Here I am again ;D Enjoy the chapter!

And thank you Ariana (Screamer's just a Screamer) for your eagle eye.

~dark caves~

Speed was everything.

If one hit would crash against his shoulder it would be the end for him and this fight. The power, which lay behind every strike, was simply too much for his smaller and slender form.

He wasn't that weak. Sam could withstand some blows, but the fight with Blackout was a whole new story. The copter had hands bigger than his entire faceplate. When he wanted to defend himself, he had to use both of his clawed hands to stop the oncoming blow. This method didn't work often because Blackout was far more powerful. His frame wasn't meant to hold those hands back. So, his only chance was to be faster.

Sam wasn't ashamed just because of that. He was just a 'youngling' technically. Most battles and exercises that took place in the training area were for adult mechs. Mechs with experience.

A fist flew past his shoulder.

"Stop staring! Do something!"

If Blackout hadn't missed his shoulder, Sam would have been laying on a berth inside a medical bay. A grumpy Ratchet would be beside him complaining about his recklessness. No doubt he would be subject to the inevitable growling of Megatron.

It was because of that growl of Megatron's and some very loud words, which helped to improve Blackout's training style. He had a choice: Blackout could train him right (Megatron right) or he could just leave his boy alone ... forever.

His poor trainer had bowed as deep as his rotor would let him and agreed. He had agreed. And Megatron had smiled all the way out the door and Sam was suppressing the urge to shoot his adoptive father in the back. Maybe he made a movement in that direction because Blackout had tapped him lightly on the back of his head.

Blackout had taken his order very seriously from then on. He was harsh. He was strict. There was no more holding back on the poor youngling. Sam was flattered that Blackout didn't want to let him go, but dammit! This wasn't fair at all; this was torture!

But Sam wouldn't let his damn trainer win that easily. Maybe it wasn't right to project Megatron's face on Blackout but it helped him a lot. He could only feel pity for Blackout but he was still angry with Megatron for this stunt.

Perhaps it was this anger that helped Sam to finally get a good shot at the huge form. Blackout grunted as the blast hit him in the legs, stumbled and nearly fell down. Sam ran in the direction of his fallen trainer. Maybe he could rip out some wires and stop the other from getting up.

But before he reached his goal, Blackout was on his feet again. With a movement that was far too fast for a bulky mech like him, he had snapped the rotor off his back and was charging at Sam. Sam nearly couldn't help himself but at the very last moment, he did by rolling to the side and dodging the sharp rotor blades. This went on for some time and Sam was more than frustrated with himself and this situation. Blackout had put him easily in a defense position from which he couldn't escape.

When Sam jumped to the side again he saw something out of the corner of his optic. This something was standing in the entrance of the training field, but because of Blackout he didn't get a chance to see who was watching them. His curiosity obliged and with a dance-like move he rounded Blackout and shot him in the back of his feet. This time he fell down. Huh, Sam thought, that went better than I thought.

Sam looked to the yellow helm and to the hand that waved at him. He grinned back. It's been so long since he last saw his friend Bumblebee! The last time they met in the city and were a bit overcharged. Good that Optimus and Megatron never found out. Sam had this feeling that he would be grounded till the universe exploded. And this occasion wouldn't be anytime soon.

"Youngling..." someone growled from behind him and damn... it was scary. Almost Megatron scary. Sam remembered that he was in a fight and should have probably finished Blackout off when he had the chance. And now his time was up.

His leg was grabbed and someone pulled him in the wrong direction. With a very undignified squeak Sam flew in a half circle and flew some more when Blackout let go of his now very hurting body part. Sam crashed to the floor, rolled around a bit and finally lay on the floor groaning.

When his surroundings stopped swimming around in his vision he realized his position. God, Blackout had thrown him across the room, the bastard. Sam tried to get up on his arms when he heard the loading of a weapon. A humming. He shuttered his optics and looked up, over the weapon into the outraged face of his trainer Blackout.

Dead. He would really be dead. Without a head. Uh-oh.

"You... You're too fast!" complained Sam with the inner knowledge that this was as true as when Megatron was secretly all happy and sunshine. Blackout must have thought the same thing because his face was as outraged as before when he finally transformed his weapon back into his arm.

"No, I am not. It is your fault for getting distracted by..." Blackout turned around and shot Bumblebee a deadly glance from his red optics, while the rotor in his right hand circled dangerously. With a wide-optic stare Bumblebee disappeared behind a corner. "...Unimportant things."

Sam began to get seriously pissed off. Sometimes he had enough of this eternal fight between red optics and blue optics. And this sometimes was right now. He hated it when somebody messed with his friends. His optics narrowed.

"So?"

"So? That could be the reason for your stupid death if this happened in real life! I could have shot off your face!" Hey, somehow he sounded worried now. Was the Megatron possession finally over? "...And what about this strange strategy of yours? It's all right to dodge attacks, but all the time? You can't be on the defensive the whole time or you get tired. Find an opening, go find a weakness!"

Sam crossed his arms over his chest plates and stared to the floor. He remembered the good times when Blackout gave him advice and spoke to him in a nice tone. Showed him his own weaknesses without nearly ripping his head off. Were he got the message nevertheless.

"And you could be faster... Much faster! Your height is perfect for speed and counter. But if you get too full of yourself..."

"I am not!" said a shocked Sam, "There weren't many openings! I had to—"

"—Excuses won't help you."

Sam glared at Blackout. Ok... Ok, now he was hurt. And he would ask Optimus to give him Ironhide as a trainer or someone else. Being a critique is fair and square, but this? This was nothing like it.

"I see," said Sam as calm as he could but it came out a bit strained "I did everything the wrong way. I am weak and can't do anything on my own. I get too distracted by my friend or stuff in general. Fine, I get it."

Sam turned around. He didn't want to see Blackout's face anymore.

"Is the lesson over? Can I go now?"

Silence. Heavy silence. Somehow Sam should be happy that Blackout shut his vocalizer. Behind him something creaked. Blackout was putting his rotor back.

"I didn't say you did everything the wrong way," answered Blackout gruffly. He sounded deeply embarrassed, as if he saw his failure but didn't want to be too apologetic about it.

"Sure. Your list of my failures wasn't as long as you said. Yeah, I understand."

A big hand grabbed his left shoulder (well, he got more than a shoulder with that big hand of his) and turned him around once more. They saw in each other's optics and Sam was relieved to see a bit of the old Blackout in there. The other tipped one of his three fingers on his chest plates.

"You are very good with the cannon. You know where and how is the best time to use it. Furthermore you see through your enemies and discover their weaknesses in one moment. Your enemy will never know where you'll attack next because it's somehow unpredictable. On the contrary, you're not a bad fighter at all."

Sam let a small smile play around his mouth plates and relaxed in the same moment. He hoped that Blackout wouldn't be Megatron number two for the future.

A horn blared in the room and both of them looked at the entrance. Bumblebee was standing there again, waving. Blackout was quiet for a few seconds before he made a resigning hand movement in the direction of the yellow Transformer.

"Go. Your friend is an impatient one. We can talk again the next time?" The last question was a bit unsure as if he was afraid it would be the opposite.

"Yes, yes of course!" Sam beamed at Blackout. "Thanks!"

Blackout grumbled and laid his hand on Sam's head. That looked strange somehow because his hand was bigger than his head.

"Watch out for yourself."

"Sure, no problem!" Sam ran in the direction of his friend before he stopped and looked back.

"And by the way... Don't channel Megatron again. I don't want Megatron as a trainer. I want Blackout and you did a pretty good job all on your own."

He smiled again and rushed out of the training room. So he couldn't see the slightly stunned expression on Blackout's face. But obviously the other occupant of the room could because he giggled.

Blackout glanced to one of the upper levels, where someone stood on a walkway, leaning over the metallic fence with a huge grin on his face.

"Oh, isn't that cute? Do you like the little one so, so, so much?" The stranger posed dramatically. "'Watch out my little darling!'" Then he hugged himself.

Blackout growled and pointed his weapon at the still posing intruder.

"Shut up, Blitzwing!"

Blitzwing laughed but was serious the next moment and held his hands up in surrender.

"Calm down, my friend! I'm just here to ask you out for a drink of energon. Seems like you need a lot of relaxation after such an impressive show of dominating a youngling."

"Relaxation? With you?" asked Blackout dryly, "That's impossible."

But the other only shrugged while he watched every movement of Blackout and studied him intently.

"And? Your answer?"

"No. I have more important things to do." With something like exasperation Blackout left the training room behind. The burning gaze of an angry Blitzwing followed him out.

"Sorry you had to see that," said Sam, somewhat embarrassed. His defeat against Blackout wasn't something that you could boast about. But Bumblebee just patted him in camaraderie on his shoulder and Sam felt better.

"Blackout has been fighting a bit longer than you. He was Megatron's fourth in command. And he was always feared by the Auto..."

Sam glared, Bumblebee's antennas dropped.

"I mean he was always a very strong Cybertronian, yes he was." Now his head dropped, too. "Sorry Sam..."

"Aw, it's... it's alright, don't worry." Now Sam felt like an ass. Great. "But don't let him hear all your compliments, you know? Or his chest will swell in pride and his spark will burst out because he is so happy!"

Both of them chuckled quietly as they rounded a corner and Sam felt happy himself. Mainly because Bumblebee helped him out of this training hell. When he was together with his friend he felt light and carefree as if no responsibility could come near him. And for that he was very grateful. There weren't many friends like him.

"And you are very good!" said Bumblebee and threw Sam out of his thoughts (or processings or whatever he had now). "If I hadn't distracted you..." Now he looked depressed again. Sam sighed and now it was his turn to clap his friend on the shoulder.

"Stuff and nonsense. That wasn't your fault at all!"

Bumblebee smiled; well his faceplates moved that it would be a smile on a human face. But with Cybertronian you couldn't tell sometimes. Sometimes they like you, sometimes they like you too much. Or they want to kill you, eat you, or make fun of you.

But that happy smile of Bumblebee's transformed into something more mystified after a few seconds.

"Do you want to know a secret?"

They stepped out of the building under the sky, full of stars while Bumblebee told him everything. Nobody noticed the small form watching them.

As they stood in front of the aforesaid place Sam felt that some of his adventure spirit came back to life again. They had to walk a great distance to reach their goal but Bumblebee said it would be all worth it. And who was he not to trust the words of his best friend? But the entrance looked like his yellow friend was right. It was half buried in the ruins of an old city, in which Bumblebee and some others worked on the restoration.

Sadness overcame Sam as he realized that there were still some destroyed places on Cybertron. This city felt deserted and dead as if no life were possible any longer. A chilling breeze seemed to flow over him and Sam rubbed his arms unconsciously. Which made no sense whatsoever because he was no longer human. He couldn't be cold. But before he could think too hard about it he stared at the entrance once again.

"And nobody knows?" asked Sam to his friend, who was looking undoubtedly proud for finding this entrance all by himself.

"No, the other workers were all gone. They don't like it here. They say it's a place of the dead and sometimes you can hear them screaming."

Sam hoped to Primus and all that was holy that Bumblebee was joking.

The yellow Cybertronian continued, "I wanted to put away this piece of metal and while I lifted it up I discovered this entrance!" He pointed at the opening on the floor.

"Well, I'm curious. Where does it lead to?"

"Why don't we find out? If it's too dangerous, I can always protect you."

"Haha, very funny, Bee." Seemed like he made a great impression on Bumblebee with his ass-kicking performance in the training room. It wasn't like he would fall down and break his leg any second. He wasn't that helpless.

"That wasn't a joke," said Bumblebee and (no, no, no, no he did it again) he sounded terribly disappointed. "I will always protect you."

"Hey... hey, I'm sorry, okay?" Sam placed a hand on Bumblebee's shoulder once more. "I know you would do it. Thank you, Bee. You are a great friend."

"Well, well... what do we have here?"

Both companions turned around to face the stranger, who had appeared behind them. He stood on an elevation and stared at them with his grim, red optics.

As Sam saw the height difference between himself and the stranger he began to feel slightly uncomfortable. He wasn't the smallest of mechs but he was not guilty in this aspect, but what was up with this bulky Cybertronian? (damn Megatron and Optimus for making him as tall as he was so that other Cybertronians held always a respectful distance... he even banged his head once on a door to the laboratories of one of Ratchet's friends)

He could easily reach up to Optimus' height and man that heavy weaponry… was the war on again and he didn't get the message? Was he allowed to run around like a mean assassin? And were that wings on his back? A Seeker? No, impossible. Seekers war light and sleek, like Starscream or those buddies of his ("Screamer, why didn't you show him to us earlier? Want to have him for yourself?" "Don't call me Screamer!" "Don't pay attention to them. I'm Thundercracker, nice to meet you."). And he seriously doubted that the stranger could fly. But he could be wrong of course.

But there was the question why a perfectly innocent Cybertronian, who looked like a war machine, would creep up on them like that. Sam was sure it wasn't because he wanted to have a nice little chat.

"What are you doing here all alone? Looking for the dead?"

The Seeker-wannabe jumped down from the pile of metal but never took his glare off of Sam and Bumblebee.

"Who are you?" asked Sam. He never heard of this particular Cybertronian. And Megatron never told him of others (well besides Optimus and Starscream but it was always about something they did to torture him or what he did to torture them).

"Who I am? You really don't know? That hurts!" The mockery left his face faster than it came and all of the sudden he seemed like a serious Cybertronian, whose intent was to observe the rules and being a secret lawyer or something.

"I am Blitzwing," he said and sounded like a snob. "And you'll remember my name because it's the last one you will see BEFORE I SHOOT YOUR STUPID HEAD OFF!"

Suddenly Blitzwing held a weapon in his raised hand and fired in the direction of Sam. But Bumblebee reacted faster, threw himself against him and both of them toppled to the ground as the bullets hit thin air. The stranger didn't wait long and shots followed. Some scratched his arm and back as they fled to search a good place to hide.

This guy had to be totally crazy! First he showed up without a reason, and now e wanted to kill them and didn't care about the consequences!

They jumped behind a piece of a destroyed building, which was big enough to give them some sort of protection. The next shot hit the wall. Sam watched around a corner as Blitzwing searched for a protective wall himself.

"Is he crazy or something? What the hell does he want? He just turns up and starts—"

"Sam your weapon—"

"Yeah, yeah, my weapon," said Sam while bringing his weapon online. "But seriously; WHAT THE HELL?"

"That's Blitzwing," Bumblebee said it as if that would be explanation enough. The mask was over his face and the blue optics watched him intently through it. "He's… moody."

"Moody?" snapped Sam and ducked because a salve of laser fire flew over his head. "That's …an understatement!"

"COME OUT YOU FEMMES! COWARDS!" Blitzwing roared as Bumblebee and Sam took turns to shoot at him. "FIGHT LIKE REAL MECHS!"

And then there was silence. No more shooting, no more insults. Just… silence. Sam began to get nervous so he looked around the corner again. Blitzwing wasn't behind the wall anymore, but he was some meters away and he held something in his huge hands. Something that would scream very loudly, if its captor didn't stop it from doing it.

Sam's optics widened.

"And who is this? Hm?" said Blitzwing like he would talking to himself. But he said it loud enough for them to hear. "A little Seeker sparkling?"

Starlight. Sam cursed. Why was it that the situation with him always turned worse than they were before? Oh yes his universal curse that Primus or god gave him when he was born. His it-can-get-worse-curse. Very practical. What by Primus was Starlight doing here? In exactly that moment? Bumblebee watched him intently again but didn't talk with him via comm. line. No, Bee. I don't know what to do. I'm sorry there wasn't any survival training with Blackout yet. With hostage situations.

"Maybe the little one would look better with some holes in him?" Blitzwing aimed with his weapon at the head of Starlight. "Heh, I should try that!"

"STOP!" screamed Sam and came out of their hiding place. He imagined Starscream's and Mistfire's faces when they would get the message of their dead sparkling. The news report. 'Followed Sparkbinder and Bumblebee and died because of them. Wasn't saved in time.'

No. Sam wouldn't let that crazy take a life because of him! Not Starlight! He was a child for sparks sake!

"I- I am here! What do you want, Blitzwing?" Bumblebee trailed slowly behind him.

Blitzwing hesitated but lowered his weapon some seconds later. Then he grinned and many things happened at the same time. Starlight was screeching when he was thrown away but Bumblebee reacted fast again. He transformed into a Camaro while jumping so that he would get to Starlight in time. Blitzwing aimed at Sam's head and Sam was sure this would be the end. He could duck but the shot would certainly destroy a lot of his body nonetheless.

Before the film of his life could start to play though, something jumped on Blitzwing's back and began to tear him apart. The other howled in pain and turned around while he tried to catch the thing and Sam recognized it.

It was one of Soundwave's minions, the overgrown cat (or "Ravage," Soundwave told him once when he had stared at the robo-cat curiously).

"Into the cave!"Bumblebee cried through their comm., and Sam started to run. "We can't outrun him on the surface, he's way too fast!"

Sam asked himself why they were running and not fighting. Such situations were the reason why he had to endure those silly training sessions with Blackout or had to listen to Megatron's speeches about the "Glory of war." And now they ran? Like so often in his life? Couldn't he just turn around, shoot the bastard in the back and the struggle would be over?

But Bumblebee would have his reasons. And he trusted him, no matter what. So he looked into the hole that was an entrance and back to Bumblebee again. His friend nodded, Starlight secured in his arms and stepped into the cave. Sam followed a minute later, set a step onto the ground and…

Holy shit!

The ground became steep and he couldn't have hold his balance if his life depended on it. He fell flat onto his back and with a mighty scream he slid the away into the darkness. When Sam saw a light and identified Bumblebee, who was climbing the way down carefully, it was already too late. His yellow friend looked at him with some kind of panic in his optics, Starlight screeched and he crashed into them.

Now this scene would be absolutely hilarious if Sam wouldn't be the idiot in it. Bumblebee was in his lap, holding onto his armor and somewhere between ramming the pair, Starlight had made it to his face, blinding him with his body while screaming something Sam couldn't understand. Sparks flew everywhere and it felt like his rear end was being ripped off. And if a ride through a tunnel was scary, then a ride through a tunnel while a Sparkling held onto your face and you couldn't see a damn thing was just plain terrifying. Sam didn't know where they were going, just down, down, down. He hit his foot on something and muffled a scream in Starlight's chest. They had to do something! Anything. If that would go on they would smash into the next thing with lightning force and die!

Sam tried to stop them by putting his claws into the metal surrounding them. A terrible screeching filled the tunnel; more sparks were flying and with a snap two claws were ripped off his hand. Sam howled in pain but held on, couldn't let go or they would die. Starlight shivered and grabbed his antennas in a hurtful grip, scratching him.

Snap, the next claw flew behind them this time from his left hand. But they were going slower than before. Bumblebee said something but again Sam didn't hear anything but the screeching on the walls, the silent crying of Starlight and the fourth snap of a claw being ripped off.

And then, with no warning at all, they reached the end of the steep way (a slide, definitely) and smashed into even ground.

Bumblebee flew from his arms, but grabbed his shoulder and pulled him forward with him. Maybe he wouldn't have done that if he knew Sam's heavy weight. He toppled over Bumblebee, who lay on the ground already, and buried his poor friend under him. All the while Starlight clawed his way into Sam's face and couldn't be moved. He hung still there when everything was silent.

The heavy fall corrupted his systems for a minute before he sat up and got Starlight off of his face. The little one struggled but Sam sat him firmly in his arm and held him there. Then he stared into the blue optics of his friend. He could read everything in there. Fear. Excitement. Relief.

"What a ride," said Sam and Bumblebee nodded in response.

But then he saw the compromising position he was in, sitting on Bumblebee legs and holding him down with his weight. If robots were capable of it, he would have blushed. Like a tomato.

"Uhm…" stammered Sam and tried to stand "I mean… Sorry, I crushed you! I'm heavy, god, are you okay?"

Bumblebee looked amused. Actually more smug than amused.

"I'm fine, thank you Sam," he said as Sam helped him up but he got serious when he saw the wince of his friend. Three of his claws were missing on his right hand; the remaining fingers seemed awfully lonely.

"Ratchet is gonna kill me," whispered Sam as Bumblebee inspected his claw. "Slowly and painfully and why is it always my hand!"

Starlight watched the scene before him intently, a glimmer in his optics.

"Mine."

Sam and Bumblebee looked at the Seeker-Sparkling with shocked expressions. Now that he had the attention of both, Starlight pressed himself onto the chest plates of Sam more firmly and whined.

"Mine. G'way. Don' like you."

"Since when is he capable of speaking?" asked Bumblebee incredulously.

"I have no idea."

Something exploded above them and they watched with horror as the first rubble came down the steep way.

"Go, go, go! We have to GO! NOW!"

Ravage jumped off of its prey. There was no need in keeping up the fight and distract Blitzwing. Sparkbinder and the yellow Autobot disappeared, probably into the hidden cave beneath the surface. The entrance was hidden, buried under a pile of rubbish because of a shot of Blitzwing's and now untouchable for Ravage. It analyzed the situation.

It had to get help.

With a leap Ravage was running away over hills of trash and death, leaving the outraged screams behind.

"Master Soundwave, I have encountered problems. I followed Sparkbinder, like you ordered me to do, but there was an attack by Blitzwing."

"Acknowledged. Intervention necessary?"

"Positive. Sparkling Starlight was used as pressure to lure Sparkbinder into the open. I attacked but Sparkbinder was lost."

"Sparkbinder: deactivated?"

"Sparkbinder, former Autobot Bumblebee and Starlight were buried in an old cave, which they wished to explore."

"Sparkbinder: deactivated?" Soundwave repeated more firmly.

"…I lost visual contact. Status: unknown."

"Radio communication?"

"Was lost, too."

"Ravage: Return."

"Understood."

Soundwave stared at the main screen, watching the blue and green dots moving from one direction to the other. Numbers shown in the right upper corner and Soundwave disconnected one tendril from the main computer to put it in another connection.

"Seeker squad to Base One. Thundercracker speaking." The rough voice of the blue Seeker sounded over to Soundwave and he turned his head to look at the other Transformer in the main console room. The orange bot was smaller than himself but talented nonetheless. His fingers flew over the holo-keyboard, his orange armor seemed to bath in the blue light of the main screen.

"Base One here. What's up, Thunderbot?"

"…Stop laughing Skywarp. We returned from mission number 3-6-8-9-4-0-1. Mission accomplished. Ready to come back. Permission to land?"

"Good to have you back, flyboys. Welcome home. Permission granted. I send the landing coordinates."

"…Coordinates were received. Thundercracker out."

"Base One, out. I'll see you later."

For some time only the bleeping of the main screen filled the room. The silence was overwhelming and then, slowly the head of the orange Transformer turned around, too. Soundwave and he locked gazes.

"Go," said the orange one, "On your way out you should send in Vapourcloak. He's not as good as you but it'll work for the time."

Soundwave's gaze intensified.

"I can't read your thoughts and you can't read mine, you know that. But…" The other Transformer interrupted himself and glanced at tentacle of Soundwave's, which had curled around the back of the others chair unconsciously and started to dent it slowly. Blue eyes met a red visor once more.

"Go. Just go. Whatever it is, hurry."

Soundwave gave a nod in acknowledgement and all of his tendrils came out of the main computer. The screen flickered for a short time before he stood up but never took his gaze from the other.

"Soundwave: forgiven? Blaster: forgives?"

"We have to live on, Soundwave. Go, now. We can talk later."

One moment of hesitation and then Soundwave was out the door. Blaster didn't look back. His concerned expression was directed at the main screen. He wasn't worried for his own good but for Soundwave's. He was going to hurt himself again.

Blaster shuttered his optics.

Sam wasn't sure if he ever ran that fast in his life (there was that time with Megatron but then he was human…) But when you ran for your life as a Cybertronian, well, that was the way to do it. The tunnel seemed to collapse around them, metal cam down, crashed on their shoulders and on the ground. And Sam tried to protect Starlight and Bumblebee as good as he could, smashing pieces out of the way, even when it hurt his hand like hell. The path didn't seem to end. They would be buried under the debris alive if…

An entrance came into view. Sam could have cried. With their last strength they jumped, flew through the entrance and thudded onto the ground, groaning. Sam had thrown his body instinctively over Bumblebee and Starlight.

For a few moments the cave shuddered and rumbled. Then there was silence.

Sam stood up slowly, taking Bumblebee's hand in the process and helping him up also. Starlight cooed on his shoulder, hugging his head.

"Anymore running today and I will lose it."

"Loose what?" asked Bumblebee innocently.

"My mind, Bee… my mind."

Bumblebee looked slightly alarmed but that could have something to do with the small bite of insanity creeping into his voice.

There wasn't anything resembling a light source in here and Sam twitched as he realized that he had somehow, without his knowledge, switched to heat vision or something because he knew exactly where Bee was (so much red but mostly blue… hm… a bit overheated and he could see the others…).

Oh, Primus he could see the others insides and his pulsing Spark! The soul of every Cybertronian! Embarrassment flooded his systems. He felt like some kind of voyeur! And why did he turn on heat scanners when he had night vision?

"Bee, could you… switch on your headlights, please? I- I don't like the dark so much and Starlight… doesn't either. So?"

"Yes, of course, Sam," replied Bumblebee, although he sounded a bit bewildered as he followed Sam's request.

When light came into the darkness the heat vision vanished with it. Sam would have to talk with Megatron and Optimus about this little feature. On Cybertron there were some people with those scanners (or heat vision) but mostly scientists and a handful of medics. Megatron would never think about heat scanners in his systems because he had to be a warrior first (As if!). Maybe Optimus' influence? Sam never really asked who build his form and who put which part where. That would creep him out a bit.

So, instead of blue, violet and green streaks he could see the grey walls and dead chamber they stood in now. The room was mostly clean but there was debris everywhere and the entrance from before was closely sealed with pieces of metal.

The most of the other exits where blocked, too but farther in the chamber seemed to be an opening, which they could use. Hopefully his body would fit in there.

And hopefully there was nobody down here. Speaking of….

"Hey, Bee. Why didn't we fight that lunatic? We could have won and wouldn't be buried in a cave."

Sam turned around to Bumblebee who watched the Sparkling on his shoulder (who was nibbling on his neck quite happily) but snatched his gaze back to his optics as if he were burned. Sam tried not to think about it.

"Did you ever hear of… Shockwave?" whispered his yellow friend like it was some kind of secret.

"…The one-eyed scientist? I met him once when he talked to Megatron. He's a bit freaky and he watched me like I was the most fascinating thing."

Bumblebee frowned.

"He didn't do anything to me, don't worry, just stood there talking with Megatron and sometimes looking in my direction. Later he came over to me and nearly saw my scribbles of him on a datapad. But maybe he did because I could have sworn his yellow optic turned red for one second… Is that Shockwave showing his anger?"

"You… drew him? On a datapad?"

"Well, I was bored. And the voice of him is like a sleeping pill or something, I swear. I tried really hard to listen to their conversation but I became sleepy and decided to draw, don't know how Megatron can stand it. So, what about Shockwave?"

"Blitzwing… is one of Shockwave's favorites. And you don't pick an argument with Shockwave."

"What are you going on about, Bee? Favorite as in…" Sam waved his claws around as if that would explain everything. "You know what I mean?"

"…Blitzwing is his favorite test object. There is a reason for his mood swings, Sam."

Sam didn't know what to say. If Bumblebee spoke the truth then…

"But… but he can't do that! He's breaking the law! What is he thinking, this a—"

"Sam…" interrupted him Bee gently ,"I don't know for sure but there are other ones who…"

He stopped and balled his fist.

"There is no evidence, Shockwave is too clever. It's just a rumor, nothing more, Sam."

Sam realized that there were still things the two of them didn't talk about. Little things, but important, nevertheless. His friend seemed lost and lonely and Sam wanted to hug him and make him feel better.

"Saaaaam."

Oh god, no. He nearly forgot about the little one resting on his shoulder. Starlight was learning his old human name! Bumblebee snapped to attention and looked almost guilty.

"Binder. I'm Binder to you."

"Sam."

"Binder."

"Sam!"

"Binder!"

Bumblebee's shoulders were shaking with hidden laughter.

"Help me out here, Bee! Come one! I'm Binder! Binder!"

Starlight looked at him as if he was insane.

"Sam," said Starlight with finality and Sam shut his mouth plates. He turned to Bumblebee, who was laughing like the friend that he was and pointed one of his fingers in his direction.

"This. Is. All. Your. Fault!"

All Bee did was laugh even more. Sam sighed and stroked the head of Starlight (who began purring). He would have to explain where this name came from after all… but Bumblebee's unhappiness was blown away and that was a fair trade.

While his yellow friend laughed he could start to radio Optimus. Megatron would just give him an endless rant about his failures.

"Optimus?"

Nothing. A cold feeling creeped into his Spark.

"Optimus can you hear me?"

The comm.-line was dead. They were buried in an old cave on Cybertron and nobody could contact them. They were alone.

They didn't tell anybody-

The cat. The cat has to know.

Soundwave.

The one who was stalking him.

Oh, thought Sam and he didn't know whether to laugh of feel pity for Soundwave, Megatron will be so, so mad.

Megatron was not a happy mech.

He paced his office like a caged lion, Starscream a step behind him as if his former leader would leave a secret track he had to follow.

The boy was not in the training halls.

The boy was not with Blackout.

He couldn't communicate with the boy through comm.-lines.

The boy was gone and nobody knew where he was.

And to Megatron's utter annoyance Starscream's sparkling was gone, too and now the Seeker was bothering him again. Megatron stopped, his follower crashed into his back and staggered backwards.

"What?" roared Megatron into Starscream's face.

"Starlight was complaining that your boy didn't came to visit him! And then he vanished! He's following him again, I know it! Tell me where he is so I can…!"

Megatron's optics flashed, not a good sign, Starscream decided. He took a step to the door but the other grabbed his shoulder painfully.

"Are you finished? Then start to listen, you fool! I don't know where he is, I DON'T KNOW!"

He let go of the Seeker and turned to his table.

"Why don't you go to Mistfire and stop annoying me! I haven't got the time to listen to you-"

A talon stroked over his shoulder.

"I understand," whispered Starscream and Megatron wanted to smash his fist into the others face because he didn't-couldn't-never could understand-never. Nobody could understand-nobody. Only-only….

"Master Megatron; Sparkbinder: in danger."

Megatron bristled and found the new urge to kill Soundwave slowly and painfully.

"WHAT IS HIS STATUS?"

Starscream's talon was gone from Megatron's shoulder and he looked into his face. Noticing the expression on it his optics widened and he tensed. As if his stare would put the information right into his head.

"What… what is going on?"

"Status: unknown"

"Are you talking with someone? What is…"

"Will you shut up?" snapped Megatron, "Come here you idiot!" He clawed the shoulder of his former SIC, wires connected and then Starscream could hear what Soundwave was saying. He watched Megatron's face, shocked. That wasn't an interface but as close as you could come to be connected to someone. Creators did it with their creations and brothers did it with eachother, too.

"Sparkbinder was attacked. Reason: unknown. Attacker: Blitzwing."

"Where is he?"

"Dead district. Buried in an unknown cave."

"What about Starlight, is he with him?" asked Starscream through Megatron, who glared at him. But Starscream couldn't care less in that moment. He needed to know. He had to know!

For some moments Soundwave was silent, probably asking himself why Starscream could hear him, then thinking better of it and putting the topic to his "everyday-weirdness"-folder and letting it be.

"Starlight: with Sparkbinder. Status: unknown."

"Oh no," said Starscream quietly and Megatron was sure the other would've broken down if he wouldn't hold him in place with his claw.

"Orders?"

Megatron stared over the Seeker's head, deep in thought.

"Master Megatron?"

"Get some trustworthy ones from the old circle," said Megatron darkly, "Not Shockwave. I don't want him to be all logical and destroy the evidence, namely Blitzwing's memory core. Get Blitzwing into my office."

"Orders: acknowledged."

"And Soundwave?" said Megatron sweetly.

"Master Megatron?"

"Where do you get those information?"

"Ravage; Securing—"

"—In a dead city? Do not lie to me, Soundwave. You will tell me later since when you are following my boy and your reasons for doing so! Understood?"

The tone of Megatron's promised hurt and pain if those questions would be answered in a wrong way. Starscream twitched and was sure Soundwave was doing the same.

"Yes, Master Megatron…"

The communication was canceled between Soundwave and them. Megatron disconnected himself from Starscream and went to the door, while the Seeker followed him.

"The old circle? You mean… What… Where are you going? "

Megatron growled. "I need to inform Optimus of the boy's condition. He is one of the creators, genius."

Starscream stared.

"What? You thought I went to the Allspark alone? That we lied to Cybertron?" Megatron was truly baffled. "That the boy was…"

"I didn't need to know that! Really, you and Prime? Gah…!"

Megatron smirked.

"You're not going to be jealous again, are you?"

"I- NO! I was never jealous!"

His smirk only widened while Starscream snarled at his back. He was too funny, sometimes.

Something whispered in the distance. A rumbling. Waiting. He waited for such a long time. But now the waiting was finally over. He could feel them, the secret visitors. Coming closer and closer. Soon they would be here and then…

Then he would be free. Free from his cage. He would unleash his powers and take what he wanted. Revenge. Oh, sweet revenge.

Oh yes, he couldn't await it.

Red optics stared into the darkness.

A scary smile graced his features.

Aaaaand cut!

Like I said before: My chapters transform. When writing it in english it always gets bigger. WEIRD.

Hope you enjoyed number 4! I mentioned so many characters without showing them XD You get a cookie when you find out the one, whom I mentioned without using the name! And I don't mean the one at the end. But there you can guessing, too *smirk*

Bumblebee&Sam: They are SO akward around eachother lol Don't know why. When writing a scene with them together they always end up like this...Bee is such a cutie, isn't he...?

Soundwave&Blaster: Ooooh, they weren't together or anything. But they know eachother for a long, long time. They can't read eachothers thoughts. And there is a terrible secret in their past.

We have emo-Megatron again with a worried Starscream...I swear they slash themselves! That touchyfeely scene, where Starscream intends to calm Megatron wasn't in the original! D:

So, I'm working on chapter five now and I try to be faster this time;)

Thanx for reading!

JuJill

Disclaimer: I don't own anybody or anything of the Transformers with exception of my OC's.