have decided the bliss of the All Spark was far to boring and traded it in for a much shorter and fleshier form," for some reason, that last comment was stated with narrowed optics pointedly aimed Cody's way, "I will be all that is left to choose from."

"Why me?" Cody demanded. "Why have you focused on me, and not any of the others?"

"I have been cut off from the ones closest to the leaders of Cybertron," Megatronus said in his own defense.

"I can't be your last option though," Cody pointed out. "There are loads more that could have figured out your messages through technology faster then I can."

"Without a direct communication, like the one the human Rhea had, I could not hope to explain all of this in fragmented messages. Much as Steeljaw lowered the sensitivity in his audios to ignore me, Soundwave did the same with Rhea's communication device so she could no longer hear my messages."

"But that still doesn't explain how I'm involved," Cody growled. "You couldn't use this dream talking trick on anyone else you were already talking to? Why not visit Rhea in her dreams? Or even Soundwave or the other Cybertronians originally dealing with you?"

"The 'dream talking trick' is hardly my ability. It's a borrowed power, imbued from an old friend…" He trailed off, but shook off his sudden malaise to further explain, "But it wouldn't work with anyone not close to me. More then that, you always had a deep empathy that could read into others inner most selves. That open connection was what I had to tap into."

What the heck was he talking about? Cody had about a thousand more questions, because so far, each answer Megatronus gave only confused him more. Why was the ancient Prime talking like they knew each other?

The silhouette of Megatronus suddenly stumbled, catching himself before he fell onto Cody with his mountain sized body. Cody stumbled back, the sudden scare bringing clarity to his mind. Megatronus fell to one knee, groaning as he fought to stay upright.

"What's happening? What's wrong with you?" Cody demanded, as if he had any means of helping. But he couldn't help himself. Ancient, endlessly powerful, and untrustworthy, Cody knew he was a being in need of help.

The red of Megatronus' optics flickered, and for a moment, Cody caught the cocky smile of a fanged Cybertronian, "Nothing I'm not used to… Involuntary shut down. You asked how I haven't starved during my imprisonment here?"

Cody again startled backwards when light came swirling up in the mist. Colorful orbs, white, pink, purple and dark blue twinkled in unison, all imbued with varying symbols and swirling around Megatronus' slumping form. What in the world was going on? Cody started forward. Were the lights encircling the ancient Cybertronian hurting him, or helping? He hurried, trying to close the massive distance between them as the first of the four lights bombarded Megatronus' form, and he fell to both knees.

Megatronus chuckled, perhaps amused by Cody's attempts at helping, "Even if I had more time, I could not hope to explain the strange things I have encountered after we parted. Perhaps if there is anything left of this plane of existence after this is done, I will regale you with tails of my self-exile. But now, please pass along my message. When the time comes for the use of my power, you know where to find me… Find Steeljaw, retrieve the Staff, use what remains of its power within an open Groundbridge and set me free. And dear brother…"

The dream like effects of their shared space again descended. Cody was running in slow motion, the distance between them growing farther and the mist thickening. The flying lights were still bright enough to see, another slamming into Magatronus' body, then another… He held himself up with both thick arms, and he looked to Cody with a wistful smile, "I am glad to see you are still well. No matter the mask you wore, any face suited you. This one is no different."

Cody reached out; his voice stuck in his throat. The final light, sparkling violet like clouds touched by twilight, slammed into his chest, vanishing within the mountainous Cybertronian. His red optics turned black and closed. He came crashing down.


Cody jolted upright, his heart racing in his chest. The quiet of the Energon cave was still undisturbed. The only difference was his commlink had been moved from under his pillow and placed into his right ear. No doubt one of Megatronus' physical manipulations.

"Megatronus? Do you read me?" Cody said into his quiet commlink. It was the first time Cody attempted to get the usually chatty creature to talk to him. It was also the first time in weeks he heard nothing. His commlink was silent. His phone was undisturbed, still having about forty minutes left before his alarm was supposed to wake him up in time to rejoin the group outside. Everything he just dreamed, for all he knew, was just a delirious brain malfunction caused by his lacking sleep. Or, more likely, an elaborate trick from the imprisoned and desperate creature. Amongst everything else that was happening on Cybertron, this felt insignificant. He should brush it off and not bother them with a strange dream.

Maybe it was his gut instinct, or his years of rescue work, but he knew this was important. He pulled up Rhea's contact info. Before he did anything else, he needed to make a phone call.