"I'M GOING TO KILL THEM ALL!" Bulkhead roared, angrily swinging his mace at anything within reach. His optics, usually a calm blue, were lined with a hate filled red. His mouth was curled into a snarl, EM fields charged with anger and his plating was flared out, making him look bigger than he actually was.

"Bulkhead!" Ratchet shouted as the Wrecker's mace came down on his workbench, crushing one of his tools. "I needed that!"

Optimus' gaze shifted to Wheeljack, who stood against the far wall. Though the swordsman wasn't actively destroying the room like Bulkhead, his fields emanated the same amount of fury as Bulkhead's. His arms were crossed tightly over his chassis, optics glowing fiercely.

"THEY HURT HER!" Bulkhead bellowed again, slamming his mace into the concrete wall that was already abused. "THOSE FRAGGING COWARDS HURT HER!"

Optimus' gaze wandered to the console, where the source of the Wreckers' rage became painfully clear. On the screen, the feed was frozen on an image of Miko, pale faced and covered in a crimson substance. A human's lifeblood, not unlike energon to them. Her eyes were wide with terror, and her mouth was open in a silent scream.

MECH had sent them another message. Another video. Another cruel display of the suffering they were inflicting on the Autobots' human allies.

The Guardian Knight scanned the room further, noting that Arcee was absent. Likely, she was taking one of her long rides to cool her processors, a habit she'd develop during particularly difficult events. Bumblebee was also nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he had accompanied the femme, or maybe he couldn't bear to stay after witnessing what had caused this outburst.

The Matrix of Leadership pulsed heavily in Optimus' chest, reminding of his responsibility to his team and the humans under their protection. For a brief moment, he felt the anger bubbling up within himself to the suffering of one so young. But as quickly as it came, he suppressed it, knowing that as their leader, he had to remain composed.

Being angry would help no one.

Wheeljack, however, had no such restraint. He pushed off the wall and stepped forward. "We can't let this stand, Prime," he growled darkly in a dangerous tone. "I don't care what it takes. I don't care how many of those fraggers we have to slag. MECH deserves to burn for this."

The Humvee piped in. "He's right! We track them down, we destroy their base, and we make sure they never lay a servo on her—or anyone else—again."

"Bulkhead, you know we cannot—" Optimus began, but the Wrecker cut him off.

"Don't you dare tell me what we can't do!" Bulkhead snapped, stepping closer to the Prime. "They crossed a line, Optimus. They took her, tortured her, and sent us that fragging video to rub it in our faces! You think I'm just gonna sit here and do nothing?!"

"Bulkhead," Optimus admonished. "That is enough."

The Wrecker's optics narrowed dangerously. "Enough? ENOUGH?! Optimus, they hurt her! They hurt Miko!" His voice cracked as he spoke her name, the fury in his tone giving way to anguish. "She's just a kid! And they… they…"

His words failed him, choked by the overwhelming tide of emotions threatening to consume him. Bulkhead turned back to the wreckage he'd created, frame trembling with anger.

"I understand your pain," he said gently. "Miko is more than just a human ally; she is family. And her suffering is an insult to all we stand for."

"Then let's do something about it!" Wheeljack shouted.

"We will," Optimus said firmly. "However, the Human-Autobot treaty prohibits us from engaging in direct combat with human organizations. If we act without sanction, we risk losing the trust of our allies. We risk endangering all humans, not just Miko."

"Frag whatever the Pit your treaty is!" the swordsman spat, optics flaring brighter. "These fleshbags don't play by the rules, so why should we? MECH has to pay for what they've done!"

"Reckless retaliation will only lead to further suffering—perhaps even her death."

"Don't lecture us about recklessness, Prime," Wheeljack spat. "You weren't there when we Wreckers had to make the hard calls, when we had to take the fight straight to the enemy without waiting for some fragile plan to come together."

Optimus turned his full attention to the Wrecker. His calm mask slipped just enough to let a glimmer of his own emotions shine through. "This is not the battlefield you once knew, Wheeljack. We are on Earth, under the protection of the Human-Autobot Treaty. If we act without regard for human laws, we risk losing the trust and alliance we have worked so hard to build."

"I don't care!" he hissed venomously, pointing a digit at him. He opened his mouth to continue his rant, only for the Guardian Knight to cut him off before he could continue.

"The treaty exists to protect both our species," Optimus continued, trying to make the Wrecker see reason. Though he doubted that he would listen. "If we break it, we risk escalating the conflict and endangering countless innocent lives."

"Innocent lives?!" Wheeljack barked out a bitter laugh. "What about Bulkhead's kid's life? What about the next hoo-man kid they decide to snatch? Are we supposed to just sit back and let it happen?"

Optimus met Wheeljack's glare with equal intensity. "We are not sitting idle. Steps are being taken to locate MECH's base of operations. However, we do not compromise our morals, even in the face of great injustice. To do so would make us no better than those we fight against."

Bulkhead's engine growled as he whirled around to look at his leader. "You want to talk about principles? Fine! But she's my kid, Optimus, and I'm not going to stand here while those fraggers rip her apart!"

"You want us to stand down, Prime?" Wheeljack started before the Humvee could continue, plating bristling. His voice was venomous. "Because let me tell you something: I don't answer to treaties, and I sure as slag don't answer to some hoo-man government that doesn't give a scrap about us or her."

Bulkhead let out a snarl of frustration, servos curling into tight fists. "This is Miko we're talking about! She's family, and I'm not just gonna sit here while she suffers! They hurt her, Optimus. And if you're not gonna do something, I will."

"Bulkhead. Wheeljack." Optimus' tone sharpened, and for the first time in a long while, it carried anger. "Enough!"

Everyone froze, stunned. Their leader rarely raised his voice, most of them could count on just a servo how many times he done so in eons. It carried the weight of a thousand battles and a spark that had endured the burden of leadership for millennia. "If you cannot control your emotions," Optimus continued in a steely tone, "then I will have no choice but to confine you to the base until you do."

The room fell deathly silent. Bulkhead stared at him, his optics wide with disbelief. "You'd do that?" he asked. "You'd lock me up for caring about her?"

Optimus held his ground. "I would do what is necessary to ensure the safety of this team and the humans we protect. That includes preventing rash actions that could jeopardize our mission or our allies."

For a moment, it seemed like Bulkhead might explode again. But instead, his engine let out a growl and he transformed into his alt mode with the familiar sound of shifting metal. Without another word, he roared out of the base.

Wheeljack glanced at Optimus, his optics dimmer than before. "You can't cage a Wrecker, Prime." The swordsman transformed as well, racing after the Humvee. The Guardian Knight merely watched, unable to do anything, hoping that they wouldn't make any rash decisions.

Ratchet spoke first. "Optimus, was it wise to let them go like that? You know how Bulkhead and Wheeljack are when they're like this. They're not exactly the type to 'cool off' in a rational manner."

"I'm afraid I do not know, nor do I believe we could stop them if we tried."

"I fear they may do something rash," the medic said worriedly. "Something they'll regret once the anger runs its course."

"Perhaps, old friend." Optimus vented deeply. "We must trust them to remember who they are. They are Wreckers, yes, but they are also Autobots. I believe they will make the right choice." If not… the Prime didn't want to think about it if they didn't.

Ratchet snorted softly. "I wish I shared your faith, Optimus. I really do."

"You have always been the voice of reason among us, Ratchet. Your concerns are not unwarranted." He paused, his gaze drifting to the screen with Miko's face. "But sometimes, even reason must make room for hope."

Ratchet muttered something under his breath before turning back to the console and resuming his work. "Hope," he grumbled. "Let's just hope your faith in them doesn't come back to bite us all."

"Have you found any signs of the -children-?"

Ratchet's shoulders drooped, and his optics dimmed. "No," he admitted, sounding helpless. "Not a single trace. MECH has covered their tracks far too well."

"We must not give up."

"I've gone through every data stream, every satellite feed the -humans- have given us access to." Ratchet vented, looking every bit as tired as Optimus felt. "I've started to resort to using more invasive programming in hopes that it will help locate the -children's- trackers quicker."

The room fell into silence. Optimus stared at Miko's anguished face, feeling his spark twist. It reminded him of the torture victims of the Great War that still continue to this solar cycle. By extension, the children were technically victims of this war, despite MECH being a human faction. They were still, in some way, involved in the Autobot-Decepticon war.

"MECH may lack Cybertronian sparks, but they are no less monstrous than the worst of the Decepticons," he finally said, lowly, bowing his helm. "Their capacity for cruelty and their disregard for innocent lives are no different from the evils we have fought against for eons."

Ratchet turned back to Optimus. "That's precisely what worries me, Optimus. They don't follow rules or codes. And their leader, -Silas- is a -madman-."

"I am aware," the Guardian Knight said. "-Silas- sees us as tools, resources to be exploited. He does not understand the sanctity of life—neither -human- nor Cybertronian."

Ratchet hesitated before speaking. "The -children- are not tools. They are just -kids-, Optimus. MECH doesn't see that. And I fear what -Silas- might do if we fail to act swiftly enough."

The Prime turned away, surveying destruction Bulkhead had left behind. "We will find them, Ratchet," he said firmly. "We must."

"And what then?" Ratchet pressed. "When we face MECH again do we continue to hold back? Do we strike as the Wreckers want to? You know as well as I do that Bulkhead and Wheeljack, perhaps even the others, won't stop until they've made MECH pay for what they've done to our charges."

Optimus was silent for a long moment, optics dimming. "We will remain true to our principles, Ratchet," he said finally. "To abandon them, even in the face of such atrocities, would be to lose the very thing that separates us from our enemies."

"But," Optimus added, his voice hardening, "if MECH continues down this path of destruction and suffering, they will force our servos. And when that time comes, we will respond and ensure that no one, Cybertronian or human, suffers under their cruelty again."

"And what of the treaty?"

Optimus remained silent for a long time. "I am not sure, old friend. -Agent Fowler- is far more understanding than the others, such as -General Bryce- or -Director Galloway-."

"You do forget that he was just like them until Bulkhead saved his life," Ratchet reminded him with a wave of his digit.

"Every being has the capacity for change as -Agent Fowler- has demonstrated." Optimus vented. "However, I am… concerned about what happens when -Agent Fowler's- superiors find out about the -children-."

"They'll take them into 'federal custody' most likely," Ratchet stated, switching to English. "Perhaps they would be… safer there rather than in under our protection."

Optimus didn't reply. After five kliks passed in silence, the medic turned away from the console and looked at him sternly. "You should go rest, Optimus." His voice was bordering on that of an order. "You need it just as much the rest of us do. We cannot afford to have our leader in such a state."

"I… will try, old friend."

"You will not try," his old friend chided. "You will do. What is that ridiculous saying that the humans like to say?" Ratchet seemed to be wracking his processor for it. "Ah, yes. 'Do or do not, there is no try.'"

The Guardian Knight raised an optical ridge at the strangely worded phrase, but did not attempt to argue with the medic. He would lose no matter what points he brought to the case. With a resigned vent, he turned and headed to his quarters, walking down the long hallway.

Optimus paused at the door to his quarters, staring at the door blankly. A deep vent rattled through his frame as he stepped inside, the door hissing shut behind him. The room was sparse, similar to his quarters back on Cybertron. A simple berth and a desk filled with datapads he had managed to preserve from Cybertron.

He lowered himself onto the berth, staring at the wall while trying to ignore the image that looped through his processor. MECH's cruelty, he mused, knew no bounds. It sickened him to think that they were torturing the children, sending those haunting videos of their suffering, knowing full well that it would tear through their sparks.

How long had they been gone now? Four solar cycles? Five? Perhaps even six. He couldn't bring himself to count. It would hurt too much.

His thoughts drifted back to a time long past, to a name that was both familiar and distant: Orion Pax.

The archivist who had once been him, yet felt like an entirely separate entity. Optimus had long struggled to reconcile the two. Orion had been naive, idealistic, and eager to believe in the goodness of others. It was those very traits that had led him to trust Megatronus and believe in his vision of a unified Cybertron.

But that trust had been betrayed, and now, eons later, it was Orion Pax who had helped the Decepticons decode the Iacon Database, providing them with the locations of weapons of mass destruction. He had no idea how much he had decoded of the database either, and it terrified him to think what he had contributed to the Decepticon cause.

He had been amnesiac, yes. Naïve Orion Pax had been innocent, unaware of the larger conflict and manipulated by Megatron's cunning lies. Even after regaining his memories and reclaiming his title as Prime, he couldn't fully forgive himself for the actions he had taken during that short period of time.

Where Orion had been a seeker of knowledge, Optimus was a bearer of burdens. Where Orion had trusted too easily, Optimus had learned the painful cost of betrayal. Not only must he deal with the knowledge he had given Megatron a treasure trove of powerful artifacts and Decepticon superweapons, but he also had to deal with the fact that the children were missing.

His thoughts spiraled into a dark place that he dared not entertain but could not escape. For a moment, a dark thought crossed his mind: What if I killed Silas?

The image of him crush MECH's leader under his pede suddenly became appealing. Silas had caused so much pain, so much suffering. Would the world not be better off without him? Optimus shook his helm, trying to dispel the thought, but it refused to leave.

He wondered if this is how Megatron started out. Entertaining dark thoughts, stewing on them. And before he knew it, he was acting on those thoughts. Then, they started to come more naturally and he craved them more and continued to indulge in them to sate his own desires.

The Prime pushed away the thoughts, trying to ignore that dark voice in his helm. He couldn't help it. Silas was the one responsible for the children's abduction. He was the one who had hurt them, tortured them, used them as pawns in a twisted game.

A human. It was almost laughable, except it wasn't. It was infuriating. Silas had no concept of honor or justice. He had no respect for life, whether it was human or Cybertronian. He didn't care what died to get to his goals, something that made him similar in many regards to Megatron.

No, he chastised himself. That is not the way.

He was a protector, not a destroyer. No matter the situation, he could not afford to become the very thing he fought against. He couldn't give in to this darkness. He would not become a Decepticon in his spark, no matter how strongly the temptation pulled at him.

His thoughts returned to the children. Where were they now? What were they enduring? How much longer could they hold on?

He knew that MECH would stop at nothing to break their spirits and to do Primus knew what to the children for their own agenda. And they would keep sending those videos of their agony. They wanted to see them break.

But he would not let them.

Bulkhead drove down the desolate stretch of highway outside Jasper, Nevada, seething from the words that Optimus had just told him. Confining him to the base! That was an overreaction on his leader's part. He had every right to be angry, especially with what those monsters were doing to Miko.

He scanned the barren landscape, looking at the rock and desert. Basically, the only two things that existed in this rock of a 'state' he believed it was called. Everything reminded him of her. The way she'd scream with excitement during their dune bashing escapades, her favorite Slash Monkey songs blasting from his speakers. Her laughter had a way of lifting his spirits, even on his darkest days.

There were also the quieter moments where they would sit under the stars, talking. Those were the rare times when Miko let her guard down and talked about her life in Japan and her family. She didn't like to linger on the subject, though. Whenever he pressed for details, she'd always avert her gaze and deflate, like she had been drained of life. Bulkhead never pushed, he figured she'd tell him when she was ready.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of another engine growing closer. His vision swiveled to his side to see Wheeljack speeding up to match his pace. He really must've been speeding.

"Sorry about your -kid- Bulk," Wheeljack said after a moment of keeping pace with him. "I don't know her very well, but it's obvious she's important to you." He paused. "And Wrecker material too."

Bulkhead didn't respond right away, still seething over the video and the threat of base confinement. As if locking him up in the base was going to make him feel any better about losing Miko.

Wheeljack, sensing his friend's mood, didn't push. After a moment of silence, though, he spoke again in mischievous tone that he knew all too well. "So… you wanna blow something up?"

That idea was very much appealing and would allow him to blow some steam. Physically, he couldn't smile because he was in his alt-mode, but mentally, he was. "Thought you'd never ask. So whatcha thinking?"

"How about an energon mine… and some 'Cons?" the mech drawled, the smirk evident in his tone.

Bulkhead could practically picture the sly grin spreading across his friend's face. It was the kind of reckless suggestion that only Wheeljack could deliver, and for the first time in what felt like days, the Humvee felt excited.

"You serious?"

"Of course I'm serious!" Wheeljack revved his engine, speeding up slightly before falling back in line beside Bulkhead. "Been keeping tabs on the Con's in my free time, well, the time that we have in between missions and speeches. Seems they've got themselves a little operation set up just outside the Nevada border. A nice, juicy energon mine ripe for the taking. And who better to crash their party than two Wreckers with some steam to blow off?"

It wasn't the most strategic move, and Optimus would definitely not approve if he found out. But the thought of tearing through a group of 'Cons, smashing some faces, and sabotaging their plans? That sounded like exactly what he needed right now. Besides, what his leader didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"And what's the plan?"

"There is no plan!" He cackled. "We're Wreckers Bulk! We do what we do best. Blow the whole slagging place sky-high. Think of it as a little gift to Megatron."

Bulkhead couldn't help the low chuckle that escaped him. "Ha! Jackie, you have a way of making anything sound good."

"Hey, it's what makes me so lovable." Wheeljack's tone turned playful again. "So, what do you say? You in?"

"Lead the way, Jackie."

Wheeljack let out a whoop of triumph, speeding ahead as Bulkhead followed close behind. "Now that's the Bulkhead I remember! Let's make some noise!"

According to Wheeljack, the mine wasn't very far from here. They spend the next thirty minutes driving around, down the same barren roads until they eventually took a backroad that led to a massive rock formation.

They could immediately tell it was an energon mine, judging by the two Vehicons guarding the front entrance. Both Wreckers sped up and transformed, crashing into the pair of guards and sending them both slamming into the wall. They finished them off with their weapons.

The duo rushed into the mine, crouching behind a large rock formation toward the entrance. Three sets of parked drills lined either side of the entrance that lead into an even larger area with a few drones doing their jobs.

There was a second floor with a dozen or so Vehicons mining above, some patrolling, but nothing that was too bad. This was a smaller mine, which meant less Eradicons. There was a lot energon, despite it being not as big as some of the mines he had seen. Energon containers were spilling out of a side room nearby.

"Looks like they've got a small crew. Maybe twenty or thirty Vehicons, tops. Nothing we can't handle."

"You sure about this, Jackie?"

Wheeljack smirked, pulling out a pair of explosives from his subspace. "Oh, I'm sure. You just worry about smashing things. Leave the blowing up to me."

Bulkhead's lips curled into a grin. "You know, for once, I like your plan."

Before Wheeljack could reply, the Humvee charged out from cover. The Vehicons immediately snapped to attention, servos transforming into blasters and aimed right at him.

"Hey, scrapheaps!" Bulkhead roared, slamming his fists together. "Let's dance!"

The nearest Vehicon fired, but he was already in motion. He lunged forward, mace slamming into the chassis of the first drone. The impact sent the Vehicon flying backward, sparks flying as it crashed into a stack of energon crates.

The remaining Vehicons opened fire, but the Wrecker wasn't fazed by the superheated energon hitting his thick armor and he barreled toward them. He grabbed one drone by the arm, using it as a makeshift shield as he swung it into another.

The Humvee grabbed an Eradicon by the legs and spun it in a wide arc. He released it with a grunt, sending it hurtling into two more drones. The three crashed to the ground in a shower of sparks and twisted metal.

Another Vehicon rushed him from behind, but Bulkhead merely whirled around and slammed his mace into the Eradicon's faceplate, caving in the delicate metal and sending it flying into the wall nearby, offline.

Above him, some Vehicons started to rain superheated blasts down on him. He grinned, planting his pedes on the ground and lifting a heavy rock. With a roar, he hurled the boulder at them, crushing the drone that didn't dodge.

The Wrecker transformed into his alt-mode, speeding up the slope of the rock that had been carved out to access the second floor. He rammed into the Vehicon that had managed to dodge the rock, watching as it fell onto his window, sparks flying as it tried to find purchase.

It was unable to and crashed into the wall when he transformed back into his bipedal mode, grinning madly. Two Eradicons nearby looked at each other and stupidly fired at him. His servos transformed into two cannons and he fired blue energon at them, watching as their smoking husks fell to the ground.

Below, more Vehicons spilled in from side rooms. He glanced at a couple of the energon crates and grabbed one of them, throwing it at the drones below. They were knocked down like pins in a bowling lane, according to Miko anyways.

His spark grew heavy again at the thought of her, but he quickly pushed it down, not wanting to get distracted. He jumped down from the ledge and proceeded to pick apart the Vehicons until they were nothing by twisted metal.

By the time Bulkhead was finished, Wheeljack popped out of nowhere, yelling, "Alright, big guy, time to bounce!" The swordsman grinned at the carnage around them. "Feel better?"

"Yeah. A lot better."

"Good," Wheeljack replied, turning to transform. "Now let's get out of here before more show up."

The Wrecker froze though, at the sound of familiar pedesteps coming from one of the tunnels branching off from the main cavern. His optics narrowed as he glanced at Wheeljack, who had already shifted his stance, ready for a fight.

The source of the sound stepped into view—a lithe, grey frame holding four stacked high energon cubes, obscuring the face of the newcomer. But the distinct stride and slight hunch of the figure made identification unnecessary.

"Starscream," Bulkhead growled, transforming his servos into his signature maces.

The mech froze, letting out a startled yelp. The stack of energon cubes toppled to the ground with a crash, revealing Starscream's ugly features. His servos shifted into blasters immediately and they were trained on either Wrecker.

Wheeljack's battle mask snapped into place over his mouth, and his katanas appeared in his hands. He stepped forward with a swagger, mockingly mimicking how the SIC walked. "Well, well, well, look whose here. Fancy meeting you here, Screamer." He made a show of looking around. "And would you look at that—no Arcee around to save your aft this time."

Bulkhead's optics widened in confusion as he glanced between Wheeljack and Starscream. "What?!"

Starscream sputtered, optics flaring into a hot red. "I—I beg your pardon?! I need no saving from the likes of him!" He nudged one of his blasters in the direction of the Humvee.

Wheeljack rolled his optics so hard it was almost audible. "Oh, please," he drawled before turning to his friend. "Arcee saved Starscream from getting his tin can booted into next stellar cycle. By me. And why, you might ask?" He pointed a blade at Starscream with exaggerated flair. "Because he saved her life."

Bulkhead's jaw dropped. "He did what?!"

Wheeljack shrugged nonchalantly, twirling one of his katanas in his servo. "Yeah, you heard me. Starscream here played hero for once. Risked his ugly aft to save Arcee. I wasn't supposed to say anything, though." He smirked. "Whoops."

"You mean to tell me this backstabbing, treacherous, scrapheap saved Arcee?!"

Starscream's plating bristled, flaring out slightly to make him looker bigger. It was pitiful, watching the thin Seeker straightening to his full height. "I take offense to that characterization," he sniffed, wings twitching. "I'll have you know that my intentions were entirely genuine. The Autobots—"

Wheeljack barked out a laugh. "Oh, spare me the theatrics, Starscream."

"Why would a 'Con save Arcee in the first place?"

Starscream huffed. "Oh please, I am no longer associated with that entity." His lips curled into a sneer. "I've left the Decepticons behind. I have no desire to associate with the likes of them anymore."

Wheeljack tilted his helm. "Oh yeah? And what's stopping you from running back to Megatron when it suits you?"

Starscream bristled again. "Megatron is an egotistical, power-hungry tyrant who cares for nothing but his own ambition! I have no intention of groveling at his feet ever again."

Bulkhead scoffed. "Yeah right, and I'm the Fallen."

The Seeker looked angry but then a sly smile spread across his faceplates. "I'll have you know," he drawled, his voice taking on that familiar mocking tone, "that I snuffed the spark of an Autobot once. And with no mercy, too. You should've seen his face. Cliffjumper, was it?"

How dare that piece of—

"Oh, the fear in his optics—it was truly a sight to behold. His pleas for mercy were utterly wasted on me."

"You son of a glitch!" Bulkhead roared, swinging one of his massive maces at the former Decepticon's helm. Starscream barely had time to duck underneath the blow. The Seeker stumbled and shrieked, after nearly having his optic taken out by Wheeljack's katana.

He managed to fire a couple of stray blasts from his arm cannons, but his aim was wild, and the shots ricocheted harmlessly off the cavern walls. The swordsman slashed at the former SIC's shoulder and left a deep gash.

Starscream growled, firing with his blasters at the duo. Bulkhead slammed his body weight into the former Decepticon, sending him crashing to the ground. Energon leaked from small cuts and the gash from his shoulder, trickling down the grey frame of the mech who tried to crawl away.

"You keep reliving the moment that you snuffed Cliff's spark. So what?" His optics brightened, derma curling into a snarl. Oh how much he would like pound him into slag. "You have no other accomplishments to say anything about, so you keep reusing the same old one. It's pathetic how useless you really are."

Starscream wiped energon dripping from his intake as he glared up at Bulkhead. His wings were pressed flat against his back and his optics were unnaturally bright. The former Decepticon looked pitiful, frame trembling even as he tried to project false bravado into his fields and stance. "At least I'm still alive."

"Not for long," Wheeljack hissed, raising his katanas, ready to plunge them into his spark chamber.

Before either Wrecker could do anything, the beeping they heard from earlier increased in speed. Plating on Wheeljack's forearm slid away, revealing a touchscreen with a countdown that showed seconds ticking down. His battle mask snapped open. "Scrap! The charges are about to blow—we've got less than a minute!"

"You're lucky we don't have time to finish this," the Humvee growled, glaring at the former SIC, who scrambled away. The sound of transformation echoed through the chambers, along with the sound of grinding metal. A roar of engines followed as he blasted out of the cavern.

Wheeljack sheathed his katanas and transformed into his alt mode, engines roaring to life. "Come on, Bulk! Move it!"

They both sped up, speeding through the winding tunnels. The entrance was in view and light exploded in their faces, both swerving to the side and onto the offroad right as the jagged mountain of rocks exploded sky-high, just as Jackie had promised.

It looked like a volcano exploding, except for the fact that it wasn't lava but superheated blue energon. Pieces of scorched rock rained around them, pelting against the plating as they transformed into their bipedal modes.

"Shame we didn't finish the job," his friend remarked casually.

Bulkhead grunted in response. "Eh, I doubt he'll get far with the damage we caused him. But that's not the only thing we're going to have to worry about." He glanced to the east, where their base was located just over twenty kilometers away. "You don't think they heard that, right?"

Was that a Star Wars reference in there? Yes. Absolutely.

Obviously, you might have noticed the not-so-minor change of Starscream still having his T-cog (for now). It's just one of the things I'm changing in my story. Moving on...

There'll be some Bayverse elements in this book, such as the Human-Autobot treaty as you can obviously tell in this story. Galloway [unfortunately] was mentioned, and no doubt will make an appearance in the upcoming chapters.

Anyways, thank you all for the support for this story! It means the world to me. Especially the reviews, they mean everything to me :D