Chapter 1

I paced back and forth in the Autobot base, anticipation and worry clawing at me from the inside. I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on with the others while they were out investigating a place that was chock-full of danger. They had left via ground bridge to investigate a strong Energon signal that had been detected on Ratchet's radars, very close to Darkmount, and had left me to guard the base. By an unspoken agreement between the Autobots and the only three Predacons left in existence, Darkmount was now home to Predaking, who for the first time had been keeping to himself and was not chasing after anyone. He was an incredible ally to have, but to the ones who were on his bad side, he was an absolute terror, and nigh impossible to defeat in combat.

Bumblebee told me he'd call in with an update, I thought, glancing often at the screen that showed the life signals of everyone that had went out: Bee, Ultra Magnus, Smokescreen, Wheeljack… all of them were online, at least. I kept reminding myself that if one of them was injured, their on-screen identification image would flash red. So far that hadn't happened with any of them, but I still couldn't keep away the gnawing apprehension. Everything will be fine. Everything -

A deep-voiced chuckling made me stop pacing. Knock Out, who had been repairing a complicated-looking medical machine, was eyeing me from across the room, finding amusement at my distress.

"What?" I stared him straight in the optics, glaring. They were a bright crimson, which was the unwavering evidence that he had been a 'Con. He had "joined the winning team" as he'd put it, and although the others were quick to welcome him, I didn't trust him one bit.

"You're looking worked up, Little Blue," Knock Out said, leaning against the wall. "Would you like me to help you relax?"

I was unable to hide my contempt. The mere thought of him getting near me made me shudder in distaste. "No," I said with a flat finality. "And don't call me that."

"Why not? It suits you well." Knock Out let his optics drift from my face to the rest of my body and back, without any apparent care that I'd noticed. He returned my livid gaze with a grin.

"Don't -" I balled my servos into tight fists. A high-pitched beeping interrupted me, indicating that some mech was trying to get a message through the comm. link. With my spark racing, I turned to the computer screens, forgetting Knock Out's blunt discourtesy.

"Wheeljack to base," Wheeljack's voice came in with a hint of urgency. Even if he was in a life or death situation, his Wrecker pride wouldn't let it show.

"Wheeljack?" I wondered aloud. Why was the group making him call base? He was always the one who was in on the action and didn't want to come back to responsibilities. Unless…

"We're experiencing a few… technical difficulties," Wheeljack said. A huge CRASH in the background followed by numerous shots of gunfire made my optics widen in shock, fearing for the safety of my allies. "Requesting a ground bridge pronto!"

Shockwave was back, and up to the usual underhanded Decepticon trickery. He had been waiting for Autobots to show up near the huge, newfound cave that was filled with energon crystals… and he'd planted hidden landmines all throughout the exterior. If not for Wheeljack and his skills pertaining to explosive weapons, none of them would have seen it coming. Good fortune had been on their side, to my relief, and all of them returned without, according to Knock Out, any physical injuries whatsoever.

"I almost had him, too!" Bumblebee had said when they were all gathered in the base, his 'wings' drooping and his expression downcast. "He got away in his own ground bridge just as I got him in my sights."

It was still bizarre to me to hear Bumblebee with his real voice again, instead of the random beeping and chirping he'd been forced to use for so long. He had gotten it back after he'd died and then, through a great miracle, had onlined once again, stabbing Megatron straight through his spark and sending his body toppling back to Earth, where he had been presumed dead once and for all. But of course, good things never last long enough.

Ultra Magnus stepped forward, deep in thought. "Shockwave having access to a ground bridge makes me wonder who it is that's assisting him."

"Could be Soundwave," Knock Out said as he looked over Smokescreen and Wheeljack once more. Despite the two persisting that they were fine, Knock Out was scanning their internal parts to be one hundred percent sure that there was no damage. He was still in the process of proving himself as the newest member of the Autobot team, performing his duties as a medic with an air of professional ease.

"Soundwave is the only Cybertronian we know of who can just pop out a ground bridge whenever he wants." Wheeljack glared down at his pedes. "And as far as we know, he's stuck in the Shadowzone."

"Exactly. As far as you know," Knock Out said. He waved his servo dismissively. "Shockwave's got the neuro processor. I wouldn't doubt his ability to bring Soundwave back." Having finished checking for injuries, he started towards the doctor's quarters that were connected to the main area of the base without looking back.

I stared daggers at the red medic as he left, hoping he felt my gaze. He knows something we don't, I thought, fighting the urge to yell at him then and there. Instead, I turned my attention to Bumblebee and the problem at hand, trying to keep my jumbled thoughts together.