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Jazz leaned heavily on the shoulder of First Aid as they made their way slowly to where the rest of the mechs were gathered.

“Did Prime say what this was about?” He muttered into First Aid’s audio, lowering their voices as they approached the gathering.

“Not exactly, but it has to do with what we talked about earlier.”

Jazz flinched, his spark fluttering in his chest. Hissing in discomfort and a dull pain, he gripped onto First Aid for support.

“You ok?”

“Yeah, just spark’s playin’ up, it’s nothin’ really.” He cast the smaller mech a small smile. “I’ll be fine, like you said it takes time to heal.”

“Hmmm, doesn’t help that you insist on leaving your berth.” First Aid frowned in disapproval, huffing his discontent.

Jazz chuckled giving the mech a light pat on the back. “Primus ‘Aid yer starting t’ sound more like Ratchet every cycle.”

First Aid groaned and rolled his optics. “Well when I start throwing wrenches about you can start worrying.”

“Worrying?” Jazz laughed shortly, prompting disapproving glares from a number of the local ‘cons. “Aid you start throwin’ wrenches an’ I’m runnin’ fer the hills.”

The medic smiled. “Glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humour.”

“Slag no I’m serious, I couldn’t deal with two Ratchet’s, I only just come out unscathed with one around.” He winked at the smaller mech, sensing his growing apprehension at the increasing crowd around them.

They spotted Prime standing heads and shoulders above almost every other mech present. He beckoned over to them and squeezed both their shoulders’ reassuringly, before turning back to Starscream, who fidgeted with barely restrained ire.

“We’re ready.”

“About slaggin’ time.” The seeker muttered. Raising his head and voice to the crowds, Starscream narrowed his red optics.

“Decepticons…. Autobots…” He added with a distinct sneer. “May I present Lord Megatron.” Wasting my time as always he thought to himself. He sidestepped to give the larger silver mech center point.

Megatron stepped forward. Jazz felt First Aid tense and noted that Ironhide held his weapon at the ready.

The silver mech spoke, his deep voice echoed around the room; he announced the discovery of the other universe, their universe. He introduced Prime as an ally and addressed his army with a newly discovered sense of hope.

His second, Starscream glowered in the background. His entire frame bristled with discontent. Jazz noticed that almost immediately, Starscream had been the one present, when Prime had needed to discuss something; he’d been the one to relay messages to his way ward, notably absentee leader. The seeker was clearly unhappy with the way the Decepticons in this ‘verse were being run, but then Jazz surmised, that didn’t make him much difference from the Starscream he knew either.

Jazz had to admit, even if he was on their side in this ‘verse, Megatron had a similar menacing, foreboding presence that chilled Jazz’s already damaged spark to its very core. Something was just not quite right about the ‘con leader. Jazz’s optics narrowed behind his blue visor, studying the mech carefully.

Megatron was ambitious, powerful, confident and determined to get what he wanted at any cost. What if he’d been beaten down so many times that that spark of determination that confidence, simply wasn’t there anymore? Jazz pondered this very thought as he scrutinized their new ally. This Megatron was desperate, he was clutching at anything and anyone that would give him what he wanted, no longer trusting himself to be successful.

Desperate usually meant reckless and in Jazz’s line of work; reckless always meant dead.

****
SG Cybertron

Sunstreaker fought, bit and clawed in a desperate attempt to escape the hands that held him tightly. “GaaaAAHH!! Let him go!! Gonna’ fraggin’ off line you all!!” He screamed at the tall, dark mech frowning down at him with amusement.

Prime’s lip components twitched into a hidden smirk. “He’s a feisty one.” He leaned in to his second who hummed in agreement.

“He does seem to put up quite a fight, although he succumbs easily to pain.”
Prime quirked a brow at his SIC. “Tried and tested I see?”

“It was necessary.” Prowl stated blandly, his cold blue optics casting a wearisome glare over at Sunstreaker who insisted on struggling with his captors.

“Sometimes I think you enjoy inflicting it more than I do Prowl.” Prime mused quietly as the room fell silent.

“I can’t deny a small sense of satisfaction when a mech breaks under my tender care.” His door wings twitched almost imperceptibly.
Prime noticed and chuckled softly. “It is most certainly tender.” His attention returned to the display before him. “This should be interesting.”

“Indeed, Ratchet’s last attempt went horribly awry, if I recall?”

“Oh yes, the ‘con off lined himself by cutting through his main energon line repeatedly.” Prime stole a sly glance at his second. “Is that why you chose him?”

“He is the most logical choice.”
“Got your optic on him huh?”

Prowl met his leader’s curious gaze. “I would not take away the honour from you Sir of being the first to choose.”

Prime waved him off. “Nonsense. I am particularly interested in a certain seeker.”
“Starscream?”

“The one and the same.”

“You are aware he is very different from the Starscream you knew?”

“I am aware of that Prowl.” Prime’s tone dropped to a low note and Prowl took the hint. His leader’s past was no concern of his, unless they interfered with the Autobot overall goal of conquest and domination.

“Would you like him for yourself?” Prime asked suddenly after a moment of silence.

Prowl’s lip components quirked and his optics narrowed, staring at the black and white ‘bot now strapped down onto a berth in the centre of the room. “No Sir, not for me.”

Prime sat back and folded his powerful arms. “Ah, a gift?”

“Indeed.”
“May I ask for whom?”
“Jazz.”

Prime’s raised is brow with intrigue. “Jazz? Interesting.”

Prowl smiled at his leader’s curiosity and cast him a sidelong glance. “Maybe then he will leave me alone.”

Prime chuckled at the dry statement. “Hmmm yes, I have noticed Jazz does not even find my claim over you to be in any way intimidating.” He huffed lightly. “You know I haven’t killed him yet on your recommendation that he is a rather ruthless officer.”

Prowl tensed. “I am aware of that yes Prime. You would be well within your right to off line him for his advances.”

Prowl hissed in pain as Prime grabbed the lower edge of one of his door wings without warning. He yanked down, bringing the black and chrome mech close to his frame. “Yes.” His deep voice was barely above a whisper, yet Prowl could feel the threat permeating every word. “I have every right. Remember your place Prowl.”

“Nngghh… Always Prime.” He winced and dipped his helm in a bow of respect and submission. A gasp escaped his vocaliser when his door panel was finally released.

Prime turned to his bodyguard sat on the tier behind him. “Which have you claimed Ironhide?”

The black mech’s faceplates broke out into a sneer. “The yellow obnoxious one. If it pleases you Prime?”

Prime hummed his approval. “Good choice.” He raised his voice to be heard throughout the auditorium. “Begin.”

Ratchet bowed to his leader graciously, his laser scalpel at the ready. Turning to his newest patient, he stole a nervous glance towards the smaller red scientist, stood ready on the other side of the berth.

“Hold still or this is going to hurt.” Ratchet spoke softly, trying not to alarm his patient any more than he already was.

“What are you going to do to me?” A calm voice responded.

Ratchet sighed. “What I’m told to.” He answered forlornly, pressing the laser scalpel to the top of the white helm.

Prowl tensed against his bonds. Strong heavy metal strips pinned him to the berth. One across his torso, two more restraining his legs. Another two fastened around his wrists, pinning them to his sides. The thickest strip was across his throat, holding his helm firmly in place.

His mouth parted with a hiss, as the laser scalpel cut into his helm.

“Nngghh….” He squirmed against the restraints. The sharp slicing pain was becoming too much for his sensor net. “Stop…” He gasped, agony cracking his vocals.

His optics were the first to go, whiting out to blind static. Despite himself, Prowl let out a sharp cry. Blinded, his senses heightened considerably and he grimaced, gritting his denta, whimpering through his closed mouth as part of the plating of his helm was removed.

“Please… don’t…” He whispered, just managing to keep a hold of his fraying control over his swirling emotions. The pain had dulled to an ache across his processor. He felt sluggish, not unlike when Prowl had used the mind probe against him. He felt his firewalls dropping slowly one by one.

“No…” He groaned, struggling feebly. A sharp gasp and a mewl escaped his vocaliser as the laser scalpel made contact once more. Prowl’s intakes increased to panicked pants as his battle computer shut down.

A sharp shooting pain pierced his entire sensor net and Prowl knew his last firewall had fallen, so easily, so efficiently. It was as if they had never been there. He gasped in fear, his blue optics snapping open in horror, realization flooding his cortex. New programming was being installed into his processor and he had no way to fight it.

“Nooo!” Prowl met Ratchet’s steady, unfeeling gaze. “Please.”

The medic shook his head and Prowl barely heard the softly spoken words of apology uttered into his audio. He could hear Sunstreaker yelling, fighting off to one side. He was nearby; he would be next. Prowl whimpered in defeat, in shame. He had failed to protect him.

Failed them both.

Prowl’s vocaliser strained to breaking point as he let out a spark shattering scream; his entire frame lurched and bucked painfully at the intrusive program invading his system. Sunstreaker’s angry voice screaming at him, shouting his name in desperation was the last thing Prowl registered before succumbing to the silence.
****

A/N: Ok sorry for the delay folks but it's been a busy weekend, involving corrupted files and poor injured stray kitties

Ricochet is actually a Shattered Glass canon character I was introduced to him via his TF Wiki and I wanted him in my story. He is Jazz's twin and one of Prime's bodyguard's.

****

SG Cybertron

Ricochet gave a terse nod to the large black form of Ironhide as they crossed in the hallway. It was change of shift for Prime's bodyguards and both mechs worked on a rota, one covering the other when necessary and both being at Prime's beck and call at all times. The only exception to this was Jazz.

Ricochet glowered at the thought of his twin. He'd been sent off world to the disgusting organic planet, along with Prime's SIC Prowl. Now Ricochet had learned through the proverbial grape vine that Prowl had returned with some rather unique prisoners, leaving his brother in charge of their base on Earth.

He scoffed at the thought of Jazz commanding anything. Always so desperate to be accepted by the mechs he served with, he'd never be a true leader. Ricochet leant his red, white and black frame against the door frame of Prime's private quarters, folding his arms across his chest he sighed. His time would come, despite what other mechs thought of him, Ricochet possessed an infinite patience for the things he really wanted. His time was coming.

He canted his head to one side, hearing familiar voices coming from inside Prime's room; suddenly his attention was caught by the sound of scraping metal and a dull thud. Straightening he leaned closer to the door, his fingers twitching on his weapon. Another dull thud resounded faintly through the reinforced steel walls, followed by Prime's rumbling vocals.

Ricochet relaxed, it wasn't unusual for Prime to have company or to be losing his temper while speaking to a subordinate over comm. He secretly hoped that the subordinate facing Prime's wrath would be Jazz, it would do the mech good to be knocked down a few pegs.

Guard duty was tedious at best. Prime had a great deal of enemies but none that would have the ability or the spark to challenge him in his own base, surrounded by his own mechs. Ricochet settled in for a long shift, when a sudden shriek pierced his audio. Shooting up he turned to face the solid door. The shriek had come from Prime's room, it was the sound of a mech in pain. He hastened forward, weapon drawn and hesitated at the door. Prime punished interruptions, especially unwelcome ones. Ricochet bristled in his armour, he was Prime's bodyguard and although a trip to the Agonising Rehabilitation Chambers (ARC) was one to be avoided, he had a duty to perform.

Taking a deep intake, Ricochet overrode the door lock and burst into the room. He stopped when Prime's dark optics glared back at him from behind his desk.

"Prime, I heard a scream."

Standing, his leader growled softly. "I appreciate your concern Ricochet." The tone was clipped, annoyed and not appreciative at all. "Everything is fine, we were having a discussion."

Ricochet tensed. We? His optics narrowed behind his golden visor drifting to Prime's desk and to his leader's slightly bent knee. Shifting slightly he caught sight of another mech struggling against the powerful foot crushing him into the floor. He was lying on his back, spots of energon littering his black frame.

"You may leave." Prime continued darkly.

He snapped to attention and bowed courteously; backing out of the room he closed the doors behind him and re-took his position by the door.

It was some time later that the second mech left Prime's office. Ricochet's optics narrowed at the mech's retreating back and the weak flick of his injured door wings. He shook his head and growled lowly in his chest, itching for his shift to be over. He now had personal business he needed to attend to.

****

SG Earth

The bustle of activity around the base was, in some small way, a comfort to Jazz. It really looked like the 'cons of this verse were going to help them, despite Starscream's obvious reluctance. Jazz still recovering decided to seek out the jet and find out exactly what his deal was and if he could try to render some kind of truce.

Having finally managed to lose First Aid who was hovering around him like space dust, Jazz entered the tiny laboratory, located on the outskirts of the Decepticon base. It was immaculately kept; bright and Jazz could see a number of low level experiments bubbling contentedly in the background.

He moved slowly through the small lab, his fingers brushing against the smooth worktop. He stopped at a collection of small class containers and stooped to peer inside. A small organic creature lunged at the glass before disappearing beneath black soil. Jazz moved on and tapped at a cage holding some kind of bird, he smiled when it cheeped at him and canted its head, its black beady eyes watching him warily.

"Hey I'm not gonna hurt you." He reached his finger between the bars and cooed at the bird who cheeped at him once more.

"If you were a human, you would have lost your finger or possibly your optic."

Jazz snapped his hand back and whirled round to face Starscream who was studying him with narrow red optics.

"It's a hawk, indigenous to this planet. Fascinating creature. Skilled hunter." He shot Jazz a sharp look. "Deadly."

Jazz swallowed, tensing as the seeker approached him. Starscream stood beside his bench, his larger frame towering over Jazz. "This is my private lab." He spoke quietly. No trace of animosity in his voice.

Jazz frowned. "I'm sorry, I was looking fer you, was pointed in this direction."

"Hmmm..." Starscream turned away disinterested and fiddled with one of his experiments.

Jazz moved a little closer. "So what's with the containers?" He asked nonchalantly.

Starscream remained focus on his work. "Study, science. Pursuit of knowledge."

"I see."

"You sound surprised."

Jazz dipped his head and smirked. "I guess I am, the Starscream I know well... he doesn't seem interesting in pursuing knowledge."

"You know this for certain?"

Jazz faltered. "Well yeah, he's the SIC t' Megatron and a complete aft head on the battle field. He's a killer, not a scientist. There are rumours he used t' be but the war... changes things."

Starscream glanced across. "Does the Autobot SIC not have interests other than his duties?"

Jazz laughed. "Prowl? If you ask anyone else, you'd be forgiven fer thinkin' that." He paused, his thoughts drifting to the missing mech.

"You know him better?"

Jazz met Starscream's questioning gaze and averted his optics back to the tiny organic creature frittering about in the container. "He's got interests sure."

Starscream's lip components curved into a tiny smirk, feeling amusement at Jazz's avoidance of his question. It told him more than the Autobot realised. "Why did you wish to see me?"

Jazz frowned. "Well I was hopin' t' talk t' you, hammer out a truce. You seem t' be the one 'con here who isn't happy about us being here or about Megatron helping us."

Starscream let out a sharp haughty laugh. "Megatron isn't helping you Autobot. He's helping himself. All that matters to Megatron now, is Megatron. He is a beaten mech. His whole existence has been about fighting Prime, regaining control of Cybertron, there is only so much defeat a mech can take before his spark just stops being willing to take the beatings."

"You sayin' he's given up?"

"I'm saying he's looking for a way out."

"And we're it?"

"Precisely."

Jazz scowled, he didn't like the thought of their rescue mission being used to mount some counter offensive that would get all parties killed. "My Prime agreed to help you though. We can't fight yer war but we can help give the 'bots here a good aft kickin'."

Starscream turned and regarded Jazz with sympathy. "I'm afraid you don't understand." He dropped his gaze. "I have nothing against you or the Autobots who have come through the space bridge. You did not ask to be involved in this fight but if Megatron has agreed to work with you it is for his own personal gain. The cause is no longer of any consequence to him as we cannot win."

"You can't talk like that." Jazz retorted.

"Can't I?" Starscream narrowed his optics. "Tell me Jazz, what is Cybertron like where you're from?"

Jazz turned away from the seeker's scrutiny, his voice subdued. "It's a dead world. The war tore it apart."

"Here, Cybertron is a glorious world. With power, culture and life." Starscream's voice filled with pride as he thought of his home.

Jazz fell silent, allowing the jet to continue.

"The only problem is who is in control. Prime is a ruthless monster. He is a tyrant and his rules are law. His paranoia and his ever degrading need for more power, for conquest fuel this war between us. He hates us simply because we were happy to settle with what we had. Cybertron is great, but he wants more and he will not stop until he has conquered everything within his grasp."

"So you rose up against him?"

"We had no choice. Be hunted or fight back. We are rebels, dissidents, exiles. There is an appropriate human term for what the Autobots consider us to be." He shot Jazz a dark look. "Terrorists."

Starscream frowned, his mind wandering back to the early days of the war. "The Autobots are cruel and elitist, they hunted out anything that was different to their divine order and persecuted them. They use torture as a means to entertain. They crave power above all else. Whereas Decepticons value freedom. Megatron is considered a heretic by Prime because he dared to speak out against him. Dared to question the inequalities in our society." He gave Jazz a rueful smirk. "It was not received very well."

"What happened?"

"War happened." Starscream paused. "Until it, much like on your world began to tear the planet apart. That all changed when Optronix became Prime. He is who you now call Optimus Prime."

Jazz listened intently. "He's different t' the last Prime?"

"Oh yes, the last Prime was old and had poor advisors. When Optimus Prime became ruler of Cybertron, he brought with him brilliant tactical minds and loyal mechs willing to do anything to preserve the Autobot way."

"I assume Prowl is one of those tactical minds?" Jazz was curious as to just how different this verses Prowl really was.

"Indeed, he is one of the most renowned and also one of the most sparkless mechs you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting."

"How was he involved?"

Starscream's smile vanished in an instant. "We were forced to flee Cybertron due to the tactical advice and commands issued by that very mech."

Jazz was beginning to feel a little unnerved. "What did he do?"

"He committed genocide."

Jazz inhaled sharply. The thought of one mech issuing the command to cull thousands of lives was inconceivable, not even Megatron in his verse had – he hoped – considered it. In his processor it all made sense. He knew his Prowl better than most mechs and if there was one sure tactically sound way to end a war, it was to eradicate your enemies with one fell swoop.

Starscream turned back to his experiment. "So you can understand why I am reluctant to travel to Cybertron in all out assault." His voice returned to the dark, cold edge Jazz was used to hearing from the seeker. "It is suicide, we will not be successful. Even with your help."

"Prime needs t' be told about this."

"No offence Autobot but I trust your Prime about as much as I trust my Megatron."

"If Megatron is so unstable, why not take command yerself?"

"Megatron is a formidable warrior and he is a figure head for the Decepticons." His voice was filled with bitterness. "He gives them hope. He was the first to rise up against Prime so most believe he will be our saviour." The seeker scoffed and rolled his optics.

"You don't?"

"There are no saviours, only soldiers fighting a war in which we are outnumbered. We are spread out across the galaxy, hiding. Afraid."

Jazz shook his head and headed to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"T' warn Prime, he needs t' know how unstable Megatron is, what the deal is on Cybertron before we can go in and rescue our mechs."

"You will still carry out the rescue mission for a handful of 'bots?"

"Yer fraggin' right we will."

"But... why? The risk is too great."

Jazz contemplated the question; it was a no brainer for him. "They would do the same fer us." He gave Starscream a sad smile and continued on his way.

Starscream watched the 'bot leave and looked up when Jazz turned back and regarded him with a curious expression.

"You know, it only took one mech t' stand up t' Prime before. Optimus has agreed t' help you, maybe now is the time fer someone t' stand up again. Before Megatron gets you all slagged with his own personal crusade."

Starscream stared after Jazz his words sinking into his processor. Could he rise up? Would the Decepticons follow him? His intakes hitched at the thought of the responsibility, leading the Decepticons was a fruitless position, there would be no glory, only honour in fighting for what they believed in. What was right, fighting against tyranny and oppression or running, trying to survive a measly existence?

Maybe just maybe, with a new leader there could be a sense of hope, a chance?

****

SG Cybertron

Prowl hissed at the unexpected presence behind him. His sensor panels twitched as they detected the movement of the larger mech approaching. He felt himself go rigid as a voice rasped into his audio, hot air exhaling over his face plates.

"I could kill him you know?" The mech growled softly. "You only need t' say the word."

Prowl shuttered his optics and moved away from the familiar presence. "This really isn't the time for one of your rants Ricochet."

The larger mech snarled and blocked Prowl's way. "Why must you pander t' him?!"

"He is Prime." Prowl hissed, his cold optics glaring into the golden visor. "You would do well to remember that." He shoved his way past and headed to the head of his desk.

"He is a fool and you know it." Ricochet snarled angrily. "Why must we keep playing these games Prowl?"

Prowl peered at him from beneath his red chevron and lowered his gaze to the datapads on his desk. "As long as we have to."

Ricochet advanced. "So that involves submitting your very will t' him?"

"If I must." Came the soft reply.

"Gaahhh!!" Ricochet reached easily across the desk and grabbed Prowl's arm. "We could change all that now. Turn the balance of power, take control."

"I should have you deactivated for such talk." Prowl snapped, twisting his arm from the other mech's grasp.

Ricochet drew back and moved slowly around the large desk. A knowing smirk spread across his lip components. "Oh like I don't know what yer plannin' t' do."

Prowl gritted his denta and his upper lip curled in disdain at the mech steadily approaching him. "You know nothing." He hissed dangerously, his door wings arching high and rigid on his back. "I don't have time to listen to your insane ramblings." He turned on his heel sharply only to be dragged back by his door wings.

"You. Will. Listen." Ricochet hissed into his audio. Spinning Prowl round to face him, he drove him up against the wall, pinning the smaller SIC to the bulkhead. "How long have we danced around this Prowl? How many times must I tell you that I know what it is you want?" He smirked at Prowl's enraged faceplates. "I may loathe my insufferable twin but you do learn a few things from the mech who is yer right hand."

"Jazz wouldn't divulge information to you."

Ricochet tapped his chest, signifying the sibling spark bond he and Jazz shared. Prowl's optics widened as the large mech bore down upon him. "Now do I have yer attention?" Sneering, Ricochet let his visor drift over Prowl, taking in the whole of the black and chrome frame. "Or do I have t' make you listen t' me?"

Prowl matched his glare with fierce optics; he was no match against Ricochet when it came down to brute strength but then this wasn't what this was about. He jutted his helm up and managed to look down his nose at the taller mech. "Do your worst." He whispered the challenge, eliciting a growl from Ricochet.

"Why you subject yerself to his whims I will never understand." Ricochet rasped into Prowl's audio."You can reach out and take Cybertron fer yer own. The war would be over and I could rule by yer side with Jazz at my feet."

"What the frag!"

Prowl's intakes stalled as Ricochet was hauled off his frame. Prime lifted the mech bodily off the ground and with seemingly no effort at all threw the mech towards the guards at the door.

"Take him to the ARC." Prime snarled darkly.

Ratchet helped Prowl to his feet. The SIC quickly regained his composure as his optics met the visor of Ricochet being dragged from his office. Ricochet knew the risks of getting caught collaborating with his superior officer, Prime's SIC no less. He grinned manically at Prowl as the two guards hauled him away.

"Prowl explain yourself." Prime demanded with menace.

Prowl turned to his leader, his face impassive. "There is nothing to explain my Lord." He bowed his head in respect. Submitting to Prime's commanding glare.

"He overpowered you?" Ratchet asked quietly.

Prowl remained staring at the floor. "He did." It was the truth, even if he had been willing. Even if he was always willing, it didn't matter. He was SIC to Prime and that had certain limitations. Prime maintained his claim over his subordinates, especially over Prowl who he usually kept close at hand to assert his position whenever he felt necessary. If Prime discovered his true relationship with his body guard they would both be deactivated, slowly and painfully.

"I should deactivate him." Prime glowered.

"Punishment in the ARC should be sufficient my Lord." Prowl kept his head bowed. "And he is still one of your most loyal body guards."

Prime's optics narrowed. "Mmmm that is true." He glanced at Ratchet. "See to it that Prowl is checked over for any injuries at the earliest possible convenience."

Ratchet bowed his head. "Yes Prime."

"Now onto the other matter I wished to see you about."

Prowl glanced up to meet the pleased optics of his leader. "Prime?"

"The newly programmed slaves are ready."

Prowl shot a look at the medic. "Is this true? The procedure worked?"

Ratchet nodded. "I had some trouble with your counterpart's battle computer but they are all completely subservient and will serve you in whatever way you wish."

Prowl's mouth curled into a dark smile. Maybe Ricochet was right, the encounter with the strange Autobots from another 'verse had put Prime on edge. His optics already looking to conquer that new world, fulfil his need for power and control.

"Shall we Prowl?" Prime beckoned to his SIC as he led the way from Prowl's office.

Prowl followed a few steps behind. He could use this to his advantage, by convincing Prime to pursue his insane power hungry goals; he could truly alter the balance of power on Cybertron. A tiny smirk formed on his faceplates, unnoticed by the two mechs in front of him.

Ricochet WAS right, now was the time to take control, to start pushing plans forward. Cybertron was falling into decay. With Prime gone and the Decepticons eradicated or enslaved, Prowl could restore it to its former glory.

Now all he had to do was make Prime listen to him.

A/N: Sorry for the delay folks. Had to push through a massive writer's block and drop in confidence last week. This is a nice plot furthering update for you and there will be another nice update next monday. If you're very good I may even do you a little update mid-week. Plot is really rolling for this one now.

Thanks to hellkitty for giving this the once over.

Warnings: None really, this chapter is pretty tame by comparison. Just nice plotty, angsty goodness.

****
Chapter 20

Jazz tried to find Optimus as fast as he could. After talking with Starscream, he had no doubt in his mind that following Megatron was a really bad idea. He weaved his way through suspicious 'cons who still didn't like being in the same vicinity as an Autobot no matter where he came from. Finally, he spotted his leader; he was filling in their small mismatched team in on the up and coming mission.

"Sir!"

Optimus turned, a little startled by the urgent tone in Jazz's voice. "What is it Jazz?"

"You can't go on this mission Sir."

"What, are you glitchin' mech?" Ironhide interrupted with a frown.

"No I've just been speaking t' Starscream and I've learned some things."

"Jazz you're exhausted, you need rest, you're not thinking clearly." First Aid rested his hand on his arm only to have Jazz snatch it away.

"Yer not listenin' t' me!" He glared at his leader, ignoring the worried glances from the others. "Optimus, Megatron is unstable, he's only using us to launch an attack on Cybertron."

Optimus frowned. "We know this Jazz, we're not expecting to win the war with this attack, just do enough damage to get us inside to get our mechs."

Jazz shook his head. "Yer don't understand, he's not told you everything. Cybertron here isn't a dead world."

Skywarp stepped forward. "What are you trying to say… there is an entire Autobot civilisation waiting for us on the other side of that bridge?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Jazz nodded and glanced to Optimus. "We've got t' rethink our strategy Prime, an all out attack will get us all killed and according t' Starscream, that wouldn't be far from what Megatron wants."

"That doesn't make sense." Ironhide grunted in confusion. "Why would Megatron lead a suicide mission?"

"Because he's given up, he doesn't think he can win. The Autobots here are…" Jazz let out an ungainly grunt and shook his head. "They're evil." He finished.

"That's a bit of a generalisation Jazz don't you think?" Optimus rebuked mildly.

Skywarp huffed. "He's not exaggerating; I've seen what those pit spawned slaggers do for entertainment." He shuttered his optics and grimaced as he tried to forget what he'd seen.

"Yeah." Bumblebee added. "They're sparkless, Prowl is just…" He shuddered.

Jazz placed a hand on the mini bot's shoulder. "He's one of the worst. The Autobots aren't fighting a war Optimus, they've already won." Jazz glanced around the small base. "This is just a handful of what's left of the Decepticons in this 'verse. They wiped them out."

"It's nothing short of what our Megatron would do to us. What's your point?" Ironhide retorted, ignoring a pointed glare from Skywarp.

"Megatron hasn't committed genocide." Jazz replied.

"You mean?"

Jazz nodded at his leader. "Thanks to their Prowl, they wiped out half of the Decepticon populace of Cybertron in solar cycles. The rest are reduced t' this, rebellious forces fighting fer a right t' survive. We can't beat them, with the forces we have. If we follow Megatron, we'll lose."

Optimus took a deep intake and narrowed his azure optics. "Take me to see Starscream."

"Alright but I don't think he's going t' help." Jazz stated with a shrug.

A rich voice filled their audio as the two mechs made to leave.

"I'm afraid Starscream is somewhat indisposed at the moment."

The small group looked at Megatron standing proudly in front of them, a smug smirk on his faceplates. A heavy silence filled the air as they stared at the Decepticon leader.

"What did you do t' him?" Jazz demanded.

"Jazz." Optimus chided, placing a hand on Jazz's shoulder to calm his ire. He met Megatron's optics. "Is it true what Jazz has told us? Cybertron is an Autobot controlled world, not a wasteland like you had us believe?"

"While the Autobots rule, it will always be a wasteland." Megatron growled. "Now I believe you were on your way to see Starscream?" He shot them a dark look, reminding all of them of a certain other 'con leader they were all too familiar with. "I suggest you all follow me, unless you wish to join him."

Jazz made to lunge at the silver mech, only to have Optimus tighten his grip on his shoulder.

"Not now Jazz."

The black and white glared at his leader questioningly. "But Sir?"

"No, we bide our time Jazz. We're outnumbered and whether we like it or not, we're going to need help to get Prowl and the others back, so calm down… don't make it an order Jazz." He added softly.

Jazz relaxed a little, worry and apprehension tickling the edges of his processor. He shook them away, now was not the time, he needed to stay focused. 'Don't do anything rash Jazz, Prowl and Sunny need you.' He nodded to Prime who gave him a grateful squeeze of the shoulder.

"For now we do as he says." Optimus stated, following Megatron deeper into the Decepticon camp.

****

Starscream allowed himself to be led out of his laboratory by Blackout and Blitzwing. They each held an arm to ensure he couldn't escape. He could only surmise that the Autobot had gone running his mouth off to Prime and Megatron had somehow overheard. Just like an Autobot not to do things discreetly.

He dwelled on what that particular Autobot had said to him. 'It only takes one.' Thoughts raced through his cortex, could he be that one. Would others follow, did others feel the same? His intakes increased a fraction as he entered the crowd gathered around the small platform. 'I guess there's no time like the present to find out.' He thought to himself. Determination set in and Starscream made his decision. The fate of the Decepticons now rested on this moment; he only hoped he had enough gumption to give them what they needed.

He stepped up onto the platform, still held tightly. He eyed the approaching Megatron with wary optics, he was being followed by the visiting Autobots who didn't look happy.

Megatron stepped up and regarded Starscream with disdain. Turning to the waiting crowd he began his insulting display of leadership.

"In my day, betrayal and mutiny within the ranks was punishable by death." Megatron waited while the hushed murmurs and gasps died down. "It seems that one within our ranks has taken it upon himself to spread doubt and mistrust and tried to poison our new allies against us.

Starscream gritted his denta he had spread no lies. He caught Jazz's irate glare, the Autobot looked ready to rip out Megatron's glossa. Megatron turned and glared at him. "As it is, too many of us have died in this war so you are to be punished."

"Am I not to be given a fair hearing?" Starscream spat back. "Or do you intend on keeping your true intentions from the entire Decepticon army even as you lead them to their deaths?!"

Starscream saw his chance and he grabbed it with both hands. "He isn't leading you to victory! He is using our allies to launch an attack on our home world that we cannot win! He leads you to your death!"

"Silence, take your punishment like a noble mech for once Starscream." Megatron nodded to Blitzwing who grabbed the struggling seeker and secured him to a large pillar.

Another mech approached holding an energon whip in his hands.

"Do it." Megatron ordered.

Soundwave shifted uncomfortably. "Concern: Unnecessary punishment."

"Gaahh, fine if you don't have the tanks for it, I'll do it myself."

Megatron grabbed the whip and uncoiled it, rearing back he readied himself to strike. "Anything you want to say for yourself Starscream?"

The seeker shifted as best he could with his arms shackled around the large pillar. "I followed you, I respected you, why can't you just admit you've given up?"

Megatron let out a lowly growl and lashed the whip across the back of Starscream's wings. The seeker squirmed and hissed in pain.

"You are all undisciplined. This is why we keep losing." Megatron bellowed out, he struck again ignoring Starscream's stifled cry.

"Autobot sympathiser aren't you Starscream. You actually want peace with them?"

Another strike had the jet choking back a sob.

"ENOUGH Megatron!" Optimus boomed, his strong hand closing around Megatron's wrist as he prepared for another blow. "There is no need for this." He added quietly.

"He betrayed me."

"He spoke his mind!" Jazz retorted, unlatching Starscream's wrists from the pillar. "Is that a crime amongst Decepticons here?"

"Makes you no better than them." Skywarp uttered grimly prompting a few of the 'cons to audibly protest.

"We don't want to die for nothing Megatron!" Thundercracker cried out, supporting Starscream as he was released from his shackles.

"You are all cowards! We are at war!"

"We are at nothing Megatron." Starscream spoke with soft sadness in his voice. Shaking his helm he looked out at the waiting 'cons. "My people, if you follow Megatron to Cybertron now, the Autobots will destroy you."

"What of their army?" Shouted Dead End, pointing to Optimus and his team. "Megatron told us they would bring forces through the space bridge to help us."

"He lied." The jet replied with regret. "Megatron wants us to regain everything we lost, but we simply can not launch an assault on that scale anymore." Turning to Megatron, he added. "Our only goal now is to survive, if we gathered our forces here, we could take Earth, control the space bridge, free the humans. Work with them to rebuild this world. This could be home."

"Home is Cybertron, always will be." Megatron bit back sullenly.

"It's a good plan Megatron." Optimus chimed in. His blue optics met Starscream's red orbs. "It's true what Starscream has told you. We simply don't have the resources on our world to help you fight your war. In my Universe, Cybertron is a dead world, there are even less of us than there are of you and the Decepticons haven't faired much better." His optics drifted to Skywarp who folded his arms and refused to confirm Optimus's statement though it rang true in his audio.

"You all have a chance for a new home, Earth is a rich planet but you must work together."

Bumblebee stood beside his leader. "Yeah the Autobots here are still formidable but with careful planning they can be defeated."

Taking a step toward the Autobot leader Starscream held his steady gaze. "Would you help us in this endeavour?"

Glancing at his team, Optimus gave a small nod. "We will try."

"Then it is decided" Thundercracker declared. "Those who follow Starscream speak up now, or follow Megatron to Cybertron and pray to Primus that you die quickly and not in the hands of an Autobot."

A growing unrest filtered through the crowd. Megatron glowered as the Decepticons began to split into two groups. "Fine have it your way. Those loyal to the Decepticon way follow me. The rest of you are hereby banished to exile from this base. Leave now or have your sparks extinguished for treachery."

"It doesn't have to be this way Megatron." Starscream implored, only for it to fall on deaf audios.

"You do NOT speak to me. Traitor." The silver mech snarled before spinning on his heel and storming off into the crowd, his followers trailing behind him. Red optics cast worried looks back at the group left standing around the platform.

"What now?" Jazz approached Starscream's side as they watched the retreating crowd.

The scientist cast him a sidelong look. "We find ourselves a new base."

****

Prowl felt like he was recovering from one of his worst glitches to date. His cortex throbbed violently, his vision blurry and unfocused. Trying to move was a mistake, the room positively spun around him when he'd tried to sit up. Waiting a few kliks his vision returned and he was surprised to find himself in what look like a medical center. Taking a chance, he pushed himself up to sitting and leaned back against the angled berth. Recognisable frames were lying across berths across the room all of them still in recharge.

He frowned as he tried to recall the last few cycles, his unease growing exponentially when he found part of his memory cache had been locked and he didn't have the required authorisation to access it. Something was very wrong; a rush of anxiety caused his spark to lurch in its casing. He searched his processor for anything missing, anything out of place, only to find most of his firewalls deactivated and the same forbidden access message flash across his HUD.

"That's not possible." He whispered to himself, panic bubbling rapidly as he realised his battle computer was also deactivated. "Dear Primus what have they done to us?"

"What we were told." Came the soft reply.

Prowl's optics snapped to the newcomer. "Ratchet?"

The mech inclined his head in the affirmative.

"What have you done to us?" Prowl hissed more insistently, unable to stifle the growing frustration and worry for the others.

"You have had new programming installed." Ratchet responded with disinterest, bland, nothing like the Ratchet he knew.

Prowl frowned. "What kind of programming?" He dreaded the answer.

Ratchet actually glanced up at the question, his blue optics saddened and filled with regret and defeat. He dropped his gaze and pushed himself to his feet, stepping away from his desk he headed over to Prowls berth. Despite himself Prowl flinched away from the medic, he wasn't used to feeling so exposed.

"You don't need to be afraid of me. I only do what I'm asked." Ratchet spoke gently, noticing the flinch.

"And what were asked to do to us?" Prowl's voice was a low whisper he already had his suspicions.

Ratchet pursed his lip components as he eyed the monitor attached to Prowl. "You've been embedded with a slavery program. It has taken the place of your primary programming, which has been locked in your processor. You are all now Prime's slaves, he will decide to which master you belong."

Prowl stared at him aghast. "Slaves?" He whispered. "Why?"

"He hopes to use you I suspect and it is an experiment to see if it would work on captured 'cons. It has proven a success. You and your friends are the first batch."

Prowl snarled in disgust. "But you're a medic, how could you do this?!"

Ratchet refused to meet Prowl's angry glare. "I want to live."

"And what about us?!" Sunstreaker's growl filled the room. "What about our lives?!" He tried to leave his berth only to suffer the same disorientation that Prowl had and fell straight onto the floor. "You've taken them from us!!" He screamed furiously.

Ratchet bent down to help only to have punches swipe at him viciously.

"Don't you DARE touch me!" Sunstreaker glowered, hauling himself with some difficulty back onto the berth. "Don't you ever touch me."

"You could help us, you don't have to be a pawn for them."

Ratchet quirked an orbital ridge at Prowl's earnest optics. "I am what I am and I've done all I can."

"Seems to me you haven't done anything." Starscream interrupted, finally stirring from recharge. "Except violate our processors and turn us into your drones. Cowards like you are disgusting. Just following orders, pah! You should be ashamed."

"Every cycle." Ratchet stated definitely. He glanced around at his patients. "I order you all to stand and face the door and await your Prime." His voice was firm, commanding

Starscream hissed in anger as the programming forced him to obey. He fought against the movement and cried out in frustration, as his body seemed to move of its own volition. The others faired no better, Prowl sported a deep frustrated scowl on his faceplates as he stood beside the jet and both Thundercracker and Sunstreaker hurled expletives at the medic as they too stood to attention.

"Silence." Ratchet ordered. He approached the mechs and lowered his voice. "Please remember this: I did all I could with what I had, the rest is up to you. I am truly sorry for what Prime has and will put you through." He sighed as he met their questioning angry glares. "Now you are to remain in this spot until I return." He shook his head once more and vented another weary sigh before exiting the medical center.

"What do you think he meant by that?" Sunstreaker sneered.

"I suspect and hope that it's the guilt eating at him, Primus willing it rots his spark." Thundercracker snarled in response.

Prowl pressed his lip components together in thought. "Hmmm maybe..."

Starscream shot him a glance. "You have a different theory tactician?" He snapped feeling altogether fed up at their situation.

Prowl ignored the question and probed his cortex files further. Something was amiss, besides the obvious. Locking onto his battle computer commands Prowl pushed and focused his energy on the weakest firewall. With all his firewalls in place, his battle computer would reactivate automatically. He frowned and vaguely heard Starscream questioning him once more. A strain of code caught his attention reacting quickly he latched onto it and fed it into his processor.

The three mechs jumped in surprise as Prowl suddenly gasped and stumbled forward.

"I take that as a no." Starscream drawled.

Prowl straightened and looked at them with wide optics. "I have reactivated my weakest firewalls."

"Sooo?" Thundercracker really didn't think that was much cause to separate.

Prowl began speaking quickly as he processed his thoughts. "No you don't understand. There was a line of code in my cortex, that wasn't locked to anything in particular it was just there and it only appeared when I tried to reactivate my firewalls. When I have all my firewalls activated, my battle computer will come back online. They must have deactivated it because it would undoubtedly counter the slave programming and render it inoperative. That must be what Ratchet was referring to when he said he'd done all he could."

Sunstreaker stared at his SIC in astonishment. "Primus Prowl you sounded like Bluestreak for a klik there."

The black and white shot Sunstreaker a perturbed glance, not really quite sure what to make of the comparison. "I know I'm right." Prowl insisted. "Try to activate your firewalls."

The room fell silent for a moment as the mechs focused on their processor. Sunstreaker was the first to give up. "I can't do it. There's no code."

They glanced at the two seekers who seemed to be undergoing a different kind of struggle. Thundercracker winced and his optics met Starscream's in confusion. A moment later and Starscream gasped loudly.

"I've done it."

"You had the code?"

"No something about our trine link bypasses the slave programming. I have no code but if we concentrate our joint effort one of us can override the programming, only intermittent at the moment but with practice we'll both be able to do it for longer."

"Of course the trine link is through your sparks not your processors." Prowl mused.

"Yeah about that practice you need?" Sunstreaker interrupted. "I think you're out of time."

The mechs froze back into their positions as footsteps approached the room. The door opened with a hiss and Prime entered, followed closely by Ratchet and Prowl who looked a little more injured than the last time they'd seen him.

"All of you kneel now." Prime commanded a dark glint in his optics.

The mechs reluctantly and not without struggling, dropped to their knees, their helms bowed in submission.

"Oh excellent work Ratchet." Prime boomed in satisfaction. "These are going to prove most entertaining."

****

I just gotta squee some more for the Megatron/Starscream face off. Excellent tension! I'm excited to see where this goes.

SG Earth

Jazz glared out of the window of Prowl's vacant office. His optics stared out onto the human slaves working under the watchful, harsh optics of his fellow Autobots. His mood was sullen, dissatisfied. Prowl's last communiqué had been an order to retake the spacebridge from the Decepticons and also to inform him of his twin brother's recent punishment.

Ricochet had been sent to the ARC for assaulting a senior officer. Jazz had blocked his sibling bond a long time ago, the animosity the two brothers felt for each other was no secret amongst the Autobots, but something about Prowl's message had seemed off, out of place. Jazz knew his twin well enough to know that despite his insanity and lust for absolute power, he was no fool. He would not have risked his spark in such a way. Jazz's optics narrowed with suspicion behind his visor, there was something Prowl wasn't telling him.

A soft knock at the door broke him out of his darkening mood. "Yes what is it?"

The mech gave a half bow and stepped into the room. "I have the report from the latest scout Sir."

Jazz moved away from the window and headed over to Prowl's desk, where Inferno waited patiently. "Go ahead."

"The Decepticons seem to have split into two smaller factions. Both are still located in the vicinity of the space bridge but their forces are weakened now they are divided."

Jazz's mouth curled up at the corner; this was promising news.

"There does seem to be another development. The scout took an image recording of the faction that appears to be following Starscream."

"Starscream? That flybot couldn't lead if his spark depended on it." Jazz snapped his loathing for the seeker fuelled with the knowledge that the scientist had once been in Prime's favour and had betrayed it. Despite all of Jazz’s displays of loyalty and dedication, he had still been overlooked in favour of his twin in the end. Even now, the fool that Prime had become still wanted Starscream within his ranks, by his side as his most trusted.

"Yes Sir but you should see this." Inferno insisted holding out the data file.

Jazz snatched it from his hand and plugged it into Prowl's console. The image flickered and cleared. Starscream did appear to be directing the small contingent of Decepticons. Where Megatron was and why had they had split was a worrying loose end. He watched closely as the image zoomed in and re-focused on a small group close to Starscream.

Jazz felt a low growl escape his vocaliser, he vaguely recognised their frames, one of them could only be Ironhide but red rather than black. They had two Aerialbots with them and he recognised the small yellow mini-bot as the mech who had escaped their clutches. There was another he wasn't sure about and a much taller mech stood beside him. Jazz frowned at the screen, the red and blue mech's back was visible as he spoke to another hidden from view. The image wobbled and changed angles revealing the mech's face as he turned.

"It can't be." He whispered, the paintwork was vastly different, the armour less oppressive but that face, that mask and those optics could only belong to one mech. "Prime." His optics were suddenly drawn to another 'bot stepping into view. Jazz's jaw fell slack as his optics locked onto the familiar blue visor.

"What are your orders Jazz Sir?"

Jazz sneered, the Decepticons had forces they hadn't accounted for, a Prime no less. "Prepare the others fer attack, we don't move until I give the order."

Inferno dipped his head with obedience and marched from the office. Jazz continued to stare at the image and sat down slowly into Prowl's chair. Lacing his fingers together in front of him Jazz leaned forward and a dark smirk spread across his lip components. "So you follow Prowl even across universes?" Jazz spoke to the image and froze it, studying the distinct black and white armour of what could only be his counterpart. "I suppose some things remain a constant. Your weakness for him will be your undoing... Jazz."

Jazz was all too aware of his weakness, his one fatal flaw that blindsided him and left him unable to think straight. Prowl knew it too and played on it. Jazz didn’t, couldn’t expect anything else from the cold-sparked mech, but knowing that didn’t stop him wanting, waiting and hoping that maybe Prowl would accept him and keep him by his side as his most trusted. He hated himself for it, but maybe this time it would work to his advantage.

He remembered how strongly the other Prowl had reacted to him when he’d been left to watch over the mech and he had taken advantage of the situation. It had taken Jazz completely by surprise, yet had given him a glimmer of hope for his Prowl. If one Prowl could feel so strongly, then maybe the other could too.

Sitting back, he folded his arms across his chest, Prowl needed to be informed of this development; they were going to need reinforcements from Cybertron to retake the spacebridge. To stop a Prime from any 'verse they were going to need Prime himself.

****

SG Cybertron

Starscream watched through narrow optics as the golden Autobot was appointed a Master by Prime. Ironhide had not been gentle with him and Sunstreaker was currently on all fours his intakes deep and erratic energon staining his armour from Ironhide's blows.

"Looks like there are kinks in the programming Ratchet." Prime stated with twisted amusement.

"My apologies Prime. I can rectify the fault just..."

Optimus waved a hand in dismissal. "No need, they obey and are submissive for the most part. Where is the entertainment if we have them break so soon?" His optics narrowed as Ironhide knocked Sunstreaker to the ground once more. The golden mech couldn't fight back due to the programming, but he could answer back and earned himself a thorough beating from the impatient Ironhide. "Enough Ironhide. You may take him he is yours. Do try to keep him somewhat online until we iron out the programming flaws."

Ironhide snarled and bowed sharply. He grabbed the back of Sunstreaker's neck and dragged him from the room.
"Prowl you and your slave may leave us. Ratchet keep the other seeker for yourself as reward for your work."

"Yes Prime."

Prowl frowned and turned to his leader as Ratchet ordered Thundercracker to follow him. "My Lord are you certain this is wise? This is not the Starscream you know and there is still the matter of the Decepticons on Earth that have gained control of the spacebridge. Is it not more prudent to concentrate our efforts on acckk..."

Prowl's voice cut off as Prime swung round with a snarl and enveloped Prowl's throat with one hand, lifting his SIC from the floor he growled with growing ire his face a finger's width from Prowl's.

"Do not dictate to me what we must do Prowl. Know your place... unless you wish to take Ricochet's place in the ARC."

Prowl squirmed in Prime's grasp his hands clawing at the powerful arm. "I merely... suggest...that we guuuh...Pri--ime please..." Prime's grip tightened, threatening to crush the cables and vital energon lines in his throat.

He snarled dangerously. "You are trying my patience..."

Across the room, Starscream and Prowl were still kneeling on the floor. They had been ordered not to move by Prime and could only watch as Prime violently punished his SIC for daring to speak out of turn. Not wanting attention drawn to them, they kept their voices to a low whisper and hoped that Prime’s ire wouldn’t be directed towards them.

Starscream watched the scene closely. "Interesting." He mused. He felt Prowl shudder beside him and a whisper of air escape his vents.

"How many?" He kept his voice low, optics still concentrated on the struggling SIC in Prime's grasp.

Prowl fell forward slightly, supporting himself with one hand. "I have managed to reactivate five secondary firewalls and one primary firewall." He pushed himself upright and sat back onto his legs, as they remained kneeling on the floor.

Starscream frowned as Prime flung Prowl to the floor as the tactician dared to speak up once more. "How many left?"

Prowl glanced at him with concern. "Twelve."

"Twelve!" Starscream started before catching himself, lowering his voice. "You have thirteen primary firewalls?"

Prowl's door panels twitched up once. "I am the Autobot tactician Starscream, it is only prudent to protect the knowledge I possess."

"Lot of good it’s done you, they took everything you have with the mind probe." Starscream answered dryly his optics catching the subtle droop of Prowl's door wings. Without Prowl's battle computer and logic centre in operation the impact of Starscream's words cut the dutiful tactician deeply, he considered it a personal failure on his part and Starscream's scowl deepened as the Autobot's resolve wavered. "How long will it take you to override the programming?"

Prowl frowned and ran the calculations. "I'm not certain; the firewalls are of varying strengths. Starscream... it may not be possible to entirely override the program."

"Don't start doubting yourself now Autobot." His red optics glared at the tactician. "You want to redeem yourself for your failings?"

"My failings?" Prowl glowered at the accusation.

"Allowing Autobot tactical secrets to fall into the hands of the enemy, two enemies I might add."

Prowl's optics widened, of course Starscream had been present when Prowl had used the mind probe on him, he had heard everything.

"You want to redeem yourself, then you must break the programming, my trine link can only do so much and it is of no use to you or your Autobot friend. They plan on attacking our 'verse unless we can stop them." Starscream drew closer and hissed with fierce determination. "So do not tell me that it may not be possible because that is an option we do not have."

Prowl stared at him, knowing his words to be right. They needed to escape these Autobots' clutches, needed to warn the others.

Their attentions snapped back to Prime and Prowl at the far end of the room. Prowl was being punished for daring to question his Prime's motives. The two slaves stared as Prowl took the punches without so much as a whimper of defeat, he simply submitted to his Lord's will, to do anything else would mean deactivation, especially when Prime was so frustrated.

Prowl was heaved off the floor with one sweeping motion and slammed into the wall, his legs scrabbling for purchase to ease the fist pressing onto his chest.

"Why do you question me?" Prime leaned in closely to his second. "Why must you always challenge me?"

Prowl gasped as Prime grabbed his face with his free hand and demanded he answer. "I am your servant my Lord...your most loyal, I only wish to serve and have you triumph over your enemies." His voice cracked, into a hoarse whisper as Optimus leaned closer and leered at him.

"My most loyal." Prime repeated with a heated murmur. The submission of his second fuelled his desire for power and control and filled him with a burning fire as the mech who prided logic and control above all else, relinquished both for him but never without challenging him, never without putting up a fight, forever reminding him of his greater role as commander of an empire. "Mine." He whispered.

Starscream quirked an orbital ridge as the black and white beside him tore his optics away and glared at the floor unwilling to watch. Welcome to the life of the oppressed he thought bitterly.

Prowl was dropped onto the floor when Prime released him. Pushing himself up from his knees, he stood before his leader, impassive as always, awaiting his next command.

"Take your slave, contact Jazz and inform them that they will await my signal before attacking the Decepticons."

"Then we are to travel to Earth?"

Optimus towered over his officer. "It is the most prudent course of action."

Prowl bowed his helm and turned away from his Leader's glare.

"Prowl, instruct my guard that I am not to be disturbed until further notice, under any circumstances." Prime sneered down at the kneeling seeker.

"Yes Prime." Prowl ordered his namesake to stand and follow him before Prime called out to him.

"If I am interrupted Prowl, I will hold you personally responsible."

Prowl didn't turn back and pressed his lip components together in a grim line, he could feel Prime's mocking optics burning into his back. Silently seething he took hold of the black and white's arm and marched from Prime's personal office, leaving his crazed leader with his new seeker slave.

****

Prowl found himself shoved to the floor in his counterpart's office. The darker mech was quite obviously fighting his anger at the humiliation suffered at the hands of Prime. The black and white found himself wondering how often it happened, how often Prowl was forced to submit to his leader, humiliated by him and for what purpose. Even if Prime was as insane as Mirage had told him, it still wouldn't explain why Prowl allowed such actions to occur, what motivations drove him.

He watched his captor from his position on the floor; his processor was beginning to ache with the effort of trying to reactivate his firewalls. He shifted and leant uneasily against the wall and listened.

"I have a message for you Jazz."

Jazz's distinctive vocals sounded through the speakers, causing Prowl to flinch and his spark to jump with an aching pang in his chest. He couldn't shake the feelings he'd experienced when he'd been at the mercy of this ‘verses Jazz, it disturbed him, rattled him and he fought against the urge to think of the Jazz he knew. He didn't want the depravity of his memories to be in anyway associated with the one he deemed a close friend, possibly his closest.

Prowl’s intakes caught in his vents as he checked himself, Jazz was his closest friend. The reality of Jazz's death was all the more raw without his battle computer active to contain his emotions. Forcing his concentration, he tuned his audio back into Prowl's conversation and simultaneously resumed his attempts to break the slavery programming.

"Prime has informed me that you are to wait for his signal before attacking the Decepticons. I suggest you prepare our forces, set up your positions beforehand, and thus gain a tactical advantage. Ensure that someone remains behind to maintain communications."

"Understood." Jazz answered. "I have information yer gonna' need. It seems that the Decepticons have split into two factions. Starscream is the closest t' the space bridge and he has help."

"Yes I am aware of the Autobots from the other universe; I encountered them before I travelled to Cybertron."

"And you didn't think we needed t' know? They have fraggin' Prime with them!"

Prowl's optics narrowed. "Prime knows and may I remind you Jazz. I don't need to inform you of anything. You are under my command. You will be given any and all information you need to defeat the Decepticons." His tone softened. "Do you really think me so shallow and twisted as to leave you vulnerable and unable to defend yourself Jazz? After all this time, do you not trust me?"

Jazz stammered on the other end of the comm. "Of course I do, I apologise Prowl I didn't mean t' imply..."

Prowl lifted his hand to silence him. "It is of no concern. Jazz do I have your trust?"

The mech on the other end of the comm hesitated, Prowl had put him through so much, tortured him, belittled him and yet Jazz had always remained by his side, bending to his will yet unwilling to break for him. "Yes. Always." Came the reply.

Prowl dipped his helm and peered at the screen from beneath his chevron. "I am relieved to hear that." He paused. "It is time for a change Jazz; you know Cybertron is suffering from Prime's blind lust for power and his overwhelming desire to defeat Megatron. It can continue no longer."

"What are you sayin'?"

"I'm saying or rather I'm asking for you to trust me and await my next signal."

"Is this why my brother is being punished? Did he find out, get too close t' you?"

Prowl's face remained stoic, revealing nothing. “Ricochet has completed his allocated punishment and was released by the medic five cycles ago.” His avoidance of the actual question spoke volumes to Jazz.

"Yer the one he assaulted aren't you?" He hissed.

"It is of no co--"

"Don't Prowl, you maybe my superior but some things I won't just push aside and ferget. He'll suffer fer anything he's done t' you I swear it."

Prowl's door panels flicked up once and settled. "I have your loyalty?"

"You've always had it. You know that."

"Await my next signal; it will be on an encrypted line. Speak of this to no one."

"Got it and Prowl..."

"Mm."

"Watch out fer Ricochet he always finishes what he starts."

Prowl canted his head slightly and cut the signal. Sitting back in his chair, he allowed a sly smile to tug at his lip components.

The black and white mech watched him from the floor. He was planning to betray his Prime; the thought sent a cold wave of dread through his frame. Prowl had heard Jazz mention his Prime and the others and there was no doubt in Prowl's mind that his counterpart was going to use their presence to his advantage.

His HUD flashed with the activation of a second firewall. Worry for his friends' safety and urgency to get warning to them, Prowl activated the code to the next firewall. His thoughts drifted to Jazz, the image of the knife exiting his chest plates, the look of sheer horror on his face was enough to drive Prowl's anger, remembering Starscream's words he focused all his energy on his firewalls.

Nobody else was going to die, he'd already lost one of the most important presences in his life and as far as Prowl was concerned, no matter the outcome, he'd already failed. His spark ached with a pain he hadn't felt before as the full impact of Jazz's death hit him. 'No one else.' He swore to himself with angry determination. Gritting his denta he pushed past his pain barrier and concentrated his efforts on the next firewall, as long as Prowl remained disinterested in him, there was a chance.

The door opened suddenly catching both Prowls unawares.

"Ricochet, I've been expecting you." Prowl stood up to greet the strange looking mech.

The black and white looked on with growing confusion as Ricochet approached and roughly took hold of Prowl's face. This was Ricochet that Jazz had spoken about over the comm. Prowl frowned, recalling his words, ‘my brother’ Jazz had a brother? Prowl couldn’t help but stare at the large red and black mech, who did indeed have a strange similarity to Jazz. Did that mean, Jazz had a brother in his universe? Why wouldn’t Jazz have told him that?

"He's touched ya again hasn't he?"

Prowl pulled away with a growl. "Prime does what he wants."

"Not fer long." Ricochet snarled back menacingly. "Did ya speak t' my wayward twin?"

Prowl nodded. "He believes there is a traitor in the ranks and that you're planning to turn Prime against me, he is waiting for my signal."

"He thinks yer workin' with him?"

"He does."

Averting his optics from the two mechs in front of him, Prowl resisted the urge to growl at the outright betrayal. His counterpart was going to double cross Jazz? Prowl frowned it didn’t make sense, he needed Jazz and the Autobot forces on Earth. To turn against him was to lose that tactical advantage, but then what did Ricochet have over Prowl that would make him work with him against Jazz? He racked his processor trying to figure out the mech’s plans. The more he knew, the better a position he would be in.

A powerful, roaring laugh filled the room. "Jazz always was a gullible fragger. His blindness will be his undoing."

Prowl matched Ricochet's sly smirk as the larger mech tugged him closer. "Undoubtedly."

Ricochet's engine revved and his hand reached up for Prowl's face. "We will wipe out all our enemies with one blow. I do enjoy it when yer plans include mass destruction and genocide.

Prowl gave a quirk of an orbital ridge and a dark scowl. "Neat, clean with optimum results. It is how this war should have been fought and won."

"Will be won." Ricochet growled in response, leaning closer.

Genocide, mass destruction? Prowl felt a whisper of a gasp escape his vocaliser at the darker Prowl’s words. He really wasn’t concerned as to who was caught in the crossfire? It was messy, uncontrolled and too many things could go wrong. His scowl deepened, as he thought of that ‘verses Jazz, he needed to be warned. Prowl caught himself worriedly. Why should he warn Jazz? He didn’t owe anything to the Autobots of this universe, why would he choose to help Jazz? He was nothing like his Jazz, if anything Prowl wanted to hate him but for some reason he simply could not fathom, he couldn’t latch onto the loathing. It rattled him, more than he cared to admit.

Shaking his head slightly Prowl tried to ignore the embrace of the two mechs before him. His optics brightened with a sudden realisation as he gave a quick glance up at his counterpart. He was playing a dangerous tactical game with both brothers, working one against the other. It was a diversion, he narrowed his optics, but for what?

Prowl stayed low and quiet on the floor, focusing all his energy on his firewalls once more. He couldn't help the sharp intake of air when his third firewall activated. Ricochet's visor glinted in his direction and the sneer widened across his angled face. "My, my Prowl what is this?"

"That is Prowl, from the other universe. He has had the slave programming installed into his cortex."

Prowl’s optics snapped up at the sudden focus of Ricochet’s attention, he shrank back into the corner as the two mechs approached him.

"Why is he here?"

Prowl's scowl melted into a smirk. "I have plans for him; he will be of much use to me."

Ricochet's visor flashed as he looked over the black and white frame. "Slave program ya say?" He shot Prowl a sly grin over his shoulder before turning back to the Autobot slave and reaching for him. "Let's see how good Ratchet's programming really is."

****

Oooo, there so was so much I enjoyed in this update! Starscream's relation to the twisted Leader/SIC relationship, Prime's ruthlessness, Prowl's concern for SG Jazz...so much good intensity. ^.^

This is really building up to something epic. I'm anxious to see what's going to happen.

SG Earth

“What do y’mean you won’t help us?!” Jazz was furious and shot Ironhide a cold glare when the red mech stepped in his way.

Starscream barely spared a glance at the small group of infuriated Autobots. “I’m sorry, I can’t justify an excursion to Cybertron for the very reasons I stated to Megatron.” He rubbed his optics tiredly and flinched when Jazz lunged for him, only to be held back by both Ironhide and Slingshot.

“A fraggin’ excursion!! You call rescuing our friends an EXCURSION!!” The black and white fumed, his usually placid vocals trembling with rage. “You let me believe you would help us! You turned against Megatron for this!”

“Jazz cool it, ya not gonna get a straight answer out of him.” Ironhide did his best to placate the irate ops mech but to no avail.

“He told me he would help us!! He let me believe we were doing the wrong thing by following Megatron, when he was the one who was going to turn against us!!” Jazz’s visor was dark with anger and he tried to shove past the two mechs holding him back.

“Jazz please, you’re putting an undue strain on your spark, you need to calm down, please!” First Aid’s face was creased with worry as Jazz fought to get to Starscream.

“It is an unacceptable risk for the Decepticons to try and rescue three or four mechs of a group that refuses to help us in return.” Starscream had finally lost his patience. “Do not forget it was your Prime who denied US aid.”

“We’re fighting a slaggin’ war of our own!!” Jazz screamed in frustration. “Frag it! Those are our friends out there!!”

“And we are fighting for our survival!” Starscream snapped back. “I would not follow our leader, who used to hold my very spark in his hands to that planet, what makes you think I would follow an Autobot?!”

“GAAAHHH!!”

Jazz finally managed to break free of Ironhide’s strong grip and tackled the seeker to the ground. The Autobots watched on in shock as Jazz planted a hard punch to Starscream’s helm, followed by a feral snarl. “YOU’RE A FRAGGIN’ COWARD!!”

“Stand down Jazz!” Prime’s voice boomed throughout the room upon his entrance.

Ironhide and Skywarp dragged the struggling black and white off Starscream’s frame. Angrily tearing his arms from their grasp, Jazz glowered at his leader before throwing a deadly glare at Starscream.

“You’re the same in any ‘verse. The greatest coward of ‘em all.”
First Aid reached out to steady Jazz when he clutched his chest in pain. Shrugging the small medic off with a growl he held Starscream’s optics.

“If anything, ANYTHING happens to Prowl or the others because we didn’t get t’them in time, I’m personally huntin’ you down.” With one last snarl, Jazz stormed from the room, leaving behind a heavy somber silence in his wake.

Ironhide glanced at Starscream. He still wasn’t entirely comfortable with a Decepticon being on their side. Something just didn’t sit right with him. “Prime is it true?” He turned to his leader. “Have they really refused to help us?”

Narrowing his optics at the seeker, Prime gave a short nod. “It’s true.” He stepped into the room. “I’ve spoken with Megatron, he’s agreed to let us join him and his followers to Cybertron.”

“But it’s suicide!” Starscream insisted.

“We came here for one purpose, to retrieve our friends and get home safely. That is exactly what I intend to do with or without your help.”

Prime took a deep intake and his optics met each of them in turn. “I’m under no delusions as to the danger of this mission. There’s every chance whoever goes may not be returning. I need someone to stay behind to get a message back home. I’m not ordering any of you to do this and I won’t think any less of those of you who choose to remain.”

Skywarp was the first to step forward, his red optics glowing with intent. “I have no loyalty to you Prime. But I can no longer stand by while the rest of my trine are subject to the whims of Autobots. This time and I emphasise, only this time. I will follow you.”

Prime gave a gracious nod to the Decepticon from his ‘verse and turned to Ironhide as the red mech stepped forward.

“Ya couldn’t keep me away Prime. I know they’d do the same for us.”

“Count us in too.” Silverbolt inclined his head in a half bow.

First Aid shifted, looking distinctly uncomfortable with what he was about to say. “Prime I’m just a medic and I’m not much of a fighter…”

Prime rested a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve no need to explain yourself my friend, stay here.”

First Aid looked affronted. “No Sir, you’re going to need me, I’m a medic that’s good sense. I have to recommend in good conscience that Jazz remain behind.”

Bumblebee gave a soft whistle. “That will not go down well with Jazz.”

“I agree.” Prime frowned. “He’s probably the best mech for the job. I need him to…”
“No Sir, please.” First Aid interrupted with a tone of voice none to dissimilar from their CMO, when he had difficult and stubborn patients to deal with. “Based on my recent scans, the stress to Jazz’s spark could kill him. He’s barely recovered, I must insist that he stays behind.”

Prime frowned and nodded reluctantly. “Alright I’ll tell him. Everyone get prepared we leave in a cycle.”

A sudden commotion drew their attentions.

“Starscream!” Thundercracker burst into the room. “Starscream, they’re here, he shot Megatron, he’s injured but they’re here and Jazz is asking for you.”

“Jazz?” Prime scowled in confusion.

Starscream looked worried. “Who shot Megatron?”

“Jazz did!” Thundercracker exclaimed with increasing agitation.

“He did what?!” Ironhide thundered. “That doesn’t make any sense and who the frag is here?”

Thundercracker let out a frustrated keen. “No! The Autobots are here with Jazz, from our ‘verse. He’s demanding an audience!” He met Starscream’s wide optics. “Starscream the base is surrounded.”

“How many Autobots?”

“All of them.”

****

SG Cybertron

Warning firewall activation in 3, 2, 1…

“NNnnggaahhh…” Prowl moaned out loud and hissed as the seventh firewall fell into place. His HUD flashed frantically with numerous low energy and critical injury warnings. On lining his optics, Prowl was greeted with the steely grey of the floor. Turning his head, he let out a groan as the movement sent shivers of pain rippling down his back struts.

He was still in his counterpart’s office, which was thankfully silent and empty. Prowl had managed to construct a string of code within his processor, that had continued to work on erecting his firewalls, even after he fell into stasis. That and his injuries suffered at the hands of the cruel and callous Richochet had sapped his energy levels, leaving them dangerously low.

His first attempt to push himself up, failed. He was simply too weak to move. Trembling, Prowl fell back onto his front with a keen of frustration. Flashes of what had happened to him once Ricochet had gotten hold of him, assaulted his cortex.

The mech had taken full advantage of Prowl’s slave programming, forcing him to comply with anything and everything he commanded no matter how base. Prowl felt a growl rumble through his chest at the humiliation of having to submit his will completely.

His alter ego had remained for part of the torture, before even he had lost the gall for it. He’d even resorted to ordering Ricochet to stop, only to have the deranged mech’s attentions turned on him. Prowl had witnessed a twisted power play of dominance and submission between the two, that had left him feeling somewhat disturbed and wary of his counter part’s sanity.

The other Prowl had eventually been called away by Prime, leaving his slave alone with Ricochet. That was when Prowl had truly discovered how very different these Autobots were and he could only hope that Sunstreaker and the seekers weren’t suffering a similar fate.

After a while, Prowl had managed to regain enough mental control to tune out the abuse being inflicted upon him. He had become numb shortly afterward as his energy levels dropped, before he had eventually slipped into stasis.

Prowl shifted and winced, his frame was aching all over, even his sensory panels ached to move and felt stiff as though they had been wrenched. He had no doubt that Ricochet had continued his punishment long after he’d lost consciousness, the mech had been so intently focused on what he was doing that it was unlikely he’d have noticed Prowl fall into stasis.

The thought was disconcerting to say the least but not more so than the overwhelming urge Prowl currently was experiencing to offline every last Autobot in the base. His processor was feeding him plan after tactical plan of all the different methods he would have at his disposal once his battle computer reactivated. Most involving swift, deadly in handling enemies hand to hand and Prowl intended on utilising each one to his full advantage.

Managing to push himself up to sitting with a heavy groan, Prowl stared blankly at the walls of the office come cell. He focused on the tactics of a potential escape while his automatic program worked diligently on his firewalls. His face was grim, his spark cold and numb in his chest. He was going to do everything he possibly could to get them off this planet. He’d given Sunstreaker his word and it was going to take a force of Primus himself to stop him from keeping it.

After all, Prowl thought to himself bitterly - as his HUD flashed the activation of his eighth firewall – he had nothing else left to lose.

A/N: Not beta'd so bear with me. And I'm sorry for the delay. I got a new job last week and have let everything get away from me so I'm sorry this is shorter than expected but there is epic battle to follow. We're nearing the end now folks!

Cybertron

The voices were hushed, tense and occasionally heated. Prowl kept his optics offline and tuned his audios in. His alter ego was in the room talking to another 'bot whose voice he couldn't quite place.

"You know I'm right Prowl." The other mech insisted.

"It's the only way to crush all who oppose us. You want Cybertron great again, just like I do. We do this and it's ours all of it." Prowl responded calmly.

"I am aware, I did formulate the plan WITH you." The mech vented air loudly and slapped his palms on the desk in exasperation. "So why have you assigned me to join him? You know full well I can carry out the mission without being assigned to Prime"

Prowl's voice was cool, collected. "Rodimus you know as well as I do that Prime will only be suspicious when I don't assign you to the Earth mission. Me he trusts, you he'd rather offline. You have managed to rile him with your consistent attempts to overthrow him, you have not endeared yourself and he would rather keep you near so he knows exactly what you're up to. It goes ahead as planned." He placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward. "This is our final chance to be rid of Prime and the Decepticons, I trust you can manage to carry out my instructions." His voice lowered dangerously. "If you deviate Rodimus I will offline you myself... slowly."

"One of these solar cycles Prowl, you're going to meet your match and I hope I'm around to see them tear you apart."

"Your sentiment is spark warming." Prowl responded dryly. "Now if there's nothing else, I have much to prepare."

The mech growled in angry frustration and stormed from Prowl's office. The mech listening on the floor maintained the pretense of being in recharge while Prowl activated his internal comm system.

//He's been told.//

//Yes I understand, I'll make sure of it.//

//It will be sent through as you requested//

//Earth will be destroyed taking the space bridge with it, they will have no opportunity to escape but what about...//

His voice dropped in what could only be described as disappointment. //Yes, I understand.// The comm signal was cut and all trace of the brief display of emotion from Prowl had dissipated. This was what he had been planning for vorns and nothing, NOTHING was going to stand in his way. This was the closest they'd ever come to reclaiming Cybertron and he wasn't about to jeapordise that for sentiment.

****

He couldn't remember how long he'd been sat on the floor of the office but thankfully he had been without disturbances for the duration since his counterpart had left on an urgent call from Prime.

Prowl grimaced his optics dimming and flickering as he activated the first of five final firewalls. These had proven difficult, especially with his dwindling energy reserves. A sharp groan escaped his vocaliser when the firewall sent rippling tendrils of energy throughout his circuits. He was still under the influence of the slave programming but now he could at least resist to a point. His thoughts drifted to the others, he wished he knew how they were faring.

His optics onlined and he stared at the door, he had waited long enough, he had calculated the risks and if it meant he got to find and potentially help the others then he was willing to accept them. With a wince and a grunt of effort, Prowl half crawled, half stumbled to the door and digging his fingers into the door lock, proceeded to rip the panel from the wall. He removed a small part of his armour from his forearm and picked out a deft cable, none too gently. He hissed at the contact and diverted some of his processor into hacking the door lock. The door clicked and Prowl let out a sigh of relief.

It was quiet in the corridor, Prowl had no doubt that the corridor was being monitored but he had past the point of being concerned for his own welfare. Focused only on finding his companions he made the presumption that the grand palace was designed in much the same manner as the one he recalled from his Cybertron. Working on that theory he set off, keeping as close to the wall as he could as much for support as it was for stealth. The alarm would be raised very soon, if his counterpart was anything to go by, he had very little time to find them, he only hoped he wasn't already too late.

****

Ironhide snarled, his upper lip component curling in satisfaction, his hands gripping the helm tightly as he jerked once roughly and grunted loudly with a heavy punch to the golden helm.

"Ooohh yeeesss... right where I want you." He glared down at the golden 'bot between his legs and shoved him away viciously. "Teach ya to disrespect me ya slaggin' glitch!"

Sunstreaker grunted into the floor, his frame shaking with pure rage yet unable to react, or fight back. "Gonna' kill you... gaaahhh" He growled, his vocals muffled by the floor. He dared to resist as energon smeared across face, only to have Ironhide shove back harder, ramming his head into the floor.

"Ya disgust me ya nothin' better than a Primus cursed defect. N' I'm gonna' beat that spunk right outta ya"

"How will you do that when both your arms are broken?"

Ironhide's helm snapped up at the cool smooth and deadly vocals. He had no chance to react before he was slammed in the face hard. The force of the blow, whited out his optics and sent him sprawling on the floor with a sharp yelp of pain. He felt a heavy weight press on his frame, and a dirty cleaning rag, moist with his own transfluid was shoved into his mouth leaving him unable to speak. His protests were incoherent mumblings as he swiped blindly wild at his assailant. Scratching and kicking out beneath the weight pinning him to the floor, he winced when his flailing arm was grabbed and twisted harshly.

Hot air vented near to his audio and that voice made him freeze on the spot as the grip tightened on his arm, wrenching it from the socket, dislocating the joint. "You're fortunate I will stop at just your arms."

Ironhide's blurry optics grew wider as the voice drew back. A resounding crack followed by a splintering snap filled the room. Ironhide screamed himself hoarse as his arms were broken with cruel, brutal efficiency.

Sunstreaker flinched when Ironhide's howls filled the room, only for a second before he fell silent with a whimper and a sickening thud. The front liner's optics widened when the warped and dented wall panel clattered to the floor in front of him. Peering up his spark did a leap in his chest.

"I have never been happier to see you in my fraggin' life." He cursed as Prowl helped him to his feet.

Glancing over at the severely incapacitated Ironhide, Sunstreaker whistled silently and shot Prowl a dubious glance. "Are you alright? You seem off even for you."

Prowl met his questioning optics with a cold, emotionless glare. "I managed to re-route my emotional subroutines through my battle computer."

"You mean you feel nothing?"

Shaking his head Prowl began searching the room. "No I can feel, I'm just unaware of the emotions for the time being. It is more conducive for escape if I am not hindered by doubt, fear or concern."

Sunstreaker stared at him blankly. "What are you looking for?"

"Energon." Prowl found Ironhide's personal store and handed three cubes to Sunstreaker. "Store these we're going to need them" He quickly drank a cube himself and gestured for Sunstreaker to do the same. The black and white retrieved a rifle from Ironhide's offline form.

"I thought you were going to stop at his arms." The golden mech couldn't tear his gaze away from the crumpled form of the mech, his chassis already fading to grey. Energon spread slowly across the floor, pooling beneath Ironhide's frame, seeping from his crushed helm, the sight chilled Sunstreaker's spark, Prowl had been brutal.

Prowl followed his gaze and remained stoic, impassive. "I deemed him to be too great a risk to be kept alive and if I told him he was about to die, he would have fought harder and that would have been inefficient." He ignored Sunstreaker's gaping stare and headed for the door. "Let's go, we need to find the seekers and we don't have much time."

Sunstreaker had no choice but to follow his SIC, casting one last worried glance back at the dead mech, Sunstreaker gritted his denta and prayed to Primus that they could escape before Prowl became as cold sparked as their captors.

****

Starscream hissed as he shifted, his optics darting to the Prime currently having a heated debate over his comm. It seemed that things weren't going at all well back on Earth. For this Starscream was glad, at least there was still hope for his 'verse. He stifled a groan, trying not to shift too much lest he draw attention to himself. He probed the trine link shared with Thundercracker. There was a faint trickle of the other seeker's presence, this concerned him greatly. He forced himself not to think about what Ratchet might be doing to him, if the Autobot was anything like his Prime, then it would be something callous and painful no doubt. Starscream grimaced, this more than likely explained Thundercracker's faint response across their sparks.

//This is unacceptable! How could you let this happen?//

Starscream stilled at the sound of Prime's booming roar.

//Find him or you will be the one to suffer Prowl, inform Ratchet to dispose of Ironhide's shell and...// His sharp optics suddenly rested on the form of Starscream in the corner of his room, glaring back at him sullenly. A strange look crossed his face. //Disregard that order, I have a much better idea.// His optics snapped back to his glare as he continued the comm call. //Ensure contingencies are in place. Do not fail me Prowl.//

The comm was cut and Prime looked toward Starscream with narrow optics. "You are going to prove much more useful to me afterall." He made his way over and grabbed Starscream roughly, hauling him to his feet. "Not just the attractive accessory I had envisaged."

****

//internal comm//

Earth

//You can't think about that right now.//

Megatron cycled a heavy bout of air through his vents, the plan was getting dangerous enough without a fraggin' Autobot getting an attack of conscience.

//We stick to the plan, forget about him, he will be dealt with. There are too many of us here, he can't defeat us. Not when we have outside help.//

There was a chime to Megatron's private quarters, he turned sharply and glared at the intruding mech. "I thought I said no disturbances."

"You did Lord Megatron but... it's the Autobots."

"What about them?"

Rumble flinched at the growled out words. "They're here... Jazz is demanding to speak with you."

Megatron felt his spark plummet it was too soon. His mouth set into a grim line of determination.

"I'll be out in a moment."

"But Sir?"

"GO!"

The small mech quailed beneath Megatron's powerful gaze and fled the room with a squeak of fear. Turning back to glare at the wall; the silver mech un-muted his comm.

//Seems things have changed. They're here now. Stick to your part of the plan, and we will be rewarded with Cybertron as our prize yet. Do you hear me Prowl? Stick to the plan.//

He cut his comm sharply and readied his mounted cannon, growling softly with irritation he marched out to meet his enemy.

Jazz bristled with hatred when the silver mech exited one of the nearby buildings. "Megatron, ah hope yer ready t'face yer maker."

"Do your worst Autobot scum; you have already lost this war." He jutted his chin out proudly, standing tall his cannon aiming straight for Jazz. He wouldn't fire first, that simply wasn't the Decepticon way. He may have made a deal with as the humans said, the devil, but he hadn't betrayed who he was quite yet. "You just don't realise it yet, betrayed from within by those you trusted, foolish, foolish Jazz. You'll never learn."

The visored mech snarled viciously and shot Megatron where he stood, sending the silver mech spinning with a pained roar as plating blew out of his back. It had struck his chest, off-center narrowly missing his spark.

Chaos erupted around him but the Decepticon group found themselves severely outnumbered as the Autobots sprang up weapons drawn, absolutely ready and hankering for a fight.

Megatron winced as he was helped up to sitting. He frowned at the seeker. "You should have stayed with Starscream." He grimaced as his throbbing wound oozed energon at an alarming rate.

Thundercracker smiled humourlessly. "I did, I didn't come to help, guessing you weren't planning on having guests."

Jazz was heading straight for them. Megatron pushed Thundercracker off him. "Go, get out of here. Tell Starscream... just go."

"I'll come back, stay alive... Sir." He gave Megatron a squeeze of his shoulder and leapt into the sky, narrowly avoiding the sharp aim of Jazz's weapon. "Just hang on, we'll be back. All of us."

Megatron peered up after the trail of the seeker and with sheer determination turned to face Jazz who was bearing down on him with irrepressible fury.

"Get up!" Jazz hauled the fallen leader up by his collar fairing. He was a much smaller mech but possessed a frightening level of strength. He dragged the silver mech to the clearing and gestured to the captured group of Decepticons who had chosen to follow Megatron.

"'Cons you have two choices. Surrender or die." His smooth vocals lowered to a menacing growl. "I promise you they're both just as equally slow and painful."

"Not really givin' 'em much of a choice then are you... Jazz?"

The mech whirled round to face the 'bot who dared answer him back. His visor flared in surprise at the familiar visage glaring back at him.

"Jazz..." He snarled, his mouth curling into a snarl. "Yer puttin' yer lot in with these pieces of scrap?"

Jazz smirked and shook his head. "No, I'm just not puttin' my lot in with Primus cursed defects like yerself."

The visor of the scarred Jazz flashed dangerously. "Plan t' take us all on Jazz?"

The blue visor dimmed with dangerous ire. "I don't have to." He held his counterpart's glare with steady determination, unwavering and focused. "Question is..."

Prime's powerful resounding vocals boomed through the air. "Are you planning on facing all of us Jazz?" Prime stepped forward, Ironhide and the Aerial bots in tow, followed by Starscream who was leading the rest of the Decepticon forces. Outside the safety of their fortified base, the Autobots based on Earth were vulnerable and outnumbered, but never went down without a fight.

Jazz flashed a glance at his leader and turned back to his alter ego with a smirk. "Looks like you've already shown us all yer hands."

Starscream stepped forward, his optics brightening at the sight of his injured former leader. "Megatron...?"

"I'll survive." The silver mech growled, clutching his chest from his crouched position at Jazz's feet.

"That's what you think." Jazz spun round to point his weapon squarely at Megatron's helm. "I can end it all right now. With you dead, the 'cons will fall like the weak vermin they are."

"Jazz!" Starscream raised his distinctive voice above that of the baying Autobots surrounding them. "Do you really want to do that? You kill him, and another will take his place."

"What you?" Jazz laughed harshly. "You've never led anything in yer cowardly existence 'Screamer, what makes you think you are capable of it now, because of them?" He gestured wildly to the Autobots standing alongside Starscream in a steadfast show of support.

Starscream's mouth quirked in a slight, bitter smile. "No, not because of them." He met Jazz's angry glare with cool red optics, unwavering and uncaring that all gazes were now trained on him. This was it, this was his chance to show true Decepticon worth. "Because I believe we can beat you, all of you." He narrowed his optics at the visored mech and took another step forward, the atmosphere charged with tension. "So the real question Jazz is what will you choose to do?"

"You got noth..."

"Surrender or die?"

Cybertron

Sunstreaker followed Prowl's lead, the black and white hadn't spoken since they left Ironhide's quarters and the golden mech was becoming increasingly unnerved at the silence. "So what's the plan?"

Prowl didn't respond immediately and ducked into a small passageway, dragging Sunstreaker with him to avoid a small contingent of guards. "To survive. Remain quiet." He hissed, his voice was cold, hard. Peering round the corner he gestured for the front liner to follow him.

"Prowl, you've got to give me more to go on than that. Come on work with me here. Where are we going?"

"To get the seekers."

Sunstreaker was still surprised that the thought of rescuing Decepticons sat well within his spark. "Alright, do you know where they are?"

"Thundercracker is with Ratchet in the med bay, Starscream is with Prime."

"Great so we get Thundercracker first, we'll need the help to take out Prime."

Prowl shot him a cold glance. "Thundercracker is safe, I do not believe Ratchet will harm him. Starscream is in greater danger and they will least expect us to try to rescue him first."

"We can't plan a rescue based on a hunch Prowl, we can take Ratchet."

Prowl whirled on the front liner and pinned him to the bulkhead with one firm hand, his gaze steady. "Ratchet embedded a code into my cortex enabling me to access my fire walls and break the slave programming, he will not harm Thundercracker. Now I will tell you once more, be quiet less you want us to be recaptured as our slave programming is still in effect and I have not managed to reactivate my final firewalls."

Frowning at his SIC, Sunstreaker gave a short nod. "You better hope you're right Prowl."

Pulling away and continuing through the dimly lit corridor, Prowl's wings flared out silhouetting him in the darkness. "I don't hope, I know."

They drew closer to where Prowl had discovered Starscream was being held, information gathered from a hacked console en-route. Screams were coming from behind the closed guarded doors. Remaining in the shadows, Prowl halted their progress and gave his weapon to Sunstreaker who stared at him with wide optics.

//Prowl what are you doing?//

//I am going to incapacitate the guards. If I use a weapon, it will alert those inside the room to our presence, we have managed to remain undetected thus far, if we are discovered now we will most certainly fail in our attempt.//

//But Prowl have you seen the size of him? You can't take him on your own!//

//I have encountered Ricochet before and your slave programming is still intact, if it looks like the battle is going sour, you must shoot us both and get yourself and Thundercracker to the space bridge.//

Sunstreaker baulked at Prowl's command and shook his head. //Prowl you're a glitch but I'm not going to shoot you!//

//You won't have a choice, we can't risk being taken prisoner again and used for information or as a bargaining chip against Prime, better two escape than none at all.//

//But Prowl..//

//Follow my orders!//

Sunstreaker recoiled at the ferocity behind Prowl's reply. The black and white glared at him before his face softened somewhat. He gave Sunstreaker's arm a quick squeeze.

//This once Sunstreaker, I'm asking you, please do what I ask.// He held the golden mech's gaze for a split second before turning on his heel and creeping his way toward the pacing, agitated Ricochet.

Ricochet snarled over the sounds of whimpering screams coming from the room. It was nothing he hadn't heard before but this time something was off, he knew it but just couldn't fathom what. The other guard watched him nervously from a half way down the corridor, half hidden in shadow.

"Cool it mech, Prime knows what he's doing."

Ricochet glared at the other guard and continued his pacing. In his distracted ire, he failed to notice the silent wide-optic struggle of the other guard as he was grabbed and fell limp with a sharp jerk. His optics faded and his graying chassis merged with the shadows of the corridor as he was gently laid on the ground.

Prowl knew the only way to beat the larger mech was to take him by surprise. Calculating the best possible chances for success - even them not being particularly promising - he rushed the larger mech, with a silent grace that had earned him his name.

He attacked the surprised mech's vocaliser first, preventing Ricochet from crying out as his fingers attempted to rip out the main energon line in his throat. Much to his chagrin, Prowl realised he hadn't been fast enough, that or he'd underestimated Ricochet's skill level. He stifled a growl as he was shoved from the larger mech and slammed into the adjacent bulkhead with considerable force.

Ricochet was on his feet, towering over the black and white with a distinctive leer on his face. Prowl ducked his strike and took out the mech's legs, taking them both to the floor in a writhing mass of limbs.

Sunstreaker narrowed his optics trying to aim for a clear shot but not having much luck, the mechs were moving too fast for him to take aim and not risk hitting Prowl. "Frag it, come on Prowl, work with me."

Ricochet gained the upper hand quickly and pinned the struggling mech to the floor with a satisfied growl. Prowl met his flaring optics with a certainty that threw the mech's killing blow, halting it in mid-air.

"I'm not finished yet." He hissed and in one quick move jammed a shard of metal into Ricochet's throat, tearing through his energon line when he yanked it back out. Grabbing the makeshift dagger with both hands, uncaring when the razor like edges sliced open his fingers, he plunged the shard repeatedly into Ricochet's chest as hard as he could.

Ricochet went rigid and his mouth fell open in horrified surprise, energon poured from his wounds and the hole in his chest exposing his spark chamber spluttered and sparked. He was shoved to the ground and stared up at this Prowl who apart from the colouration was now indistinguishable from his counterpart. He gritted his denta and met the murderous optics with a bright visor. A burst of static escaped his vocaliser as his spark chamber was pierced and his spark impaled with the shard, that -as he peered down at his chest - he recognised as a twisted panel of armour from his fellow guard.

He grabbed Prowl's arm before he could withdraw the piece of metal and dragged the mech closer. His damaged vocaliser managed to force out his final words. "Just, like... him..."

Prowl's mouth curled up into a snarl and he tore the shard from his chest splitting his spark apart. Ricochet fell limp, his visor flickering once, twice before it dimmed and finally off lined. Prowl stood shakily, his hands and once white and black frame, stained with darkening pink-blue energon. His intakes were heaving in an attempt to cool down his body.

Sunstreaker came up behind him slowly. Prowl's wing panels twitched, detecting his presence. He could feel the front liner's questioning gaze fixed on him. Dropping the shard he lifted his gaze to the still shut door.

"I guess it's now or never then huh?" Sunstreaker asked quietly.

Prowl didn't meet his gaze, he knew how he currently looked to the younger mech, right now survival was his only priority. He was going to keep his word, and although he'd had no intention of killing any of the mechs, their deaths had been unavoidable, hadn't they?

"Now or never." He nodded once and headed for the door.

Sunstreaker could feel his spark slamming into his chest, something about it didn't feel right. The whole set up was too simple, they had encountered little to no resistance, no alarms had been raised and for Autobots as narcissistic and paranoid as these were, that did not sit well with him. Surely Prowl would have drawn the same conclusions right, he glanced at the door winged mech with apprehension, Prowl displayed no trace of doubt on his faceplates. He had never steered him wrong, why would he now?

"You sure about this Prowl?" He adjusted his grip on the weapon. "I mean entering through Prime's front door is a little on the bold side, don't you think?"

Prowl halted and a scowl formed on his face. "Yes." He answered quietly. What was he thinking? This way was sure to mean capture. Something was wrong. "Sunstreaker, take the ventillation shaft, I will sneak in through the front door, at the very least my entrance will be unexpected. If things don't go according to plan..." He stole a stern look at the mech. "You know what to do."

Sunstreaker nodded, at least he still sounded like Prowl, even if his tactics were a little off. He put it down to the slave programming and forced the doubt from his mind. He needed to be focused, he had no choice but to trust Prowl. Heading to the vent, he took one last look at his SIC. "Prowl, be careful." He crawled into the vent missing Prowl's soft response.

"Always."

The black and white mech, tightened his grip on Ricochet's recently obtained weapon and motioned forward. The door was unlocked and the screams had long since faded to silence. He pushed the door aside and stepped inside, thankful that the room was for the most part bathed in shadow. With a quick glance to the shaded vent he ventured forward. All his systems were running on silent, a technique not many mechs had learned to master. His audio picked up soft whimpering from the back end of the room. He crept toward the sound and spied the battered seeker cowering in the corner. He was chained to the floor by his ankles and his frame looked scorched and pitted in various places, undoubtedly from some unspeakable torture, this brand of Autobots was so fond of.

He could detect no other presence in the room. Well aware it could be a trap, he had come too far to quit now. Slinging the weapon over his shoulder he made his way swiftly to Starscream's side. The seeker struggled frantically when he saw him, straining against the bonds around his ankles. His arms out stretched his shook his head with wide optics, gesturing for Prowl to go back. The Autobot froze half way across the room. Starscream's vocaliser was obviously damaged, only bursts of static escaped his open mouth.

Prowl's intakes hitched how could he have been so foolish, his helm tilted downwards to stare at the infrared beam interrupted by his leg. So foolish, why had he acted so rashly? He met Starscream's defeated optics and the room dissipated in a flicker of light. A hologram, he should have known, it had all been too easy. He spun round only to find himself trapped by a cage of energon lasers, he tried to push his hand through and cried out in pain as the searing laser burnt through his armour plating, melting the metal to his protoform.

Starscream pressed his palm against the clear window separating him from the room Prowl was in. It had all been an elaborate trap with him as bait. He hadn't expected Prowl to fall for it and could only conclude that something had been altered in his processor for him to be so easily duped. Red optics met blue and Starscream knew from the look on Prowl's face that he knew, he knew that something was very wrong. The black and white spun round as Prime and his counterpart entered the room.

"Well I am surprised your counterpart was so easily captured Prowl."

The black and chrome mech sneered smugly. "It's a code embedded in the slave programming. As soon as he attempted to break the programming, it activated, it corrupted his tactical sub-routines, replacing them with ones I pre-programmed."

Prime quirked a curious ridge at his SIC. "I sometimes wonder how many surprises you can keep springing on me Prowl."

The darker mech bowed his head in respect. "None without your approval my Lord."

"Indeed." Prime scowled at the black and white. "He managed to kill both Ironhide and Ricochet, my two best body guards, was that factored into your equations?"

"My apologies Sir, I believe I may have been a little over zealous with aspects of the program, in order to make it more believable.

Prime stepped forward his arms outstretched. "Well, where is the other one Prowl?"

The mech ducked his helm, his expression remaining stoic. "I have the base on high alert, wherever he is, he won't get far. I can only presume that Prowl here realised something was wrong and diverted him elsewhere."

Prime took a threatening step towards his officer, when his comm buzzed. //Yes! Go ahead.//

His frown morphed into a predatory scowl. //Understood, prepare everyone, we leave immediately.//

Prowl looked up at his words. "Sir?"

Prime growled. "The base on Earth is under attack. Looks like my counterpart decided to help after all. We'll be leaving Cybertron immediately. Prowl you have command until I return." He glared at the smaller black and white. "Send him to the ARC."

He whisked impatiently from the room, leaving only Prowl with a small contingent of guards. He gestured for them to remove his alter ego. "Do not worry Prowl." His finger traced along his jaw line mockingly. "Your time has not come. The following cycles however will be... agonising, so you'll wish it had. Take him away."

He glared at Starscream and lowered the solid field between them a strange, dangerous look in his optics. Touching a finger to his comm he tensed.

//Rodimus, yes it's time. You will go with Prime, I will take care of the space bridge.// His leer widened at the obvious litany of curses echoing through his comm. //Your sacrifice will be remembered Rodimus, think nothing of it.//

He cut the signal and stepped up to the seeker, peering down at him curiously. "Getting sympathetic Starscream? You tried to warn Prowl an Autobot." He shook his head and smiled a cold, unfeeling smile. "So unwise."

A pair of blue piercing optics watched the darker mech bear down on the whimpering seeker, his denta clenched painfully, he fought back the growl threatening to escape his vocaliser. Stealthily he slipped back the way he came through the vent. He only had one place left to go, he just hoped Prowl had been right about Ratchet.

a/n some death and fighting this chapter sorry about the wait!

SG Earth

Jazz snarled at the repetition of his initial threat. He whirled on Starscream and fired his weapon, only to be tackled by a flash of red as Ironhide barreled into him at full force sending his shot wide and them crashing hard into the floor.

Starscream readied his weapons and raised his voice over the din of the grappling mech. "ATTAAAACKK!"

The Decepticons turned on their stunned captors and all out chaos broke out.

Jazz shot a glance at Prime who gave a subtle short nod. The visored mech nodded and launched himself into the fray. His speed and agility taking a lot of the Autobots by surprise as he tackled them one on one.

"Autobots." Prime's voice was sullen. "Aim to maim, not kill." He drew his weapon and followed after Jazz.

The two aerial bots leapt into the sky and began taking pot shots at vulnerable Autobots, making sure just to injure them.

First Aid took a deep intake and from his cover behind a rock formation started taking aim where he could. He hissed when he saw Ironhide receive a cheap shot from the alternate Jazz, dropping heavily to the ground. Making sure to stay low, he ran to the fallen mech and tried to haul him out of the way.

Ironhide snarled and grabbed his arm. "Don't bother, just patch me up 'Aid. I'll be fine."

"But?"

"Just do it!"

First Aid frantically did as he was told, and managed to seal off Ironhide's injury stifling the flow of energon. The red mech was up on his feet and back into the fray once more. Leaving First Aid to shake his head. A flash and a cry sounded out from his left and gathering his kit, he rushed off to lend aid to the Decepticons who were less used to an all out battle and had taken injuries already.

Skywarp, joined the alternate Thundercracker in the sky and began to mow down Autobots with deadly precision. He heard the other jet laugh coldly.

"Impressive!" He called out. "Let's show them what we can both do." He grinned and dive bombed towards the battle below.

Skywarp smirked and followed from the opposite direction. The two jets crossed in the air slowing down only long enough to let rip with their weapons. They had no such inclination not to offline and offline they did. They performed a terrifying feat of aerial acrobatics, sending the Autobots below into a a dizzying panic as they tried to figure out where the next attack from above was coming from.

Prime headed for Megatron and hauled him out of the way of the battle. The silver mech stared up at him incredulously.

"I thought you said you wouldn't help us."

Prime's expression was grim. "The situation has changed. Now stay here you're too injured to fight."

Megatron grabbed onto the large mech's shoulder and hauled himself to his feet. "Ha! Prime the day I spend a battle on my back is the day I lay down for the Autobots. And that is not happening as long as I have my spark."

Optimus couldn't help but smile. "Spoken with courage. If only the Megatron I know was so dedicated."

"The Megatron you know is a fool." Leaning on Optimus he readied his cannon. "Work with me?"

Prime gave a short determined nod. "I'm with you."

The two leaders made a formidable team as more Autobots poured over the ridge. Covering each other's afts and still barking orders to their respective teams. They picked off Autobots with their weapons until it became impossible to do so. Then they grappled with a group of Autobots who considered themselves capable of taking down the two leaders.

"When will Autobots learn Prime?" Megatron called back over his shoulder as he sent another Autobot crashing into the dust.

"I have no idea what you mean." Prime shouted back, twisting as he did so and launching another 'bot into the rock face.

"You'll never win anything if you don't fight dirty!"

Prime merely shook his head as he blocked a strike from a much smaller mech and charging him fiercely. "Skill Megatron we'll use skill."

The silver mech let out a sharp noise of laughter and fired his cannon at a group of charging Autobots.

Starscream practically flew at the alternate Jazz, almost receiving a shot in the wing for his trouble, from the new Jazz.

"Watch it mech! What are you tryin' t'do?" Jazz yelled fiercely.

Starscream turned and glared. "He's mine."

Jazz merely raised up his hands and headed off to give Ironhide some relief. "With pleasure. Don't get slagged alright?"

Starscream smirked and turned back to the currently preoccupied Autobot. "Don't intend to."

Firing his boosters he flew at the visored mech and snatched him from the grasp of one of his subordinates. He soared high into the air clutching tightly onto the struggling 'bot.

"Ya think ya can take me 'screamer!" The mech yelled up at him, only to snarl in frustration when he was ignored. He pulled out a blade, taking a quick glance below him and hacked into one of the appendages.

Starscream hissed but didn't relinquish his grip. He tossed Jazz into the air and skillfully transformed completely and grabbed him by the throat. "For everything you've ever done to me." His voice was low, quiet, dangerous. "Let's see how well you fly."

Jazz's visor brightened considerably in shock as Starscream let him go. His tanks lurched as weightlessness hit him and he tumbled out of the sky. He cried out as he spun and saw how high Starscream had taken them. "Slag."

Starscream watched with dark satisfaction as the evil Autobot fell.

Activating his comm Jazz screamed at Powerglide to get him. Soon enough the red mech was in sight and Jazz felt a surge of relief, only to roar in rage as Skywarp intercepted the 'bot and took out his wings, sending him into a free fall.

"NOOOO!" Jazz flailed wildly as the ground rapidly approached, off lining his optics at the last moment, before he greeted the ground.

SG Cybertron

Prowl left the room with a vaguely smug smirk. The seeker wasn't going to be going anywhere, for a while at least. He made his way to the ARC and stood to the side with calculating optics as the black and white mech screamed in agony within its chamber.

Nobody really understood what the ARC did to a mech's systems, only that it was a punishment you did not want to receive. The few that had been subjected to it, had barely spoken of its effects, only that it was the worst agony they had ever felt.

There were rumours that the chamber did things to a mech's spark, warped it somehow. Prowl never gave any credence to these rumours and was merely content in the fact that it worked and it worked well.

His optics narrowed as another piercing scream left the chamber. He rested a hand on the guard's shoulder. "That's enough, let him out."

"But Sir?"

"I want him at least half way sane for what I require him for, so release him." He turned his cold glared onto the mech. "Don't make me have to ask you twice."

The guard flinched a little and lowered the power on the chamber and released the force shield.

Prowl stepped forward and regarded the collapsed black and white curiously. "Your specs are almost indistinguishable from my own and with my program in place controlling your aggression, this is going to work perfectly."

He grabbed the mech roughly and lifted him to his feet. The black and white was barely holding onto consciousness and leaned into the hold heavily. "You have a date with the good Doctor Prowl." The darker mech mused, guiding the struggling 'bot from the chamber. "Try to hold yourself together until then."

Rodimus cut off his comm with an angry snarl. "That two timing son of a glitch!" He fumed and debated telling Prime of the conversation. Only to realise that Prime would offline them both without hesitation. "He knew, the fragger knew."

"Knew what Rodimus."

The red mech froze as the powerful voice boomed out behind him. Much to his horror he glanced back at the intimidating visage of Prime. "Sir… I thought you'd gone on ahead with the rest of the task force."

"You thought wrong." Prime took a step closer, his optics narrowing. "Now, care to tell me what your comm call was all about?"

"Sir it was… it was nothing. I was simply arguing with one of the technicians of the space bridge Sir..." He stumbled back as Prime motioned towards him, his intakes all but stalling.

"There's apparently something wrong with it, they've found something." That was it, he could point the finger at Prowl without ever confessing his involvement.

The red mech squeaked when Prime snatched him by the throat. "Rodimus, do you take me for a fool?"

"My Lord… I…"

"I heard your comm call Rodimus. What do you think I am without hacking capabilities? How do you think I've stayed supreme ruler for so long?"

Rodimus could only open his mouth but was unable to vocalize, he had been caught.

"It will be easier for you if you just tell me."

"Prowl Sir. He's planning on overthrowing you. He is going to wipe out the Decepticons once he does, he's working with one of them. I don't know who… but he's betrayed all of us, he never had any intention to share power. He rigged the slave Prowl to kill your body guards and eliminate them as threats to him. Ricochet knew of his plans so he had to kill him. Jazz too but he doesn't know of our involvement, he's loyal to you, he thinks Prowl is too but…"

"But?"

"The space bridge he's going to blow it when you go through, well I was meant to… but he's betrayed me too. Sir I can help you, I know him…"

Prime let out an almighty laugh, throwing his head back as he did so before glaring at the smaller mech. "I know him better than anyone and you… you've already helped enough."

"Please my Lord have mer-"

A loud resounding crack filled the air and Prime dropped the limp, graying shell of Rodimus. His head twisted at a horrifying angle, energon oozing from his main torn energon line.

Prime narrowed his optics in the direction of the space bridge and opened his comm.

/Red Alert./

/Sir?/

/Go through the space bridge, kill any Decepticons you find, and those other Autobots./

/You're not coming Sir?/

/Not just yet, there is an urgent matter to attend to here. Inform Prowl that I have already gone through the space bridge./

/Understood Sir./

Prime gave a nod and headed in the direction of the grand palace. He was going to rid himself of all of his enemies, once and for all.

SG Earth

"Is it possible Prime?"

"I'm working on it Ironhide! First Aid progress?"

The medic almost quailed beneath the barked voice. "I'm almost done Prime, I'm not sure how long it will last."

"It'll have to be enough."

"Yes Sir."

Prime turned to the still battling chaos behind him. /Jazz, Bumblebee, you think you can keep them off our backs?/

/Nothin' t' it Sir./

Prime shook his head, practically hearing Jazz's grin through the comm.

/You'll not know they're here Sir./ Came Bumblebee's confident reply.

Prime gave a nod, trusting his mechs to hold their ground. Since the alternate Jazz had fallen, rather gruesomely to his death the Autobots had crumbled as a fighting force, a number of them fleeing back to their base, only to be followed by the seekers and picked off brutally one at a time.

The tide was turning but they were outnumbered. Reinforcements were on their way and they needed help, the Autobots were relentless and merciless in their attacks.

"Now First Aid!"

The space bridge hummed to life, the vortex swirling in its centre before a bright flash lit up the area and the wormhole came into being. Prime quickly activated his comm and sent a message through to Perceptor. With any luck they were still guarding the space bridge and would be able to react to his message with the efficiency he hoped Red Alert would be enforcing.

/Prime! It's good to hear your voice./ Perceptor sounded overjoyed to hear his leader safe and sound.

/Save the pleasantries for later Perceptor, I need ever mech we can spare here now. Do not leave the base vulnerable. Send me, Wheeljack, Hound, Mirage and Tracks. Also the Dinobots, they'll tip the odds in our favour./

/Favour? Sir what's happening, did you manage to rescue them?/

/What's happening is we're fighting a war. Make it happen Perceptor./

/Right away Sir./

The comm line was cut. Prime place a hand on First Aid's shoulder. "Keep the door open as long as possible."

First Aid gave a nervous nod and focused on the controls. Hoping that reinforcements came through sooner rather than later.

"What the frag is that?" Sideswipe cried out, suddenly stalling in his tracks.

Prime and First Aid followed his wide optic gaze and their jaws dropped.

"They have Omega Supreme."

Sideswipe shot a look at Optimus. "Can't we bring our Omega through?"

Prime pointed a finger at First Aid. "Relay the message. Omega comes too." He readied his weapon. "Ready Sideswipe?"

"Always Prime." He smirked darkly. "Anything to get Sunny back."

Prime returned the sentiment with gritty determination. "We'll get him back. We'll get all of them back."

SG Cybertron

Prowl struggled through the bleary haze of semi-consciousness as he was dragged through the corridors by his counterpart.

"What did you do… to me?"

The darker mech simply let out a short laugh. "I reprogrammed you to be more useful to me Prowl. In trying to escape, you took out Prime's protection and threats to my rule."

"You made me kill them?"

"No, you made you kill them. I just rearranged parts of your emotional sub-routines so you wouldn't be as affected by the guilt. You can thank me later."

"I don't want to thank you." He struggled futilely in the firm grip, still too weak from his punishment in the ARC. "I want to give you the same treatment I gave them."

The darker Prowl laughed again and tugged the black and white so he was flush and dug in his claws, hard enough to twist the plating. "You are my slave Prowl, you really think I would be so foolish as to not install a failsafe into the programming. You try to harm me, your programming eradicates your sub-routines. All of them. Making you no better than a drone."

He continued on his way, dragging the mech with him. "This, you'll appreciate is a rather prudent course of action considering everything I have planned for you."

"What are you going to do?"

"You'll see Prowl, you'll see soon enough."

He swiftly turned a corner and punched in the code of the room they'd stopped at. He drew out his rifle and stood Prowl in front of him. The door slid open revealing the med bay.

Thundercracker spun round sharply, almost hiding Ratchet's shocked expression.

"Oh give it up Ratchet. I know you've been helping them. There isn't much that goes on without my noticing." Prowl snarled, shoving the black and white in front of him.

"Oh pretty 'bot, you can come out now. I know you're here."

Sunstreaker stepped out from behind Ratchet, his glare deadly, his weapon trained on the darker Prowl. "Let him go, before I turn you into melted scrap."

"Primus, is that all you have? It's a wonder you have survived this long. You shoot at me, you'll kill your dear Prowl here. Now I'm inclined to let you live, albeit under my control. I just want one thing."

Ratchet scowled. "What?"

"Turn me into him."

Sunstreaker launched forward enraged, only to be grabbed by the larger seeker and held back.

"No." Ratchet jutted out his chin and stood firmly.

Prowl quirked an optic ridge and smirked. Shifting his weapon, a shot rang out and made solid impact into the golden front liner sending him sprawling onto his back.

"Do it, or I kill them all and you can be my little slave."

"You're insane."

"So I'm told."

Ratchet gestured to the berth and activated a force shield that separated them from Sunstreaker and Thundercracker.

"Good thinking medic. Now I know this won't take you long, so let's get started we don't have much time."

"Why are you doing this?" Ratchet asked quietly as he helped strap the black and white onto the berth.

"Prime is coming. I do not wish to be found."

"He'll kill you both."

"The risk is minimal. Prime enjoys having me around for his own pleasure, he will no doubt wish to keep this Prowl as his trophy."

"But he'll think this Prowl is you."

The darker mech's face broke into a dark smile. "Precisely."

SG Earth

Prime turned to see the space bridge flicker, their wormhole had faded, leaving them vulnerable once more. He had every faith in Perceptor, the scientist would have saved the coordinates and he trusted that help would be on the way soon. His spark surged when the space bridge powered into life.

"Prime we got incoming!" Jazz hollered ducking a barrage of fire from the gigantic Omega Supreme.

First Aid raced towards him, weaving his way through the fight with frantic urgency, skidding to a halt. "Sir it's not ours."

"Frag." Prime muttered under his breath. "Alright Autobots regroup, we need to concentrate our efforts on Omega before the enemy receives reinforcements. He's your priority. Let's take him down." He finished with a growl, prompting a smirk from Megatron nearby.

Their efforts redoubled against the huge Autobot. The mechs at his feet currently forgotten as they attacked Omega from all sides. The Aerial bots dive bombed around Omega's head, frustrating the large 'bot who swatted at them like they were flies.

"Jazz can you get up there?"

"I'll need a lift Prime."

Prime turned to Starscream who was fighting close by Megatron, the two 'con leaders standing shoulder to shoulder on the same side. The scientist gave Prime a nod. "Consider it done."

"Thank you and Starscream, try not to drop this one."

The jet laughed as he grabbed Jazz and leapt into the air. "No promises Prime."

Megatron sidled up to the leader, his back to Prime. "Optimus your help better arrive soon, because the enemy just got their reinforcements."

Prime smiled as he caught sight of the space bridge. "No they didn't Megatron, they're here for us."

Sideswipe grinned as Mirage and Tracks leapt straight into the fight, adding a much needed boost to their numbers. "Damn fine to see you mech!"

"I can assure you the feeling is not mutual." Mirage dead pan tone already had Sideswipe laughing as he took out another 'bot.

"Always a pleasure Raj always a pleasure."

"Enough of your yabberin'" Boomed Ironhide letting off a series of concussive explosives he'd helped Wheeljack plant. "Let's get some helms cracked!"

"Couldn't have put it better myself." Hound grimaced as he smashed a 'bot in the face uncaring as to his identity.

"Where's Sunstreaker, Prowl?" Tracks hollered back over the din of explosions.

Sideswipe let out a lowly, intimidating growl. "They're MIA."

Tracks almost stopped dead in his tracks at Sideswipe's gruff tone. "They're not..." He daren't finish the words.

Sideswipe snarled and fired his weapon with successive rounds. "Not if I can help it, they won't be. Get shooting mech, we've got two glitches to rescue."

Tracks was spurred on by Sideswipe's confidence and armed his weapon and ran into the fray after the red frontliner.

The Autobots finally managed to gain the upper hand, managing to finally push back the enemy over the ridge as the majority fled.

Jazz tapped Starscream when he was ready to drop, but at that moment Omega made a lucky grab for the jet and Starscream cried out as he was batted into a rock face. Jazz found himself free falling towards the mech. His visor focused on a prime spot and he shot his grappling hook out from his arm. It latched onto the mech and snapped taut and with a jolt to his arm, he swung round and down into Omega's side. Grunting with the impact, Jazz paused for a second and began to use the line to climb up the plating of the large mech.

Omega let out a roar of anger and twisted in an attempt to grab the small, lithe and fast moving saboteur. Jazz was too quick and gripped his blade in his mouth as he climbed up. Clutching at the gaps of his plating Jazz hauled himself up to the base of Omega's neck, his blade hacked into the large energon line. Omega screamed in fury and Jazz held on for dear life as the mech thrashed. He buried his explosive into the crook of the neck and activated the three second delay.

Without hesitation he launched himself from the mech and landed heavily on the floor, luckily planting himself in the middle of a sand dune cresting the ridge of the valley.

He ducked down when a loud explosion reverberated through the air, followed by an almighty thunderous roar as Omega Supreme fell and lay unmoving. His plating darkening to a bland shade of grey.

It didn't take much longer for the rest of the enemy Autobots to be taken down or captured. Prime ordered them to encircle the space bridge ready for when his counterpart arrived. They had all but taken Earth, next target was the Autobot base. If this meant he would get his mechs back safely then so be it. Prime would do what it took, he knew Prowl and Sunstreaker would do the same for him.

Soon enough the space bridge whirred to life and the contingent of Autobots and Decepticons stood ready to face the task force. The travelers exiting the bridge however, knew what lay in wait for them and they came out firing.

Chaos ensued once more as the unlikely alliance once again fought for their survival and freedom.

Jazz touched Prime's arm briefly and met his questioning gaze with intense optics. "Let me go."

Prime frowned. "Jazz it's too dangerous I can't..."

"Prime I can do this, they need us, this could be our only chance. I have the coordinates for our 'verse from 'Aid, let me go. Let me bring back our mechs. It's time they came home."

Prime clenched his jaw and growled softly. "Go, I want all three of you back."

Jazz gave him a quick nod and raced towards the flickering space bridge. He weaved gracefully through the fighting mechs and took a last glance back at the scene before diving into the event horizon. The vortex shimmered, groaned and died shortly afterward in a shower of sparks and blown circuitry as the bridge shorted out.

Prime jumped back into the battle, barking orders left and right, spotting Jazz's exit. "Good luck Jazz." He opened fire on another 'bot making a bee line for the still fighting Ironhide. He was determined to give Jazz, Prowl and Sunstreaker something to come back to.