CHAPTER 20, HARMONIOUS ATTRACTION

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

It felt oddly refreshing to drive into the base for a change. Don't get me wrong, I did love it when there was chaos, loudness and just plain insanity. It was just nice to come into the base with a peaceful aura inside it. No doubt, Ratchet was enjoying it too, and I was confident I was going to as well. It was rare to have moments of quietness like this, though there were plenty of reasons why it was less quiet, and crowded than usual.

I imagined a lot of us were taking advantage of having a sense of freedom again now that the concern over MECH had dialed back. Agent Fowler had reported earlier in the stellar cycle he believed the threat of those twisted humans was over for now. In some cases, it felt like everything at base and with our team was slowly going back to normal.

"Arcee, Windswept, a vehicular form is approaching."

I transformed into my Cybertronian form beside Ratchet, "Not 'Cons, surely?"

The green screen moved onto the location of the vehicle and zoomed in on the map, giving us a clearer view of that familiar road we go down coming here. A marker ran around the vehicle and zoomed in even further. The vision was blurry and then quickly became clear; a white sedan… a familiar white sedan…

"Mom." I glanced down at Jack servo-palming his face.

Arcee put her servos on her hips amusingly, "Again?"

"She worries."

I heard pedesteps from the hallway behind me. "Clearly." Sunburst couldn't have said that any more sarcastically.

I lied when I said things were going back to normal, because normal and Team Prime were words that should never be in the same sentence regardless. But things had definitely changed after our last big mission…

Miss Darby's sedan drove into the base as if she had known about the place and us for a very long time, when in fact she had only known about us for a few weeks now. She pulled up right below the Groundbridge controls, and stepped out, "Hi honey! Hi Carly!"

"Hey-uhhh." Jack's posture was awkward as his Creator hugged him.

"Hola Miss Darby." Carly looked to have an uncomfortable grimace on her features as she was hugged as well. It remained even when the hug ended. "What brings you here… so early?"

Carly and Jack were at an awkward point with each other, where they were - finally - sorting out their mutual feelings. Things had become incredibly more awkward now that Miss Darby was more involved in their personal lives now, let alone having the rest of us to deal with. Aquastrike especially had taken an extra involvement in 'helping' Jack and Carly figure out their 'situationship' - and surprisingly for some, not for those like me - she had been quite the… 'counselor' before she had to leave with Optimus.

Short story long, or whatever that saying was, Miss Darby being an extra presence around them was making things difficult.

"Finished my shift early at the hospital, so I thought I'd swing by." Miss Darby glanced over to Ratchet. "Good to see you again, doctor." She looked up at us after he nodded at her. "Arcee, Windswept, Sunburst." We all gave her our acknowledgements. "So... where's Optimus?"

"On a scouting mission with Bumblebee, Aquastrike and Starlight. Sorry to disappoint."

Optimus had taken a team out to some place called… something Rock. I wasn't sure, but it was some important zone that required his attention, immediately. So he had taken those who had been present at the time he was needed. Ratchet wasn't certain when they'd be back, however he mentioned it wouldn't be longer than a stellar cycle so whatever the situation was, it couldn't have been that serious… I hoped.

"And I wore heels and everything." …Uhhhh.

"Mom?!"

Carly suddenly spluttered into coughs, like she was completely uncomfortable with what Miss Darby just said. I stole a look between Arcee and Sunburst; they were giving each other awkward expressions…

…Ohhhh… gross! That's my uncle…!

"That's odd." I glanced up at the green screen at Ratchet's comment of concern. "This is an extremely unusual magnetic flux. For any planet." …Couldn't have been worse than what Miss Darby just said… right?

NORMAL P.O.V

"I recognize this magnetic signature, Soundwave," Megatron overlooked a magnetic flux on his silence communication's officer. "And it would be unfortunate to have a Decepticon invention such as this used against us."

"I will secure the weapon, Lord Megatron." The Warlord turned to his willing soldier.

Slipstream raised her eyebrow with a scoff, "Are you certain you are… up to the task, Breakdown?"

Laughter erupted from behind the former Stunticon, Rebecca Rose stepping out of Breakdown's shadow to scan the blue Decepticon up and down, "I don't know, Slipstream. He seems in good shape. Not like he doesn't have his two eyes or any-OH!" She struggled to keep a fake pout on her face, raising a palm to her chest. "My mistake. I forgot who I was talking to. You're the one-eyed soldier and Moonlight's the one with the hard of hearing."

"Continue speaking, Rose, I'm listening." The dark black and pink-highlighted Decepticon turned from her post with a glare directed at the smug enhanced human.

Megatron chuckled, walking up to the volunteering Breakdown, "If you can be bested by mere humans, what chance do you have against the Autobots?" He turned in his walk towards Slipstream.

"Allow me to redeem myself, master," Breakdown began to plead, showing off his newly fitted eyepatch in replacement for his missing eye, "What I have lost is a constant reminder that I must never again fail you."

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

Ratchet had told us not to be worried about the magnetic flux for the moment, until he could figure out where it was coming from and what was causing it. So Arcee left to grab some equipment for a training exercise she wanted Jack, Carly and I to help with… though, I suspect it was an excuse to take a break for Miss Darby for Jack and Carly's sake. We didn't really need them, but it was good to have an idea of what to do in case of an emergency.

I could hear a familiar engine driving into base, so I looked over at the tunnel where Bulkhead's vehicle form was driving in. He skidded in and swung his doors open for Miko and Rafael to jump out; he'd taken over guardian duties for Rafael while 'Bee was away, considering both of those kids usually stayed back at school for certain, seperate reasons. They were laughing so hard, whatever was making them so amused… clearly they hadn't seen Miss Darby's car behind them.

"Did you feel the Gs on the last turn?" Miko was gushing while Bulkhead transformed. "Bulkhead's an animal!" She gasped upon seeing Jack's creator, and immediately, both her's and Rafael's demeanours changed significantly. "Remember when this used to be a secret clubhouse?"

Rafael walked up to Jack's creator with Miko, "Uh, don't worry, Miss Darby. We were wearing seatbelts."

"Carly would've known if Raf wasn't." Bulkhead wasn't wrong… exactly…

"Yeah! She's like, Mamá Esquivel the second!"

"I don't know how I feel about being called that, Miko." Carly was pouting on top of the staircase.

"Like mother, like daughter, huh Carly?" I was pretty certain I heard my human make an uncertain noise at Miss Darby's comparison. "I'm sure you were, Rafael. Hi, Miko! How's school going?"

"Why? What'd you hear?!"

Arcee suddenly appeared beside me with the rope equipment, "Let's do this thing, 'Swept. Jack, Carly, you guys coming?" Oh, I knew that tone so well… that 'I've had enough' tone…

"But! I just got here! I brought sandwiches!"

It sounded like Sunburst was exhaling heavily behind, likely wanting to say something about Miss Darby but choosing not to. If she wasn't as overbearing as she was being, Sunburst wouldn't be as disrespectful to her as he had been.

"Mom…" Jack was waiting at the bottom of the staircase for Carly. "I really need to help our friends test their upgraded tracking system."

"Well… just be careful."

"There's nothing to be careful about. It's a routine diagnostic."

"Are you sure you need Jack and Carly for that?"

My partner suddenly paused in her walk… and groaned.

"Uh-oh." Bulkhead and Sunburst joined me in muttering.

Arcee was going to blow a head gasket if Miss Darby questioned her one more time…

"Bulkhead, I need you back in the field to investigate an odd magnetic disturbance. Take Sunburst with you." If there was ever a good time for Ratchet to interrupt with a field mission update, now was it.

"I'll go with!"

Bulkhead rushed to stop Miko from running into the Groundbridge tunnel with his servo, "Whoa! Stay put, Miko."

She stomped away with a frustrated noise.

"Why aren't you going with him?"

Miko shot a look over her shoulder at Miss Darby's question, "Someone thinks it's not safe."

"But it's safe for Jack and Carly to go with Arcee and Windswept?"

"Oh Primus," I released the intake I had been holding in probably since Miss Darby got here, and rubbed my temple.

"Mom! Totally different."

"Oh how?"

Miss Darby had yet to understand the differences between life and death in everything we did. Obviously, she was still concerned after what happened to her with MECH and Airachnid. In any other circumstance, I wouldn't blame her. But it was about time she started to learn those differences, because she needed to understand we all can't be safe with what we do. Especially if she was going to become a permanent member of the team…

"Mother knows best, Jack. Wait up, Bulkhead!" I felt my wrist being pulled by my friend to the opening Groundbridge. "'Swept and I are going with."

…We were? …I guess we were then!

NORMAL P.O.V

Jack sputtered, watching the four Autobots depart the base through the Groundbridge portal, and leaving him to glare at his mother in anger.

"What? What did I say?"

His mother was left oblivious to the fact she had annoyed his guardian out of the base.

"Moonlight should learn to take a joke once in a while. She's been so moody since MECH. It was weeks ago, she needs to let that go," Rebecca Rose huffed from her position on Breakdown's shoulder, overlooking the scanner in his hand.

"Like I should just let go of what they did to my optic?"

The enhanced human shrugged at the response, "Maybe it'll help you see better. The halls said Starscream approached you about choosing sides between him and Lord Megatron. It's rumoured that you were seeing all sides…"

"How's it your business, you little scraplet?"

"It is 'business' for everyone within our Warship, Breakdown." The squabbling pair turned their attention to the purple and aqua blue Seeker ahead of them. "Should there be yet another silent uprising caused by my own split-spark, Megatron will have no mercy on those who do not choose his side." The Seeker's head twisted over her shoulder. "You should do well to remind yourself of that fact, Breakdown, and take into account that your partner has made sure to remember his place."

The former Stuniticon grunted incoherently, choosing to return his sole eye to the scanner at the same time it flashed red. He took in his surroundings, including a large desert pile of rocks on the landscape ahead, exactly where his scanner had blipped. "Jackpot."

Slipstream stepped aside for her larger compatriot to have a clear path to the desert rubble. Passing on the enhanced human to her waiting hand, he activated his hammer as he got closer, and raised it high into the air. He slammed into the ground, beginning his mission of digging into the rocks to find what he was looking for. His fellow Decepticons kept watch on their surroundings as he did so, as they knew the moment the item they were looking for was uncovered, the chances of their Autobot enemies discovering its locations were greatly increased.

Discovering the item coming to light, Breakdown brushed aside the little rocks adorning it to find a dark blue item amongst the dust. He grabbed it by the handle, bringing it closer to Slipstream, more dust falling from it.

The female Seeker hummed thoughtfully, "I do believe this weapon is indeed as familiar as Lord Megatron had propo-"

A scuttling noise was quick to cut Slipstream off from her sentence, causing the Decepticon trio to look back at the noise. Breakdown activated his shoulder cannon, scanning the area for anything unusual. Rocks rained upon him, making him immediately turn upwards at a figure hanging between the rock formations with her extended limbs.

Slipstream placed the wide-eyed Rebecca onto the ground to activate the missile on her arm, pointing it to the Cybertronian with narrowed eyes, "Well, well."

The pink-eyed Neutral chuckled, using her limbs to push down towards Breakdown. She landed a foot onto his head, kicking him away with enough force to send him into Slipstream and to make him release the weapon.

Airachnid scuttled to pick up the weapon, "For me? You shouldn't have."

"We did not." Slipstream grabbed the arm holding the weapon, pulling her off balance enough for her to swing her other fist into the former Decepticon to send her away, her only response a hiss for the attack.

As the weapon flew back onto the ground, Breakdown regained his composure with his activated hammer, "We heard rumours about a rogue 'Con. How about we hog-tie you and haul you in?" He walked into a run, swinging his hammer at the spider-like Decepticon.

The latter dodged the swings, "Huh. The primitive type." Movement in the corner of her eyes caused her to spin around to the female Seeker dashing across the area for the weapon on the ground. She immediately fired a web from the palm of her hand to the Decepticon, pinning her torso to a nearby boulder. "Ah, ah, ah, that doesn't belong to you."

Breakdown roared a warrior cry, charging at Airachnid to swing his weapon once more only to miss as she leapt away. He lifted his hammer, looking up at his enemy on the rock formation.

"Not much for depth perception anymore, are you?"

"Well, not much for looks anymore." Breakdown activated his shoulder cannon and fired, hitting the rocks below Airachnid, sending her scuttling away.

Slipstream shrugged away the falling rocks, narrowing her eyes over the area, "Where did she go?"

Drilling sounds from below created dust around the Decepticon before a set of extended limbs clutched onto him from behind. The limbs pulled him into the ground, Slipstream doing nothing but watch as her fellow Decepticon was buried alive under the rocks. She moved still under her webbed bonds, wanting to hear where the spider-like Cybertronian was. Another drilling noise gave the Seeker her answer, as the ground burst open near the weapon they were fighting for.

Airachnid climbed out from the hole in the ground, picking up the weapon with a chuckle, "It was a lovely burial." She turned to the trapped Slipstream. "I may have collected my prize, but they say if you want the job done right, you need to handle everything." She raised an extended limb high as she stalked to her foe. Grunts and groans echoed from the ground, only adding to the amusement for the former Decepticon. "Sorry. Can't quite understand you."

The rocks blew into the sky as Breakdown broke through his grave with his hammer with a warrior cry, causing Airachnid to turn around to refocus her attention on the former. The pair charged at each other with warrior cries to continue the battle.

Slipstream pulled at the webbing around her torso in frustration, "Rebecca Rose, where are your weapons? I would like assistance." The only response was the scrapping metal from the battle. "Rebecca Rose?!"

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

"Don't take it so personal, Arcee. Jack's mother's just… protective."

"Well, I protected her son for months before she had a clue. Suddenly, she wakes up to reality and I'm not enough."

I gripped Arcee's lower arm with a hopefully comforting squeeze, "It's not your fault she can't see that."

There was a lot more going on than we could see. Arcee and Miss Darby's struggles to meet optic to… eye had been going on from the day after the MECH and Airachnid ordeal. We just didn't see it because it was happening at the Darby household. An example was Miss Darby questioning why Arcee isn't always there when Jack was at home when in reality, my friend was actually busy on a nearby patrol. It was the questions about how Arcee performed when it came to being a guardian that really frustrated her.

…Primus, I hoped Carly's Creator never uncovers us. If Miss Darby had so many concerns about her youngling, Mamá Esquivel was really going to be something else with 'Bee and I…

"It sounds like you and her need to sit down and talk about it." I felt bothered by Sunburst's suggestion. "Sometimes talking helps."

Was that a dig towards me because I haven't fully dealt with the secrets he hid from me? That I had to find out through Megatron moving into my processing unit and using me to return as a fully-functional being? …No, I hadn't dealt with it, and I wasn't planning on dealing with it during a field mission. Especially when Arcee was having her own struggles to work through.

"Maybe Sunburst's right? Sure she means well and all."

Arcee just groaned - it was bad if Bulkhead was agreeing with reason… even if it's the same reasoning I should also be agreeing with… "Sometimes I wish she never discovered us."

"No kidding!" …Is that? "Can't we ban her from the base?"

I rubbed my temple again, "Of course you're here."

"Miko, how did you-"

"I did try to stop her!" I moved my optics away from Miko to… my own human walking up beside her?!

"You dragged me through this time!" Carly did what?!

Anger flooded through me as I placed my servos at my sides, "You what?"

"Sunburst to Ratchet, we need a Groundbridge."

"Wait! Don't send us back to helicopter mom!" Sunburst looked… willing to hear Miko out. "It's just that… I miss the way things were."

Things were so different these solar cycles. The kids felt like they had to behave more appropriately around Miss Darby, which did feel like they weren't having as much fun anymore. I wasn't ready to move past my trust issue with Sunburst, even if it had been ages ago. Arcee was being judged for how she performed her duties as guardian to Jack. And if that wasn't all enough, Agent Fowler and Optimus had both agreed we needed to exercise more caution around the humans because we can't carry on risking any more of them discovering us, let alone putting any more innocent lives in danger.

Things had changed so much in such little time. The strain we were under was growing, individually and as a team.

"Strike that, Ratchet. It's only recon." I could see Sunburst's optics soften at Arcee's call. "They're safe with us."

They always would be.

I watched Miko leap onto Bulkhead's servo with Carly. "Sweet!" He raised his servo to my awaiting one so Carly could rest with me. Then he moved it to his shoulder padding for Miko to leap onto, "Crank up track seven, Bulk!"

"Track seven?" Arcee repeated with confusion.

Heavy metal music blared aloud from Bulkhead's chassis. I couldn't help cringing… Look, it wasn't bad, but on a recon mission where anyone could be out here and waiting for their time to strike at us… It wasn't the best choice of music.

"Don't you think that's a little loud for recon?!" Arcee clearly had the same thoughts as me. Bulkhead must've realised too, because he switched off the music… much to Miko's disappointment. "A scout should be silent but deadly."

Bulkhead and Miko started giggling quietly. Carly snickered too… and I couldn't help laughing a little..

"What's so funny about that?" I glanced up at Sunburst glaring at me with confusion.

Bulkhead huffed, "'Silent, but deadly' means something completely different on Earth."

I shrugged at Sunburst and Arcee, "It's a human thing."

"Bulk! Let's get our recon on!" Bulkhead moved to the front at Miko's request.

Arcee looked stunned at them, "Sunburst and I always take point."

"I know, but Miko and Carly like to be upfront so they can see." And Carly?!

I raised an optic ridge at my human as I walked beside them, "I thought you were my human friend." I made sure my tone was in a teasing-like state so she knew I was messing with her.

Carly only giggled, "I know you go with 'Bee and Raf sometimes."

I gave a mock gasp of disbelief, "How do you know?"

"El hermano tells me everything." Smug little thing.

"No matter where I turn, I'm the third wheel."

"At least we have each other in that department."

I wanted to turn back to Arcee and Sunburst, but it felt like their comments were meant to be unheard. I… didn't know how to feel. I loved hanging out with Arcee and Sunburst whenever I could, and always made sure they were never feeling left out… But I loved hanging out with my human too, and she loved hanging out with Miko and Bulkhead - clearly - too.

…The more Sunburst made little comments like those, the more guilt I was beginning to feel. Perhaps it was time we talked things out… again.

Bulkhead made a humming noise, bringing me out of my thoughts, "Looks like Ratchet's magnetic flux is coming from-"

I felt myself being pulled down behind a boulder. A sudden noise made me look over it at what was ahead of us. Two Cybertronians were fighting, one small and lithe… with extended limbs, and another; bulky and blue. Airachnid tackled Breakdown to the ground and ran to grab something small nearby, but he suddenly stood up and pulled her back by her limbs. He lifted her up like he was going to throw her, just as she kicked him enough that he let her go.

There was a weird noise below us, like someone was trapped and struggling to free themselves. I glanced down; someone was pinned to the boulder by Airachnid's webbing…

"Airachnid."

I gritted my denta at the familiar face below us, "Slipstream."

"And Breakdown. All your arch enemies!" Miko wasn't wrong. "And they're mashing it up!"

I refocused my optics on the battle. Breakdown had that small grey object in his grip and he must've activated something on it because there was a weird orange field vibrating around his servo. Airachnid went to grab it, but he shoved her back before she could get a second servo around it. Whatever that was, they were fighting too hard over it for either of them to give it up.

"Over that!" Bulkhead realised too.

"The source of the magnetic disturbance." I felt Arcee's stare on me.

I nodded and helped Carly settle on the ground, "It must do something powerful for them to fight so hard over it."

"Perhaps you should release me from my entrapment, dear Windswept, to find out exactly how powerful." That sickly sweet voice. I glared at Slipstream, and she was glaring straight back at me with her familiar smirk.

"Not a chance."

"Dear Sunburst. I am not surprised. It would appear that everywhere Windswept shall go, you are one small footstep behind her."

I did nothing but sneer at her; leaving Slipstream in her web sounded like a great idea… but I was an unfortunate believer of a fair fight. No doubt, so was she… to a point.

"Alright. What's the plan?" Bulkhead only took her off his shoulder and onto the ground, where Miko folded her arms like a youngling having a tantrum.

"Miko, Carly, don't move. I mean it."

"You got this 'Swept!" That was far more encouraging than Miko's disappointed moan.

I activated my blaster on one servo and my sword on the other. Arcee and Bulkhead activated their weapons, and Sunburst pulled out his axes. The plan was to ambush the battle, and hope that our advantage was enough to take the weapon and go before either of those 'Cons down there knew it.

I nodded at my teammates and leapt onto the boulder. I pushed myself off it and somersaulted my way down to the ground onto my pedes. I stood up and faced my smirking enemy. I used my sword to slice the webbing open on her - I wasn't thrilled about doing so, but we both valued a fair fight more than unfairness.

Slipstream chuckled at what I'd done for her, "Oh, dear Windswept. I shall forever be in your debt."

I was suddenly on the ground before I knew it. She swung her fist in an attempt to hit me, but I dodged it quickly, and helmbutted her off my body. She got up slowly, clearly affected by the sudden hit so I moved in and swung my leg at her for a roundhouse kick. It landed and she was sent sprawling.

A blastershot made me turn to where I heard it land - in front of Airachnid. She looked up, "Arcee. And look." I followed her optic line. Bulkhead and Sunburst were standing at Arcee's sides. "You've brought two more partners for me to snuff."

"The green one would be Bulkhead." Breakdown stood onto his pedes.

"Who asked you?" I would've laughed at Airachnid's flat tone if the situation had been different.

"I recommend you join us, Sunburst." I felt the tip of a blade at the side of my neck cables. "Or not, it is your decision."

Bulkhead launched Arcee high into the air to fire down on Breakdown and Airachnid. Sunburst threw an axe at Slipstream so fast, she was nearly hit by it had she not moved. I watched his axe land on the ground nearby the rock wall, so I raced over to it and began yanking it from the ground. It was buried quite deep, but I wasn't going to allow that to stop me.

"You are a persistent one, dear Sunburst. You would give everything to protect her." I knew exactly who Slipstream was referring to. "However, one must wonder what you would do for Whirlwind." The axe came out of the ground at the same time her words did. "One would imagine so much more."

"You wouldn't know, she's not here."

"Where would she be, Sunburst?" My fists curled around the handle of his axe. "Would you like to become aware of her location?" She was talking as if she knew… but she had to be lying. There's no way she would know. Nobody did… "Were you aware she was left for nothing on Cybertron? …Left to die?"

Sunburst suddenly swung his axe at Slipstream, who leapt back just as swiftly as his movements. She was tormenting him and making him angry, because he had spoken and acted like he had been closer to my split-spark. He rarely got this mad, but there was something about Whirlwind that always made him risk his own spark. His anger and his movements… they were similar to how he reacted… back at that prison…

I activated my blasters and fired rapidly at Slipstream. I had to keep her quiet to stop her from tormenting my brother-like partner anymore… and me…

NORMAL P.O.V

"Woah they're really good together," Miko sighed dreamily, watching Arcee and Bulkhead stand back-to-back.

"Yeah, they are," Carly agreed obliviously, staring at her guardian and her partner fighting their enemy.

Her friend reached for her phone in her back pocket, "Smackdown for the scrapbook."

"They tend to say photos last longer." The teenaged pair faced each other at the voice, looking over their shoulders at the human figure standing behind them.

"Why are you everywhere we go?!" Miko huffed with annoyance as she stood.

"Because I can be," Rebecca answered with nonchalance, shrugging, "I don't think you two should be here. This isn't child's play, now."

"Seventeen doesn't make you an adult," Carly scoffed as she folded her arms, "It doesn't make you Cybertronian either."

"Ugh, I thought we've been over this. I'm not like you. In fact, neither of you know what I a-"

"Do you even know what that does?! It isn't a toy!"

The trio glanced away from each other to the battlefield, watching Airachnid scamper away from the group. Arcee followed her with firing weapons to no avail, as the spider-like Cybertronian drilled a hole into the ground.

A magnetic pull began to tug at the pink flip-phone in Miko's grip, flying out of her hand before she knew it, 'HEY!"

Rebecca soon felt the effect of the magnetic pull, trying to keep her feet planted on the ground. The pull grew stronger for her, sliding along the ground as the pair of teenagers beside her watched in confused horror.

She glared at them, "Help me!"

"What is going on?!" Carly questioned, widening her eyes.

"The 'Cons cut off my arm and leg and fused metal replacements onto me!" Rebecca focused her terror-filled eyes onto the weapon in Breakdown's grip. "That thing he's holding is attracting metal within a certain radius, and that radius includes us! Help me!"

The teenagers shared a hesitant look, before each reaching for Rebecca's arms in an attempt to keep her grounded from the magnetic pull.

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

I helped Sunburst stand to his pedes as that weird whirring noise continued around us. Slipstream had fled in a panic when Breakdown had activated the weapon. It had the same orange field around it like before. He waved the device to Bulkhead, who looked ready for another fight with him. He suddenly fell to his pedes with a cry and was being pulled towards Breakdown.

"Bulkhe-WOOAH!" Sunburst slammed the ground beside me.

I began to feel it too; a magnetic force that was attracting us towards the weapon. I glued my pedes to the ground and leaned away. It was my desperate attempt to not be pulled by the force. I felt my body being yanked forwards and it was like my resistance gave up because I fell faceplates first onto the ground with whatever that device was pulling me to it.

Arcee groaned nearby, "What's going…"

We edged closer and closer to Breakdown. I tried desperately to grip onto the ground, but I couldn't. I don't know if the ground underneath was too weak for me or if the force was too strong; I just couldn't pull away. I looked at Breakdown lifting his arm, and suddenly, I was being lifted off the ground too. We all were.

"Put us down, Breakdown!"

I could hear Breakdown chuckling at Sunburst's demand; no doubt he was sickly enjoying this. "What's this switch do?" He pressed something on the side of the device.

Suddenly, I felt my body go flying backwards. I collided with something heavy and landed hard on the ground.

"Megatron's gonna love this." Breakdown must've transformed because I could hear someone driving away from us. The sound of something aerial flying away told me Slipstream was also leaving too.

"'Swept!"

"Bulkhead!"

I onlined my optics… Primus, the sun on this planet was very bright if you looked at it directly. I turned my helm to see Carly running towards me. Out of the corner of my optic, I could see something yellow. Maybe it was Sunburst, and I landed on his back, "Are you okay, Sunburst?"

I could hear a mumble, somewhat confirming he was okay, but clearly winded.

"The 'Con's getting away! H-Hey! My phone!" Miko started groaning. "It's stuck!"

…I had to turn my helm for this… Wait, Miko's phone… I could see it, stuck as she suggested… to Bulkhead?

"Where's Arcee?" Bulkhead was clearly unconcerned about his own human's concern.

I tried to pull myself up into a seating position… but for some reason, I couldn't. It was like I was stuck to something…

Miko suddenly grumbled loudly, oddly, "Why don't you just marry her?!"

"I'm right behind you." At least Arcee was okay.

"Where?"

"Let's just say, she's got your back."

Bulkhead spun around… revealing Arcee glued to his backside… as Miko had suggested…

Wait… no, please don't tell me I couldn't get up because-

I felt Sunburst move underneath me, onto his kneeplates. One by one, he got to his pedes… and suddenly swung around, "'Swept?"

I wanted to vomit the Energon I had taken this morning…

Sunburst was facing away from the back of Bulkhead, meaning I was able to see Arcee struggling to pull herself off Bulk's backside. She gave up and slammed his armour with a closed fist, glaring at me, "Scrap."

Couldn't have said it better myself…

NORMAL P.O.V

Breakdown travelled along the quiet pavement in peace, ignoring the hovering Slipstream flying in tandem above him. His mission successful, he was driving to a secure location where he could deliver the weapon his Warlord had doubted he'd achieve, "Breakdown here. I'm gonna need a 'bri-."

A large boulder suddenly rolled in front of the blue-armoured track, barely able to swerve out of its path. He returned to the road before he was forced to skid in an attempt to stop himself from touching the string of web across the pavement. He was unable to avoid, wrapped in its stickiness. He transformed into his Cybertronian mode to struggle against the webbing against his person, grunting in frustration.

Slipstream oversaw the extended limbs scuttle quietly above the rock formation. She pointed the nose of her jet form onto the spider-like Cybetronian, afterburners pushing her towards Airachnid to ambush the rogue instead…

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

"You've been magnetized? Together?"

Carly and Miko were tugging on mine and Arcee's pedes as much as they could, however it wasn't enough to pull us off Bulkhead and Sunburst, "They're inseparable." The girls turned to each other at the same time they spoke… maybe that device did more than just stick metal together.

"And the device that did this is on its way to Megatron."

"A polarity gauntlet," Ratchet revealed over the commlink, "A deceptively simple but diabolical creation."

"Decepticon engineering is quite impressive, I do have to admit myself." I snapped my helm as much as I could to my right… Of course, Rebecca Rose was here. "Had I known they'd create such a device, I would've tried to ask nicely about not attaching metal limbs to my body."

…Wait, what…?

I could hear Sunburst huffing, "We will get back to you about that." Yeah, we will…

"Just tell us you can unhitch us, Ratchet."

"It may simply be a residual magnetic charge providing your current… attraction." I could just tell Ratchet was struggling for a similar word…

"They're not attracted to each other! That's Carly and Jack!"

"Shut up Miko!" I could hear Jack spluttering over the commlink at the same time Carly was smacking Miko's shoulder. He probably didn't like talking about his and Carly's mutual feelings with his Creator in the room…

Something was telling me that Ratchet was likely rolling his optics with annoyance, "But I'm afraid retrieving the gauntlet is our surest bet for reversing its effect. Once Megatron gets his hands on the gauntlet…"

"He'll be using it for a whole lot more than attaching notes and family photos to the fridge."

"Jack, I'm not following." Miss Darby sounded nervous.

"Madam, we are forged of metal alloy. If Megatron could repel us at the flick of a switch, we might never again have a shot at him."

"Instant force field." Rafael was no doubt trying to simplify the situation for Miss Darby.

"Worse yet. He might use it to meld us all into a scrap pile. The good news is the gauntlet hasn't travelled far." That wasn't exactly good news either, because it also meant that Breakdown and Slipstream had likely been held up delivering the Gauntlet back to Megatron. And since we knew Airachnid was also in the area, I had no doubt who exactly could've trapped them. "I would strongly advise pursuit."

"We can catch up faster on wheels." Bulkhead punched his fists together

"Whoa whoa whoa! And snap us in half?" Thanks for the reminder, Arcee…

"Good point." Sunburst was just dripping with sarcasm today.

"Sweet! Carly and I'll take point!"

"Not this time, kids."

"What? But you said-!"

"That was recon, Miko!" I jumped in before Sunburst could. "This-"

"This is war." I was unsurprised by Arcee interrupting me, to be fair. "We're not risking your well-being just so you can hit your daily adrenaline quota. Ratchet, Miko and Carly need a 'Bridge."

"Coming up."

"ARGH! You think Jack's mom is bad? You sound just like her!" …Bad choice of words, Miko.

Carly folded her arms, "Why would you say that?!"

"You know it's true!"

"Is that such a bad thing?"

Jack started sputtering again, "I'm gonna go over here."

"Hmph, interesting that the Autobot side has conflict just as much as the Decepticons too." Rebecca's still here?

I refocused my optics on Carly and Miko, and made sure I was showing off a soft, understanding expression, "Go home, you two. We'll sort this out." I made sure to harden my features again as I flicked my optics to Rebecca nearby. "As for you, you can lead us to Breakdown and Slipstream while you talk about the metal limbs."

Rebecca had a sarcastic smile… it was eerie how similar she could be to Slipstream, "Oh joy, not only do I get to help the Autobots once again, it also appears I don't have an option about not revealing my backstory. Wonderful."

…Wonderful, indeed.

NORMAL P.O.V

A crow cawed in the abandoned gas and oil station, echoing across the desert. There was nothing unusual about the station from first glance, however it was behind it that was revealed there was more occurring.

The Polarity Gauntlet activated in Airachnid's hand, an orange field wrapping itself around her lower arm, "It fits!" She twisted it around to overlook the weapon, "You know, a girl can never have too many accessories."

"You were a Decepticon once," Breakdown began from his webbed prison, "We can bring the prize to Megatron together."

"Go back to that mostly Boys Club?" Airachnid scoffed, stealing a quick glance at the bound Slipstream beside Breakdown, eyes glaring her frustration on behalf of her webbed mouth, "I struck out on my own because I don't like to share." She held up the weapon. "This will provide the perfect repellent against 'Bots and 'Cons alike."

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

"And voila, that's how I grew up as a Decepticon experimental project. I'm accepting questions as of now, but don't make them blatantly stupid. I'm not repeating myself."

Rebecca's story had been… intriguing. After she had been taken by the 'Cons, they kept her as prisoner while they debated what they wanted to do with her. Considering she was a human, the easily identifiable option would've been to kill her. However, they were rather interested in… what she could provide them. They somehow managed to capture a medical officer - amazingly, as we had no idea about this - and tasked them with fulfilling their experimental ideas. One of the ideas had been slicing off Rebecca's arm and leg, and fusing metal prosthetics as their replacements.

She was bionic in a way, and as far as I was aware, the only human bionic to be alive.

I wonder what happened to the medical officer… Rebecca wouldn't tell us exactly, though, I had a sinking feeling of what may have occurred to them…

"You could leave the Warship, you know?"

Rebecca laughed at Bulkhead's suggestion, "And go where? They gave me a home and made me into this." She didn't sound very enthusiastic about giving her answer as her laughter had been.

"In other words, you don't have anywhere else to go." Sunburst suddenly stopped in his walk.

"I wouldn't say that. More like, I don't really want to go anywhere." But why would she remain at a place that turned her into what she is now? Doesn't she have any resentment for what they did to her? …Maybe she was processor-washed like I first thought… or maybe she's not, and she was just not telling the truth? I don't know, there was something weird about her words. "Anyway, it's not like I have eyes at the back of my head, or weapons covering my backside like you 'Bots do right now." I could hear the amusement in her voice.

Bulkhead made a noise that sounded like he wanted to laugh, "And they got a built-in shield." I could hear him punching his chassis.

Rebecca suddenly appeared in front of me and Arcee, and pointed to my friend, "Who's the blue 'Bot? Not a talker, is she?"

"You guys don't really think I sound like June, do you?

I could hear Bulkhead and Sunburst mumbling as if they didn't have an answer. …Truthfully, I didn't have one either…

"I give you my whole life story, and all you would like to talk about is yourself and your problems." Rebecca was truly lucky I was stuck on Sunburst's backside with no hope in the pit that I would be released anytime soon... "And they say I'm the self-absorbed one."

"She's overprotective. I'm just… protective."

"Totally different." I didn't believe Bulkhead's tone to be sincere.

"I don't know what you Autobots are talking about, and I certainly don't want to know either… But… ughhh, aren't you lot the 'conversationalist types'? Why don't you just… talk to whoever you're on about." …Who in the All-Spark was this… bionic human?

…Starlight once said she didn't believe Rebecca to be the threat she's also insisted she was… Maybe that was true.

Argh, the idea of talking to Sunburst kept flashing in my processing unit… He made me so angry about keeping those secrets from me, which was all down to knowing him for so long. It felt like my trust in him was never real to begin with; it was just built on a lie. And we had gone through so much after that, but it still never occurred to him that he should've told me? …I guess I was still bitter about the secret keeping… and I should talk to him about it… if we can.

Sudden beeping brought me out of my thoughts, "The gauntlet's close."

I heard a door slamming nearby, "Where are we?"

"Refuelling station of some kind," Sunburst replied with a soft tone, "Abandoned."

Arcee and I activated our weapons at the same time something hit the top of my helm suddenly. Whatever it was moved, and I could hear it grab onto something nearby my audio. It pulled whatever it had grabbed upwards; it felt like I was being pulled with it, like it was ripping my back struts, "Ow!"

"Sorry." At least it was him and nothing else. I felt the tug again. "Argh, you're glued to my axes."

I could sense the annoyance in his tone, "Well, that's not my fa-" An activation made me clamp my mouthplates shut. It sounded like Bulkhead had activated his blaster, a sign we were very much somewhere with enemies nearby. And I wasn't about to risk spoiling us just because Sunshine was having a tantrum about his axes being out of use.

There was a sudden struggling sound, like someone was groaning in entrapment, "Sunburst, what is it?"

"Breakdown and Slipstream… and Airachnid. She's got the Gauntlet." I didn't need any more explanation than that.

"I assume Arcee isn't far behind."

"You might say that."

I could hear those audio-curling scuttles come closer slightly, "Blaster hands in the air and turn around."

"As the spider wishes."

Sunburst's body whipped around for me to get a clear shot of Airachnid. I fired at her with quick shots along with Arcee. She was clearly unprepared by the sudden attack because she leapt back rapidly. One of the shots hit her servo and forced the Gauntlet onto the ground. An orange force field began to glow from it, and grew around us. Either the shot or the Gauntlet skidding onto the ground must've been enough to reactivate it.

I could feel that magnetic pull trying to bring us to the weapon; it felt so much stronger than last time. There was dust flying around us, but through it, I could just make out Airachnid even struggling to stay planted on the ground with her limbs. Lots of other metal-like objects around were getting pulled in quickly. Sunburst was putting up one scrap of a fight to fight off the pull.

Suddenly, I was looking at the blue sky… Maybe I spoke too soon.

I heard grunting in the distance so I turned my helm to where Breakdown and Slipstream were still webbed. They were suddenly pulled forward from the magnetism, which allowed the webbing to fly off. Slipstream reached for the Gauntlet and, I couldn't really tell what she did from the amount of dust everywhere, but whatever it was, it was enough to make the magnetic pull stop.

"Are you good?" The question came out before I realised I was asking it.

"Always, as long as you are." That's the Sunburst I knew.

"Still up for that truce, muscles?"

"Only because I hate Bulkhead more than I hate you."

"I would advise less flirting and more… commitment to our temporary truce." Slipstream activated her sword and charged at me.

I activated my sword and held it up to dodge her incoming swing. There were more fighting sounds behind, no doubt Bulkhead and Arcee were dealing with Breakdown and Airachnid. Sunburst sounded like he was using blasterfire as a distraction against our teammates' enemies. I swung my fist at my enemy, but she was quick to capture and swing her leg up to kick me in my stomach plating hard. I had to intake a moment from the hit, before I grabbed her leg with both my servos.

"Move now!" Sunburst swung around, which was perfect as I was able to lift Slipstream off the ground and fling her away.

"Bulkhead! Would you stay still?!"

"My bad." …I wasn't surprised to hear Bulkhead and Arcee starting to bicker. But it did seem to work in Bulk's case, as he was able to slap Breakdown hard to the ground. He spun around to face Airachnid. "Need a hand?"

"No, she's mine!"

I saw Slipstream climb to her pedes and charge up to us again, "Tag team, Sunshine?"

"I'm it?" He sounded a little too excited, oddly.

It was amusing, "You're it."

Sunburst raced towards Slipstream… just as Breakdown began sitting up with the Gauntlet, "Two bots." His entire lower arm lit up in that orange field again… "One stone." He lifted his arm to a nearby crane and made it glow with the same field. It made it pull apart the metal crane piece-by-piece… and swing them towards us.

"Bulk! Duck!"

"Get down Sunburst." He did as he was told… faceplate palming into the ground and leaving me to face that bright, and quite frankly hot, sun in the sky.

Primus, I swore it was more yellow than Sunshine himself.

"Bulkhead... get OFF!" I turned my helm as much as I could at Arcee's grumble. She was trapped under Bulkhead's frame…

…She wasn't pinned to him like that before, was she?

Airachnid slammed her pede onto my friend's servo, "Pinned like a bug. Of course, I can think of one permanent way out of your predicament."

Panic was rushing through my systems, "Arcee!"

Something closed around my neck cables suddenly, forcing my helm to turn to the person above me. Slipstream. "A pity it shall end like this." The tip of her sword was pointing skyward.

"I'll take topside." That must've been Breakdown going for Bulkhead.

Scrap. We were all pinned down, and it very much felt like there were no options.

"Keep your fragging servos to yourself, Slipstream."

My body was suddenly flung out of Slipstream's grip, sending me straight towards Airachnid. I managed to position myself mid air to where I was able to tackle her away from Arcee. My servos gripped her arms so I could swing her away from me, just in time for her to be hit once again, this time by a flying Breakdown.

I stood up and glanced over at my teammates… wait, I wasn't attached to Sunburst anymore! And Arcee and Bulkhead weren't glued together anymore either! "We're free!"

"'Swept! The Gauntlet!" Sunburst sounded like he was struggling to fight off Slipstream.

I focused my optics on the weapon sitting on its own. Thundering pedesteps made me look at Breakdown running after it. He was much closer to it than I was, so I activated my blaster and fired at it. One of the shots landed and sent it spiralling away just as Breakdown dived for it. Arcee suddenly landed on him and began punching him as a distraction.

My optics searched for the weapon… sitting right behind Bulkhead, who was holding out a servo towards Airachnid, "Wanna dance?"

"You're not my type." He still charged at her despite her response.

I moved into a sprint quickly - now was the perfect time to try and steal the weapon right out from the noseplates of the 'Cons while they were distracted. I swung my body into a skid onto the ground, and held out my servo to grab the Gauntlet…

…Something hit my servo hard and pinned it to the ground, stopping my slide. I faced what stopped me from reaching the weapon; it was a web… a familiar spider's web.

I tugged hard, trying to get my servo out from underneath the webbing, but it was no use. The webbing was too thick, so I looked back at where the weapon was… now in Airachnid's servo. She gave me a smirk as the orange field lit up again, "Let's leave the boys to themselves." She used the weapon to pull Arcee to her, where my partner immediately tried to snatch the weapon out of her grip. "That would be the 'up close and personal' setting."

I whipped my helm back to where I had last seen Sunburst and Slipstream. They were still fighting hard against each other, and neither looked ready to give in. I activated my blaster and fired rapidly at Slipstream. A distraction would be good to give Sunburst an advantage. I could see the rage on her features growing more and more, clearly realising that dodging Sunburst' axe swings and my blaster fire was a tall task. One of my shots finally hit her and made her appear dazed. Sunburst swung his axe at her to hit her down to the ground.

He looked over at me, and rushed over to gently slice open the webbing over my servo. He reached out his own to me, "You know I'll always have your back as long as you have mine."

I stared at his servo. He'd been there for me, with me through everything… but he made a judgment call to not tell me about my heritage. Was it right? No, but was he doing it with the best intentions in mind at the time? Yes, because he was loyal to no fault. He kept that secret to protect me. I couldn't be mad at him… I should've never been mad at him at all, let alone this long.

I grabbed his servo so he could pull me up, "You're forever stuck with me."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

The sound of someone slamming the ground made us turn to Airachnid smacking the ground in the distance. I focused my optics on Arcee on the ground… with the Gauntlet and the orange force field in and around her servo, "Opposites do not attract."

There was a slamming of weapons in the distance, followed by scraping metal on the ground. I whipped my helm to the Bulkhead and Breakdown skidding away from each other. Breakdown activated his shoulder missile straight towards Bulkhead, who looked ready to catch it… only, it was like it bounced off his servos, flying back to the one who fired it. Breakdown had an arm out ready to block the missile, but it also bounced off him, and flew into the sky… exploding.

"We can't touch metal." Breakdown was right…

And what was causing it… it had to be from the Gauntlet! "We're polarised!"

Arcee grunted suddenly, making me turn to her having the Gauntlet pulled out of her grip by Airachinid's webbing.

"Always leave on a high note." Airachnid transformed and started flying away.

"No! The Gauntlet!" I activated my blasters… oh wait, we're polarised. There's a good chance my blaster fire won't land.

Sunburst dashed in front of me and climbed up onto a nearby building. He leapt up and grabbed onto Airachnid's helicopter form, making her begin to fly out of control probably due to him trying to pull her down. I zoomed my optics in on his facial expressions; he clearly had an idea of what he was doing, because he was concentrating hard on where Breakdown was going. At the same time he began running, Sunburst threw Airachnid's form straight into him. They collided with Slipstream and Rebecca… into the abandoned gas station.

The dust flew up as a result of the collision, but through it, I could see the Polarity Gauntlet on the ground in front of me. I smirked and walked over to pick it up, before I looked over my shoulder padding at my teammates. They had smug expressions on their faceplates too.

"Let's finish this." I looked back at the destroyed gas station… and the pile of Decepticon scrap metal in it.

"And risk becoming twins again?"

I felt a familiar form hovering around me, "I think we've bonded a little too much for one day." I think Sunburst was still concerned about the chance we could literally get stuck together again, because it felt like he was going to wrap an arm around me, and chose not to.

Probably a good call.

I couldn't wait to hand over the Polarity Gauntlet as soon as we had returned to base. I wasn't eager to have it in my possession any longer, simply because I didn't want to risk accidentally activating something on the device inside the base. After all, there was a lot more metal alloy around here… in a more confined space too.

Bulkhead was handing back Miko's cellphone to her, "Souvenir, but..."

"We don't advise indoor use." Arcee bumped my shoulder padding playfully.

"Ewwww. They even finish each other's sentences."

"Miko, check it out. New battle scars." Miko immediately opened her phone to very likely get a photo of the new scar Bulkhead had on him. Typical Miko.

"Arcee, hey!"

Miss Darby suddenly grabbed her youngling's shoulder to stop him walking to us, "Let the adults talk. Arcee." …Oh, she's heading over here… "I think I owe you an apology."

"You do?"

"I worry. Especially when I feel like I can't control things… which, with a teenager, is all the time." I could see Arcee's optics narrowing, like she was eager to listen to Miss Darby; a positive sign. "Jack and I have always been close, especially after his Dad left, and… I guess it's just hard to accept that all that's changing. I mean, I knew it would someday, but you're not quite the type of girl I thought Jack would be ditching me for." She looked over at Jack and Carly. "Let alone not be the only girl."

"I think we've all been a little guilty of staying attached to the way things were."

I wore a proud smile on my faceplates. Arcee had clearly learnt something today… in fact, I think a lot of us had. Sure, it had been hard adjusting to the fact that things were never going to be the same after what happened with Miss Darby… but it didn't mean we couldn't accept the adjustment. It was just going to be a process, one that was either going to go smoothly or be rough. It started out as rough, but no doubt - with a little bit of hopefulness - the transition was going to be smooth from now on…

A familiar weight on my shoulder padding had me looking up at Sunburst resting his arm on me.

…Although, who's to say we can't 're-adjust' things back to when they were better? Like when Sunburst and I could get along without a care in the world? Literal or not, we were always going to be stuck together. Fate had a way of working like that. With time, as a team, I was certain we were going to be able to go back to the way some things were, somehow.

NORMAL P.O.V

In the quiet of the night, amongst the glittery stars of space, the Nemesis floated in its' stationary position. Inside the Warship, a stationary Megatron watched his soldiers return to him in defeat, unable to secure the weapon their leader desired.

"Breakdown, Slipstream, Rebecca Rose. You dare to return empty handed?!"

"No master," Breakdown replied with guilt.

"Not quite, my Lord," Rebecca added, arms crossed with annoyance from her glued position on the lower leg of Slipstream.

The former Stunticon turned his back on his Master to reveal what else he had brought along with him.

"Airachnid," Megatron greeted in surprise, "It has been some time."

"Lord Megatron, what can I say? It's good to be back."