A big thanks to everyone who didn't walk away after the last chapter! Love you guys!

Now our trio is split between both factions. The final arc is upon us! I might sprinkle in some surprises here and there as well.

Anyway, enjoy!

Warning: I do not own TFP or its characters but my OCs belong to me!

Chapter 22: Fours keys, one hope

…..

Halo POV

It would be a lie to say things didn't become just a whole lot more complicated when Optimus returned from an Iacon relic recovery mission with a giant flashy sword.

I remember gaping like an idiot when we took in the legendary weapon with the others, not quite believing our optics.

Crossflare mumbled a short prayer to Solus beside me, praising her for the magnificence of her creations. I wasn't as much of a believer - although every femme followed Solus Prime since she was our creator - but even I had a few words of awe in store for our ancient Prime. The sword looked ethereal as Optimus held it in his servos.

The team was rejoicing until the sword suddenly lit up and Optimus fell into a trance.

We watched in worry as Ratchet tried to bring him back from wherever he wandered with the sword in the supernatural dimension, but Optimus only replied with a few words:

"I am receiving a message."

"From who?"

"Alpha Trion."

Smokescreen gasped in excitement and nudged my shoulder in joy.

"I talked about him! Remember? I was his bodyguard!"

"You were just one of his guards, no?" I chuckled. The bot's name didn't say much for me but based on the reaction of the others, he must be someone important.

"C'mon! I was always around him! He was one old bot, but he knew all the relics and talked a lot about them! He was like an old guardian sitting in his mysterious tower, sharing his wisdom with me!"

I snickered, trying to imagine Smokescreen next to a bot equaling a grandpa, listening to his stories like a little sparkling.

"Now I see where you picked up your unparalleled intelligence from."

"You are mocking me!"

"No, I'm not."

Crossflare sighed behind me, more focused on Optimus who was still in trance and pointlessly interrogated by a certainly concerned Ratchet because the Prime didn't seem to hear him.

"What's wrong CF?" I turned to her and brushed my shoulder-pad against hers. "Do you think we are in danger?"

"No. I just….if what they told us about Optimus dealing a deadly blow against the warship is true, then the Nemesis must have been damaged greatly. I wonder…how Mercy and Knock Out are doing. I hope they are safe and fine."

Understanding dawned on me as I reached out and put a servo on her arm, searching for her downcast gaze to let her know I was with her.

"They should be fine. The Nemesis is quite big and hard to take down."

"You worry about the Cons? Seriously?" Smokescreen looked over my shoulder to grimace at my friend.

"We have made friends there as well as here," Crossflare bit back in a clipped tone, her features hardening. "And our amica is still there. Am I not allowed to worry?"

Smokescreen looked like he wanted to say something but then decided not to. Good, because I would have shut him up myself otherwise.

I knew that Crossflare was having a hard time adjusting to our new circumstances. She has been a Decepticon for so long that she almost forgot what it meant to be an Autobot, although she never really moved away from Neutrality in her spark, just like me. And then to make things even harder, she was now bonded to an Autobot while also having someone she held dear among the Decepticons. A true mess, if you ask me.

Oh, and by the way Wheeljack left the day after they got bonded, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I remember trying to interrogate Crossflare about it, but she said it was fine, they had discussed everything they needed to and Wheeljack was free to go. Even Ratchet threw a tantrum, but the Wrecker was already miles away when the Doc realized that one of his patients bailed. Crossflare defended Wheeljack's decision, but I doubted she was happy with it.

So to put it simply, she was more moody than usual and worried a lot more as well.

"They will be fine," I repeated with more emphasis, patting her arm. "Trust me."

Optimus suddenly collapsed and everybody moved in a hurry to support him. Ratchet helped Optimus up and we waited anxiously for him to speak.

"So, did Alpha Trion ask about me?" Smokescreen stepped forward with an excited expression but Bulkhead pushed him aside frantically:

"What was the message?"

"It is paramount that we recover the final four Iacon relics: the Omega Keys," Optimus replied, but his words only confused those present in the room.

"Keys?" we asked in unison with Arcee.

"To what?" Ratchet added.

"To the regeneration of our home planet."

There was momentary silence, dumbfounded looks, up until Ratchet dared ask:

"You mean…?"

"The Keys have a way of rekindling life inside Cybertron's core."

We exchanged looks, gasping in disbelief. No way. No. That's impossible. How could that be…? Do I really want to argue with a magical glowing sword?

The burst of joy was spontaneous as the Autobot Team began chattering excitedly. I grabbed Crossflare's servos and beamed with shining optics.

"CF! Did you hear that?!"

"I-I did…" she stared at me as if she was in trance, too shocked to speak coherently.

"Our home is not lost! We can go back to what it was before! Can you imagine it? Cybertron will live again!"

I felt her stagger and I grabbed onto her, steadying her.

"That can't be…"

But the others already started listing what they were going to do once Cybertron is back to normal again. Dreams of oil baths, jobs, tours… Things we never thought we would ever discuss again.

"What will we do, CF? What will we do?" I bounced excitedly, "Of course, we first reuinte with Mercy, then we can go wherever we want! Oh, oh, I always wanted to visit Crystal City! What about Iacon?"

"Halo, Halo slow down!" Crossflare raised her servos as a sign of time-out, "You talk like it's already done, but we have to revive the planet first."

"Okay, but just imagine it! What would you do after we go home? Having dreams is not a bad thing!"

Crossflare thought some, then a sad smile formed on her lips.

"I might…revisit Altihex and…make a memorial."

My happy bubble burst and I stopped bouncing.

"Oh….right…."

My thoughts shifted gear. True. The fallen must be remembered first. Everything else is secondary. After we have properly laid the past in its grave, we can start anew. Maybe Crossflare will be able to stop grieving and focus on her own future then too. She had a bond with Wheeljack, they might do something with it. I was pretty sure Mercy and I would stick close, but what would we do for the long term, I had no idea.

Although the more I thought about it, the more I missed something. The picture wasn't complete. As if something crucial has been left out.

Vos came to mind, a pair of proud wings and crimson red optics. Oh. Starscream.

Just thinking of him filled my spark with longing. I haven't seen him in quite some time. I missed his ramblings, his raspy voice, his grumpy scowls and arrogant smirks.

Would our paths diverge forever from now on? Will Cybertron revive and we both go on our way, forgetting we ever had a history together?

I found myself disliking the thought. He claimed a large part of my spark, whether he realized it or not. I wanted to see him succeed, help him reach his nonsensical goals, if only to see him truly happy for once.

I wonder if such a day would ever come.

Mercy POV

The way the warship shook, almost as if hit by a solar storm, barely anyone managed to stay standing. I remember grabbing onto the control panel in the Communications Room when it happened and I still fell, just like all the Vehicons inside the room. Ravage was by my side immediately and helped me back to my pedes.

I rushed out once I was able to stand and didn't stop until I was at the Command Centre. Megatron ordered a hasty retreat and I felt Soundwave's frustration and concern throughout the lengthy discussion of Lord Megatron and Commander Dreadwing about a tactical retreat.

Retreat? When was the last time the Decepticon army retreated in the face of a team of Autobots? It sounded like an impossible feat, yet Optimus single-handedly made it possible with a glowing magical sword in his servo.

"The Star Saber? From the legends?" I gaped as Soundwave escorted me back, saying it wasn't safe to be around an anxious Megatron now.

"Yes. One of Solus Prime's creations."

"Bless Solus," I mumbled on instinct.

"That weapon should have never been allowed in a Prime's servos. Our situation is dire. Megatron must tip back the scales in our favor or else we will lose everything to the Autobots."

Mercy thought for a moment.

"It sounds impossible. Nothing can compare to a Prime armed with the Star Saber. Divine protection must have doubled over him, if not more."

Soundwave scoffed silently.

"There is no such thing as divine protection."

"There is! Solus Prime's forge is a testament to the divine power she held…."

"The Primes were no divine, Mercy. They were mortals like us equipped with artifacts of great power and powerful weapons. We just need to find a weapon equal in strength to counterbalance."

I knew it was futile to argue with him about his beliefs. He wasn't a believer and although it disappointed me, I could also understand his reasoning. He knew that Alpha Trion was one of the Thirteen but still treated him like anybot else - I was surprised to learn this information about the old mech through Soundwave's memories, and saw my encounter with the late Prime in a new light.

"But how? What can be more powerful than the Star Saber?" I decided to ask, not in the mood to argue.

Soundwave fell into thoughtful silence. We reached the Communications Room and he took his post by the main computer with newfound determination.

"I have to decode the coordinates of the remaining relics. Our future might hang on it."

"I will help you," I joined him but he turned his gaze towards me with a frown.

"You should be resting, Mercy."

"I agree," Ravage nodded, ready to escort me away.

"I'm okay! Knock Out said I can walk around, remember?"

"I don't want to repeat myself. I want you in the med-bay once it happens so that you could receive immediate help. Am I clear?"

There was no room for argument. I cast my optics down, frowning, but left nevertheless because I didn't want to upset him more than he already was.

Staying near Knock Out with a state such as mine was not a bad idea, but I felt like Soundwave was making a big deal out of it. Bigger than it should be. I wasn't about to die after all.

I was just….

Pain struck my spark-chamber as I strolled down the corridor towards the med-bay. I stumbled, momentarily disoriented, reaching after Ravage to stead myself, but a large servo caught me by the waist and helped me stay standing.

Ravage growled at the stranger, then stopped abruptly.

I winced and slowly turned my head to look who I should thank for the quick save and found myself face to face with Commander Dreadwing's red optics. Oh, so that's why Ravage chose to retreat.

"Careful," he said, gently releasing me, "What was that? You looked like you were in pain."

"Ah…no-nothing! I can assure you I'm at full health!" I quickly straightened my posture and flashed a big, grateful smile.

Dreadwing didn't look convinced.

"If you had been injured in the attack on the ship, get yourself treated. Do not hide it, lest it gets worse."

"Oh…okay, thank you for the concern, Commander."

"And notify Soundwave that Lord Megatron wishes to use our space-bridge. I am going to escort him."

"Escort him? Where?"

"I wasn't privy to the location, but I trust Soundwave will keep track of our whereabouts," he continued his way with a respectful nod towards me.

His heavy steps echoed down the hall until he was out of sight.

It was still a surprise every time he spoke to me. With respect, with dignity, like I wasn't a mere speck of dust under his pedes. A definite quality jump from Starscream for sure. I kind of liked Commander Dreadwing and his take on leadership a lot more.

"We are lucky he is not the type to exploit a weakness," Ravage noted and I wholeheartedly agreed.

So I continued my way to the med-bay where a lonely Knock Out hid somewhere in the back, idly shifting through his materials in search for parts.

Maybe for a new torture method of his for Silas in the closed off chamber I wasn't privy to. I shuddered at the thought but tried to close all sickening fantasies out of my processor.

"Hello," I greeted the medic carefully, but I only received a gruff something in response. I couldn't quite make out his words.

"What are you doing?"

I could only hope he wasn't about to share the details of a cruel torture tool.

"I want something big that you can shoot Autobots with from a great distance," he strolled deeper into the spare parts chamber and hummed in thought. "If I had a cannon like Megatron, just three times bigger, I would turn all Autobots into dust on sight."

Oh, so his focus shifted from his lab rat to another pressing issue…

I followed him inside with Ravage by my side, curiously looking over the collection. Various types of arms, pedes, wings and other things hung on the walls, and smaller individual parts were stored in large boxes in heaps. Last time, I was here with Halo, trying to choose a nice pair of wings for her new alt-mode.

"Why the sudden motivation?" I asked, looking at his back while he was digging through a box.

"What a question! Don't you think they have taken enough?!" he snapped, looking over his shoulder.

"You mean….Crossflare?"

"Her and everything else!" Knock Out threw his servos up, furious, "I might go into cardiac arrest just by thinking about it! Pah! If I ever….!"

"Hey, maybe we should take a break," I suggested in a hurry to prevent him from exploding on the spot.

Knock Out has been volatile ever since Crossflare disappeared, and even more so since she gave him a call last time. I still couldn't really place Crossflare's words, but if I understood everything correctly, then she was alright, just on the other side with a new…bondmate.

An upsetting thought, especially now that I saw Knock Out's reaction.

Without knowing the details though, I didn't want to make any hasty judgments. It was her decision, and her life. I could only hope she was well.

"Break?" Knock Out echoed, then continued in a mocking undertone. "I wish I could take a break from life, but it sure has other plans!"

"How about we concentrate on something else?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know…want high-grade?"

Knock Out looked at me as if I had grown two heads. Even Ravage tilted his head in confusion while he regarded me.

"Since when do you suggest profane pleasures?"

CF always drowned her sorrows in high-grade and it helped her, so I guess it could work for him. Not the best suggestion, but definitely better than listening to angry rants for hours.

I shrugged in response to his question.

"Fine, but you drink nothing of the sort! Not with that spark fragmentation of yours! A beating from Soundwave is the last thing I need nowadays!"

I flashed a satisfied smile, nodding. Whatever he wants, just calm him down.

So I sneaked into the mess hall and snatched a huge glass of high-grade, then took it back to the med-bay for him to enjoy.

Knock Out put a curly straw into the glass and began sipping it with a stubborn frown.

"Better?"

"Soon," he replied with the same expression and I dropped myself on a stool next to the table in the back of the room where he stored his blueprints. Ravage climbed under the table and laid down with a yawn.

There was some silence, but he couldn't stay quiet for long because a few minutes later he began questioning:

"Did Soundwave send you here?"

"Well…yes."

"He thinks you need babysitting, or what?"

"No, he is just worried."

"Worried. Huh. Must be nice to have someone worry for you," he growled spitefully, then continued to slurp the high-grade from his straw.

"He wants me near you when the fragmentation…ends."

"It will be a few more solar cycles. No need to fuss so much about it. I would rather worry about what will come afterwards. Like, no offense, but have you two ever thought about where to put that new spark, hm?"

I cast my optics down, biting my lip.

No. Of course we haven't, because it didn't occur to us that it could happen to us at all. At least I was completely in the dark, and Soundwave didn't really feel the issue, until it became apparent.

I was about to carry a sparkling in my spark-chamber.

The fragmentation process Knock Out has warned me about was already on its way when I sought him out with the problem. Since then a fragment of my spark began splitting off. Every time pain stabbed my own spark, it became more independent. A new life was forming inside my spark-chamber, and I didn't really know how to feel about it.

I was terrified. But also happy. Confused, but determined to see it through. No sparkling has been created in a millennia. It was a miracle and a reason to rejoice over, but also a danger that had to be kept a secret among us.

The timing wasn't right. We were in the middle of a war. There was no place for weaklings among the Decepticons.

"We will figure something out," I replied with a sigh. It will be resolved somehow, I need to believe in it. Soundwave and I will make sure the sparkling will be safe and cared for.

Somehow, some way.

"Your unreasonable optimism never ceases to baffle me," Knock Out scoffed.

The med-bay doors opened then and we jumped up in a hurry upon seeing who entered. Knock Out quickly hid his glass behind a screen.

Lord Megatron arrived, carrying a large arm which used to be red in its full glory, but death has stolen its sheen. A dead bot's arm.

I recoiled from the sight and Knock Out frowned in confusion as our warlord dropped it on the dissection table.

"Knock Out! Can you replace my arm with this one so it could function properly?"

The medic stared with wide optics, glancing from the appendage to Megatron in silence for a nanoclick, then sighed in resignation.

"Yes, I can do it."

The moment Megatron lay back on the medical berth with a satisfied smile, I slipped out, spark hammering in revulsion. Ravage followed me with a concerned expression.

A dead bot's arm. It looked like it was ripped from the body without much consideration. Who did he cut down to get it?!

My head was reeling as I ran back to the Communications Room. Maybe staying in the med-bay was a wrong idea after all. It wasn't a place where nice things happened nowadays.

Halo POV

The joy was short-lived and the scale tipped again within a span of a day.

Arcee and Smokescreen barely left for half an hour and Arcee requested a bridge back in a broken voice that could only mean one thing.

Something has gone really wrong.

Dread spread in my spark when she returned, alone.

I rushed to her limping figure with million question marks in my head but her empty optics told everything I needed to know. The others helped her sit and then she told her tale.

"...And then Smokescreen was just gone like he turned to dust."

I froze, unable to process the harsh reality of her words. No. Not that young mech. The one who befriended me without prejudices. No way...

"Poor kid," Bulkhead muttered quietly.

"Arcee, do not blame yourself," Ratchet put a hand on the femme's shoulder, "It could just as easily have been you."

I couldn't describe what I felt. Within a matter of minutes that cheerful, young cute mech was no more. He had waved me farewell before he ran through the ground-bridge. I saw him go. That couldn't have been my last memory of him…

My pain suddenly turned into rage and a strong desire to do something. To take revenge. A murderous instinct clawed at my spark-chamber.

I clenched my fists.

That self-centered, narrow-minded warlord again. Destroying lives as he saw fit. I began loathing even the memory of him.

"Open me a ground-bridge!" I turned on my heels confidently and made my way to the bridge.

"Don't be ridiculous! Going against Megatron when he has such a weapon at his disposal is a suicidal idea," Ratchet called after me with a disapproving expression. "And have you forgotten that you can't leave the base?"

"Make an exception!" I hissed back.

"No," Optimus cut in to which I whipped around with the intention to argue but he continued calmly, "We have already lost one of our own."

I persistently turned towards the bridge again, spark hammering desperately. Smokescreen...

Crossflare came up to my right and put a servo on my shoulder. I looked up and locked optics with her. The understanding and the silent request in her gaze forced me to retreat. So I nodded quietly and let her lead me back to sit. She lowered on one knee beside me and continued to hold my servo gently.

She didn't say a word, she was just there, keeping me company as I battled through my turbulent feelings.

Optimus announced his leave but I barely heard what was going on anymore.

"He didn't deserve to die. Him of all, didn't," I whispered, and a stray tear rolled down my cheek.

Crossflare said nothing, but gripped my servo tighter as if to ground me.

I don't know how much time passed but when I finally snapped back to reality again, the others were rushing towards the bridge.

Crossflare stood as well, dropping my servo to shake my shoulder instead.

"Halo! Halo look!" she pointed behind Optimus and what I glimpsed was a white paintjob and giant double 38s.

I jumped up like an electrocuted turbo-fox and flung myself across the distance to tackle the kid in a tight hug.

"You bolthead! How dare you die like that!" I cried, shaking him.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" Smokescreen laughed, helplessly wriggling in my grasp.

"But how…? I mean, I saw you…!" Arcee couldn't believe her optics. She just stood there, dumbfounded, barely processing what she was seeing.

I finally let go of Smokescreen and let him explain. He grinned and lifted his right arm, showing off the trinket nestled on his wrist.

Oh.

"I, uh, decided to borrow the phase-shifter!"

"Again?!" came Ratchet's voice from the back where he was scanning Optimus for any injuries.

"Good thing too. The wave from the blast hit me like a wrecking ball. The impact must have activated the shifter. I don't know how long I was unconscious, but when I made my way back outside, Optimus and Megatron were deep in an epic throwdown," Smokescreen explained while everybody gathered around him in quiet awe. "I waited for the right moment to make my move."

"You're learning," Arcee remarked with a small smile, visibly relieved.

Smokescreen flashed her a grin, then turned to Ratchet:

"So can I keep it? I mean, it is really working out for me!"

"Fine, fine," Ratchet dismissed him with a roll of his optics.

"Yesss!" Smokescreen celebrated in joy," Signature weapon!"

But then his optics found the broken Star Saber lying on a counter to his right and his expression saddened.

Everybody followed the direction of his gaze and Bulkhead shook his head in disappointment:

"You got yours, but Optimus lost his."

"The balance of power shifted again," Arcee added in a grim tone.

I agreed with her. While there was no doubt Optimus was a capable warrior with or without a magical sword, Megatron was now at great advantage.

Crossflare POV

The new coordinates were discovered sooner than expected.

"Arcee, Bumblebee, prepare to roll out," Optimus instructed, much to Smokescreen's disappointment.

"Wait, what about me? I-I mean, me and Bulkhead?"

"The two of you will remain here in the event I am able to decode a subsequent database entry before the others return," Optimus replied calmly, then turned back to the computer screens.

Ratchet wasted no time opening the bridge, and Smokescreen could only watch as the two picked Autobots left. Bulkhead clapped the kid on the back and Halo was immediately by his side to cheer him up.

The way she interacted with him, one would think the two were best friends from sparklinghood. I was glad this friend of hers was at least not a power-seeking maniac like Starscream. Her infatuation with that arrogant winged mech has always remained a mystery to me.

I joined Ratchet who was analyzing the remaining parts of the Star Saber, wondering how it could be fixed. We threw theories around until Arcee called for a bridge and returned with Bumblebee, both in surprisingly bad shapes as if tanks had run over them.

"What happened?" Halo gasped and with Ratchet and me on her side helped them sit.

Arcee barely held herself together but tried to bear through it.

"I'm sorry Optimus," she looked at the Prime, who stood by her side in concern, "Knock Out was there, waiting for us."

My spark sank at the mention of his name. It has been a while since I've last heard anything of him. Part of me longed to see him, another part of me wished we would never meet again because then I would have to face what I have done.

"Oh, I wish I'd been there!" Smokescreen threw punches in the air, "I would've…!"

"Would have what?!" Arcee snapped suddenly, "Would have recovered the key, like you did the first one?"

"Maybe?" Smokescreen scratched the back of his neck, "Who knows?"

"I doubt the phase-shifter would have worked against sound waves," Halo frowned.

Arcee stood with an upset expression and slouched posture, barely pulling her pedes as she left towards her room.

Ratchet warned her that she would have to come to the med-bay for repairs after he finished with Bumblebee. It was hard to determine who was more in need of medical attention. Both looked like slag hit them hard.

"I can help tend to her superficial damages," I volunteered and Ratchet nodded to me in approval.

I turned and began making my way after the short femme, thinking of ways to placate her. She was hurt by someone whom I held dear so my guilt was warranted. I wanted to help. With knowledge acquired from Knock Out himself. What an irony.

"Can I come in?" I knocked at her door and Arcee let me in gruffly.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" she asked as she sat up on her berth.

"I…learnt one or two things on the Nemesis."

Realization lit her optics.

"Knock Out taught you."

"Yes."

She scoffed after a moment of silence.

"Fine. I'll rub it in for him the next time we meet."

I smiled gratefully and began looking her over. My spark was still in turmoil because of the mention of his name, but I tried my best to calm down and focus.

"What's wrong, darlin'? It feels like ya could use someone to talk to," a sound so familiar and real resonated through my spark as if he were here speaking to me. I froze for a moment, then continued my work as if nothing happened, answering him through the bond:

"I was just….something happened."

"Bad news?"

"An incident. Bumblebee and Arcee ran into Knock Out and he…let's just say beat them up pretty bad."

"Not surprised. He's a Con. Are they alright though?"

"They will live."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it. That Con's a psycho. Whatever he does has nothing to do with ya."

"But he is someone I…" I couldn't finish the sentence. Not when we were communicating directly through our bond. It wasn't fair to him.

"Ya don't have to spare my feelin's, I know very well ya like him," he saw through me immediately and I burned in shame, "I'd advise ya not agonize over his evil deeds. It's pointless. It's not like he doesn't enjoy what he's doin'."

A sigh escaped my lips and Arcee looked up at me questioningly. I quickly shook my head and turned my focus back to the task in servo.

"Thanks, Wheeljack."

"Anytime, darlin'."

"Why do you call me that?"

"Can't I?"

"N-no, of course you can!"

"Heh, alright, darlin'."

I never knew how much I needed his reassurance until he provided it. He was aware I appreciated his words, even if my spark hurt for Knock Out and his irreparable personality.

But my focus was needed elsewhere so I put in all effort to forget him until I was done with Arcee.

When we came back to the Command Center a bit later, the next set of coordinates were decoded. Optimus sure was on fire, I noted.

Bulkhead and Smokescreen left to get the job done and Halo waved excitedly after the latter, wishing him success and safe return. And return safely they did, but without any keys to show.

Arcee grabbed the opportunity Smokescreen's first failure provided to make a lecture, and although Optimus tried to step in, she stubbornly wanted to say her piece. Smokescreen listened quietly throughout, and we all watched the scene unfold with ambivalent feelings until the young mech stepped back and his calm demeanor snapped.

"You know what? Maybe I'm just not good enough!" then he turned and transformed, storming through the tunnel outside the base.

"Wait! Smokescreen!" Halo rushed after him but the base doors snapped shut before she could have followed him. "Scrap!"

"Next time Optimus advises you to stop, perhaps you should listen," Ratchet chided Arcee.

"I'll bring him back," Bulkhead volunteered, but Optimus stopped him.

"Smokescreen is young, Bulkhead, and has much to learn. Right now, he needs to clear his thoughts."

I agreed with him but Halo thought otherwise.

"This is not fair! I want to go after him!" Halo whined.

"Primus, no!" Ratchet scoffed. "We don't need the two of you outside at the same time! Who knows what kind of disaster it would lead to!"

"It's not like I would tell him to blow up petrol stations to work off some steam!" Halo argued.

"Still a no!"

Optimus was already back to decoding the final entry, successfully shutting out all distractions. I envied him for such a skill. I could never be able to work with clear focus with so many blabbering people around me.

Halo continued to whine and loudly argued with Ratchet about the rules regarding her stay here when the Prime turned around.

"The final entry has been decoded!"

Everybody gathered around him in excitement and I joined the line by Halo's side, curious. The code on the screen began blinking until it transformed into a blurred image.

"Has it?" Ratchet doubted.

Optimus turned back to the screen with a thoughtful frown.

"Perhaps it's a layer of secondary encryption…"

The image began to clear and the more it did, the more it resembled a bot. We all squinted until the picture became visible.

"Smokescreen?!" Bulkhead gaped in disbelief.

Oh no. I looked at Halo who was staring with wide optics as well, then she turned to look at me with the same realization.

The final Iacon relic was out there somewhere, like an easy prey to catch.

Mercy POV

I haven't seen much of Soundwave away from his station where he faithfully worked through long hours to decode the Iacon database with speed I've never seen before. His focus didn't waver, not even when I called his name. Ravage remarked that maybe we shouldn't disturb him, even if I had a few things to say about Megatron's new arm and his way of dealing with things.

Then the final relic turned out to be an image and Megatron tasked Soundwave with its retrieval. Or rather, with the capture of the Autobot in question. He knew Soundwave would never fail.

So it wasn't a surprise when my bondmate returned with that white colored Autobot highlighted with blue and red. A stylish exterior, and a young frame from what I could tell. He was unconscious as Soundwave dragged him through the corridors to the med-bay while being complimented by Megatron throughout the procedure.

Ravage and I followed them from a safe distance, wondering who this mech could be. I've never seen him at base back then. Maybe a new recruit?

Knock Out helped heft the comatose mech up on the medical berth and then Soundwave left the room, job done and done well. I snatched a last glance at the helpless Autobot before the doors closed and then caught up with my bondmate. I could only hope that the white mech would survive whatever Megatron intended to do to him.

Soundwave tilted his head in my way. He didn't have to say a word, I knew what he was thinking about.

"I'm fine. It's just..."

"You want to help the Autobot," he stated through the bond.

"It just crossed my mind..." I cast my gaze down in shame.

Ravage huffed disapprovingly.

"I advise you to stay out of this. The consequences of interfering could be dangerous. The sparkling and your safety is more important," he pointed at my chest and I nodded with a sad smile.

"I know. But I still pity that poor mech."

"He gets what he deserves. He is an enemy, Mercy."

Ravage nodded in agreement.

"I have been friends with the Autobots once, so you know."

"I'm aware. But such idle feelings could make you an easy target. Do not assume that they would go easy on you just because you have some history together."

"You overreact, the Autobots never…"

"I've seen Autobots commit war crimes you could never imagine. Were I ever to be captured, they would no doubt use all kinds of interrogation methods, including violent ones, to get what they want out of me," he interrupted, now irritated. "I stand by my opinion. Stay away from the Autobot."

I nodded with a heavy spark, knowing that he meant well.

It didn't take long to run into a commotion though. Soundwave and I exchanged looks when Vehicons began running in a certain direction and we heard Megatron's furious roar echoing through the ship.

Ravage tilted his head, then looked at his master questioningly.

"Was that…?" I wondered, and Soundwave immediately pulled up a security footage on his visor, showing that the young Autobot was phasing through walls across corridors, being chased by Megatron up to the deck on the roof.

"He escaped!" I celebrated with a giggle, much to my bondmate's annoyance. "But how can he do that?"

"He must have snatched the phase-shifter from Knock Out," Soundwave released a suffering sigh, "Why is everybody so incompetent on this ship?"

"It's kind of funny," I chuckled.

"When it's your hard work thrown into waste, it's not," Soundwave argued, turning and heading towards the upper deck.

"Are you going to interfere?" I jogged after him curiously with Ravage on my heels.

"If Megatron wishes so, then yes."

"Then let's hope he doesn't!"

We walked some distance until we came across the most bizarre sight on the ship.

Knock Out blinked at us with a dumbfounded expression, stuck in the wall like a badly placed decoration. How did he end up like that? How was this even possible?

"Knock Out!" I ran to him, clasping one of his servos and pulled on it, but my effort bore no results. He stayed stuck. "What happened to you?"

"That wretched Autobot!" the medic fumed, optics murderous, "I will saw him apart once I get him back between my servos!"

Soundwave and Ravage silently snickered behind me, amused by the sight. I had no idea what was so funny about such a predicament. I fervently looked around, searching for a way to release him.

"Worry not, we will help you!"

"Please do before Megatron sees me like this! I don't want to imagine his reaction!" Knock Out wriggled, shutting his optics. "Such humiliation!"

Soundwave nudged my servo with his and I turned to look at him with hope in my optics that he would help.

"Let's wait for Megatron's judgment. There is nothing we can do for him now."

Halo POV

It should have been impossible, but Smokescreen lived to tell the tale and survived in one piece. I tackled him for the second time when he returned to base, with two keys nonetheless! It was a feat not many could have achieved but he did it, and did it alone.

I listened to his story about his capture and escape with full attention, happily bouncing around him in a silly celebratory dance. The team shared my enthusiasm and everybody was relieved that Smokescreen was alright. It seemed like all that argument about destiny was pointless, because in the end, he was the one who saved the day.

"What a headache he is," Crossflare remarked once things calmed down.

"He has potential!" I replied.

"If he was my charge to worry about, he would drive me mad," she shook her head.

"Like I do?"

Crossflare patted me on the shoulder with an affectionate smile.

"Don't be silly. I'm never really mad at you."

"Uuuh, somehow I doubt you are honest about that," I grimaced but accepted her considerate reassurance nevertheless.

Then an incoming call grabbed the attention of everybody present in the command center, and Ratchet turned towards the screens with a suspicious frown.

"A high frequency signal with an embedded message," he announced, and we exchanged confused looks.

"Starscream," Bulkhead said like it was a curse word.

My spark picked up pace as I stepped closer to the screen, trying to get a look at it but Ratchet was in the way with that big bulky frame of his.

"I have obtained something of interest to you which seems to be of no practical use to me," he read.

Yes. That was him. Surely. It cannot be anyone else. I felt my spark soar.

"It's gotta be the Omega Key," Bulkhead mused.

"He is the one who blindsided me!" Smokescreen realized.

Oh, so the two of them had met? Uh-oh.

"What else could Scream be referring to?" Arcee rolled her optics.

"Yep, yep, there is more!" Ratchet asked for some attention and got it as we listened to the rest of the message, "Bring medical kit. I only ask for the surgical replacement of my T-Cog in return."

"Ha!" Bulkhead scoffed, "Like we're gonna give Scream back his wings!"

I gasped in offense.

"And what would be so bad about it? We all have the right to have access to our alt-modes!"

Ratchet seemed to take my side for once, but only because he thought the keys were more important than Starscream's meager request.

"Broken record I know, but it could be a trick," Arcee spoke up and I growled quietly.

Why do they always have to assume the worst when it comes to Starscream?

I caught Crossflare's expression from my peripheral vision as she raised an optic ridge at my reaction and I folded my arms in a sulking manner, jutting my chin out.

"It is possible that Starscream does not yet realize the significance of what he holds," Optimus interjected and Ratchet agreed:

"We do know that he's been incapable of flight for some time."

"Yes! So give him his wings back and get the key in return! Easy deal!" I whined.

Surely it's not that hard of a choice? He would be happy again to have his wings back, to fly, to soar the skies, make his little tricks in the air. Picturing him like that made me smile. I can only imagine how hard it was for him to survive alone, without me to help him scavenge for energon.

"The stakes are too great for us not to consider Starscream's proposal," Optimus concluded and I hissed quietly in victory. "However, we will take precautions."

So the team cooked up a quick plan. Bulkhead, Ratchet and Optimus would go through the ground-bridge to meet Starscream, the bridge would stay open in the event of an unexpected tactical retreat. Arcee would stand beside bridge-controls at the ready, Bumblebee and Smokescreen would be right in the door of the bridge, waiting to see if anyone tried to sneak inside and intercept them.

Sounded foolproof enough. But knowing Starscream, if he wanted to really surprise us, even against such high security, he could.

Crossflare and I exchanged concerned glances as we stood in the back, almost in the corridor leading deep inside the base, because we were not allowed to be in the command center due to the severity of the situation. CF of course didn't mind, but I was too nervous and giddy to stand around. I wanted to go meet Starscream, but the others voted against it because they knew that I was partial to him. Which is kind of true but come on!

Then suddenly a weird feeling hit me. As if something happened but I wasn't quite sure how or when. It felt like I missed something. A quick wisp of wind and a lightning-fast shadow followed, and as I tried to squint to make sure I saw it right, the next moment my environment blurred. It felt like the world was too fast, the floor disappeared from under my pedes.

Until it ended and I blinked back to reality on the outside, stumbling as I fell from someone's hold.

"Scrap! The red energon wore off!" I heard a familiar shrill voice utter.

I looked over my shoulder with wide optics to see Starscream push me from behind.

"Go, go, or we are going to be fragged!" he yelled at me and I wasted no time moving. My instincts kicked in, following his lead without second-guessing what I was doing, running with him who knows where in the dark forest we ended up in.

"He has the Omega Keys!" Ratchet exclaimed from somewhere behind us and I heard Optimus shout after us, or rather, after me:

"Stop! Halo! Think of what you are doing!"

His panicked voice wounded my spark but I kept running.

"Open a bridge!" Starscream tossed me the remote controller he fixed all those months ago, his other servo too busy holding all the keys.

Scrap, scrap, he has all the keys! Primus, what are we doing?!

I was on auto-pilot when I typed in the coordinates to the Harbinger and a bridge opened for us, just ahead.

"NO! HALO YOU TRAITOR!" Bulkhead roared but I didn't dare look back, I just jumped through the portal.

It closed behind us with a final swishing sound and we both collapsed on the other side.

"That was a close one!" Starscream huffed and groaned as he tried to get himself up from the floor.

I raised my gaze and gasped in awe at the sight of our home's familiar walls and equipment. It didn't change a bit from what I remembered.

The Harbinger. I was finally back. With Starscream by my side.

"You idiot!" I yelled and jumped at him. He shrieked and we fell, the keys scattering on the floor. I hugged him with brute force, choking the living light out of him as my tears began to flow. "Why didn't you come sooner?! I've been waiting for you! You tricked me into believing you were dead!"

Starscream tried to wriggle free until he realized he couldn't and released a suffering sigh.

"So you missed me?"

"Of course I did! Don't tell me you didn't miss me too because I'm gonna beat you up!" I pushed myself away at an arm's length to look at him angrily.

Starscream took in my upset expression and smiled with that trademark smirk of his, except there was affection in his optics.

"Things were indeed too quiet without you around. You think I would have risked my spark taking you from there were it not the case?"

A large grin bloomed on my face and I tackled him in joy again, to his greatest annoyance.

"Hey! Halo! S-stop it! Ugh! Halo! You are denting my armor!"

Yay, Halo is back with Starscream! What are they going to do with four crucial keys that can revive Cybertron, I wonder? Major deviation from canon of course!

This means that we are approaching the end. Yep, season two is at the finish line and so are we.