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A/N: Alright here it is posted earlier because is it's easier to do today than on Fridays. This is my new fan fic. It has hopefully been edited from the more grown up version on FFN but still contains elements of violence, torture and implied character death so please don't read if you don't like that sort of thing. This is strictly my PG13 version so please enjoy! Comments are always welcome.

This is based mostly in the Shattered Glass Universe - It's all G1
****

SG Cybertron.Crossing into Perdition.

He watched from the balcony. His narrow optics staring, unfeeling across the vast city, his heavily armoured, deep purple and black frame glinting in the light, scars in the metal all too visible, telling the tales of many a battle, of yet another enemy defeated. It was all his, everything within his grasp was conquered and submitted to his rule. Many worlds, including his own. He had not faced a direct challenge to his dominion in some time. Even Megatron had taken refuge off the planet, residing instead on the nearby moon base. The Decepticon’s forces were seriously depleted after his last offensive strike.

The bold move had surprised him, it was not like Megatron to directly challenge him, and it had something to do with the newly conquered organic planet known as Earth. Something about its inhabitants had put fire into Megatron’s spark and he had fought to protect them. The space bridge had still gone ahead and now the planet was his to control, to mine for all its resources using the fleshy populace as slaves.

His hands gripped the balcony rail tightly. Grinding his dentals together harshly, Optimus Prime growled in dissatisfaction. A whole stellar cycle had gone by and nothing had been heard from Megatron or his forces since he retreated off world. He was planning something. Optimus knew how he thought, better than anyone. He would be ready for him.

He paced from the throne room adorned with trophies from his previous conquests. Heads of his enemies lined the wall as a reminder to anyone who thought they could oppose him. His body guard shifted slightly as he passed him and swiftly fell into step with his leader.

“You’re troubled.” The heavily armoured, black clad body guard rumbled. Optimus shot him a glance. Only a select few of his men were close enough and brave enough to speak so candidly with him. He continued walking.

“Ironhide you know better than to presume what mood I am in.” The guard bowed his head slightly. “No disrespect intended.”

Optimus smirked beneath his black battle mask. “Have we had word from Prowl on Earth?”
Ironhide shook his head. “He’s had some resistance. Believes the ‘cons to be behind it.”

Optimus was thoughtful. “That’s foolish of them. Has Wheeljack finished repairing the space bridge from the last attack?”

“He has.”

Optimus growled softly, pleased. “Maybe I will pay Prowl a visit.”
“I am sure he would welcome it Sir.”

Optimus chuckled darkly. “Oh I doubt that.” He cast a narrow, calculating look towards Ironhide who smirked, his blue optics flashing dangerously.

****

Earth

Bumblebee ducked and fired his shoulder cannon at the approaching seeker. Prowl had managed to reach the space bridge controls and was now laying the explosives to prevent the Decepticons from activating it. The other two seekers lunged at him from behind. He was too fast and agile for them. Leaping out of the way, he landed on his feet, crouched ready to strike. Firing his pulse rifle he caught Skywarp’s wing causing him to yelp in pain and anger. Thundercracker returned fire, launching into the air.

Bumblebee found himself flying through the air, landing with a grunt on the hard rock. He tried to right himself as Starscream came around for another attack, unleashing his chain guns with fury on the yellow scout. Sunstreaker provided cover fire as Bumblebee scrambled out of the way. Starscream shrieked with rage. His optics caught sight of Skywarp tackling Prowl head on. The seeker had advantage of size and brute strength but the slight tactician was agile and quick. Managing to leap onto the seeker’s back and raining down punches on his helm. Starscream dive bombed toward them.

“Prowl look out!” Sunstreaker yelled frantically, Prowl barely looked up before Starscream had plucked him from Skywarp’s back and took off into the sky. The other two Autobots engaged the remaining seekers.

Firing everything they had. It soon came to blows as the seekers struggled to fly due to damage. Bumblebee looked up as he heard Starscream yelp in pain, Prowl had wrapped himself around the jet’s claws and was using a sharp curved blade to hack into his underside. They plummeted to the ground in a terrifying spin. Landing in a cloud of dust in the middle of the space bridge, Prowl luckily had landed on top and managed to scramble free. The other two seekers went to help their trine leader, followed closely by two attacking Autobots.

“Activate the bridge!” Starscream bellowed as they scrambled to get out of range. Prowl pressed the detonator as the Autobots dived behind rocks for shelter.

A blinding flash filled the night sky as the explosion soared into the sky. The bridge’s struts screamed with the strain, the vortex swirling violently, engulfing the debris cloud and the fire. Cries of shock and pain could be heard amidst the thunderous explosion. Then the area fell silent.

A faint shimmer in the air surrounding the space bridge betrayed the open doorway. The console sparked and went dark. There was no sign of any mech in the vicinity. A single weapon lay on the ground abandoned; the only indication there had been anyone in the area.

****

SG Earth

Sunstreaker felt sick as the horrible lurching motion returned, his optics whitened as they were assaulted by bright light. He found himself falling to the ground, landing unceremoniously on his front with a painful grunt.

Bumblebee yelped loudly as he landed on something hard, its jagged edges digging into his frame. He groaned loudly.

“Get off me!” A muffled voice shouted from beneath him. Bumblebee scrambled to his feet, helping Sunstreaker find his. “Where are we?” He asked nervously.

“We’re still on Earth.” Prowl replied as he brushed sand off his black and white frame. He frowned, weapons fire could be heard over the crest of the hill. Sunstreaker climbed up. “Hey looks like we got reinforcements. Decepticons are taking a pounding.”

“Let’s help them, then.” The two eager ‘bots ran towards the fight firing their weapons at the advancing seekers. Prowl slid down the hill launching himself at Skywarp who had hold of what looked like Jazz and was clawing at his chest attempting to eviscerate his spark chamber. He landed on his wings causing Skywarp to yelp in pain and rear back violently sending them both to the ground. He landed heavily on Prowl’s slighter frame. The tactician cried out as the seeker struggled. His blue optics opened as he shoved his heavy frame off him. Noting the scars running along the back of his wings Prowl frowned confused. ‘They weren’t there earlier.’ He hesitated, giving Skywarp chance to get away. Starscream’s shrill voice could be heard over the din.

“Decepticon’s retreat!!”

They departed rapidly, leaving the Autobots cheering in their wake.
“We sure showed them.” Bumblebee exclaimed gleefully. Prowl approached him. “Something’s not right here.”

“Are you kidding me Prowl? We won.” Sunstreaker retorted. Prowl remained silent as he glanced round worriedly. “If that’s the case, then why are they pointing their weapons... at us?” He spoke calmly, his deep voice quiet. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, mimicked by Bumblebee and Sunstreaker who looked a little stunned for words.

A heavily scarred ‘bot stepped forward; his chassis was raked with claw marks across the chest. His black helm was adorned with what looked like claws and his white frame was heavily armoured, they recognised his voice as he addressed them.

“Thanks for your help...” His accented tone was nervous, afraid as his optics hidden by his purple visor, inclined towards Prowl. He stepped forward. “Sir, we weren’t aware that you were going to be fighting with us today...” He drifted off glancing at the other two. “Sorry for the security, but that red one looks awfully like someone I used to know before he joined the Decepticons... and you... I don’t know you at all.” He pointed at Bumblebee. He turned back to face Prowl, as Prowl hid any emotion present in his optics. The mech took in air sharply and stood to attention. “You... um... look different... Sir...”

“Why does he keep calling you Sir?” Bumblebee muttered. Prowl narrowed his optics behind his visor at the mostly white ‘bot in front of him. He looked familiar, but it couldn’t be...

“What is your name?” He asked carefully.

The ‘bot looked surprised as the others around him murmured quietly, tension and fear very present in the atmosphere. “It’s Jazz Sir, you promoted me so I could take the lead in this battle... If I haven’t performed well Sir... then I...”

Prowl held up his hand. “Jazz?” The ‘bot nodded.
Sunstreaker’s confusion finally got the better of him. “You’re not Jazz! Your paint job is totally wrong; Jazz would never let himself get all scratched up like that, and what in Primus has happened to your head?! What’s going on Prowl... and why the slag do they all look like you’re going to rip out their spark at any minute?” He was getting more irritable by the minute.

“Calm down Sunstreaker...”

“Sunstreaker!” Jazz yelled. “The traitor! Shoot him!”

“Wait!” Prowl bellowed as he swiftly stepped in front of the now terrified golden ‘bot his hands out stretched.
“We’re not who you think we are... We came through the space bridge. We’re not supposed to be here.”

“It’s a Decepticon trick!” Someone shouted.

“It’s not a trick!” Bumblebee yelled. “He’s telling the truth.”

“They came with those filthy ‘cons!” Another yelled.

Jazz’s optics narrowed, invisible to the intruders. “I think you better come with us.” He motioned to the soldiers, who gathered round the confused mechs and grasped their arms tightly.
“Restraint will not be necessary.” Prowl stated, pulling his arm free. “Where are we going?”

“Meet the boss.” Jazz answered simply. “Bring the other ‘cons. Make sure they’re bound, don’t want that damned seeker escaping again.”
Bumblebee gasped as he saw the three bound and gagged seekers being led out. They looked like they had been savagely beaten. Prowl’s processor started running overtime. They had not looked that badly injured when they’d fought at the space bridge. Starscream glared at him, his face spattered with energon which dripped onto his chest plating, red optics filled with confusion and anger as they were all led back to the Autobots’ base. Just what in Primus’s name was going on?

****

I'm so glad to see you're posting this! I loved the small parts you've shown me privately, and I can't wait to see how this one unfolds!

a/n eeeekkk!!! The posting is catching up with me if I don't write more soon I am going to be stuck... damnit! Please enjoy

SG Cybertron

“The battle went well. The Decepticons retreated, no losses on our side.”
“Very good. The space bridge is finished. Prime has decided he might like to take a trip out there.”

A deathly silence filled the comm. Rodimus smirked as he watched the second in command falter.

“Is he dissatisfied?” He asked finally.
Rodimus laughed coldly. “Oh you know Prime... when is he ever satisfied?”

Prowl raised the orbital plating above his right optic in response, refusing to be baited. “If Prime wishes to come to Earth, then he will tell me himself and not have a grunt like you do it for him.”

Rodimus growled dangerously. “Glitching SIC or not, you better watch your fraggin’ mouth tactician.” He leaned closer to the screen his voice low, dangerous. Prowl remained impassive, staring back at the blood red mech coldly.

“I thought that he was being pretty slaggin’ courteous if you ask me.” Another voice rumbled through the room. Rodimus’s optics widened and he stiffened visibly.

“Indeed.” A powerful voice responded. Rodimus felt his intakes increase sharply. He snapped around, unable to disguise the slight tremor in his voice. “Sir... I didn’t think you...”

Prime held up his hand his optics looking over the younger mech with disdain. He walked closer stopping just short of the mech. Looking down at him Prime startled him by grabbing his collar faring with one powerful hand. Rodimus emitted a squeak of surprise as his legs kicked free of the floor. He found himself staring straight into the steady, calculating optics of his leader, gripping the hand that held him, he tried to pull away only to have Prime draw him closer sharply.

“You never think it has always been an irritating failing of yours.”

Ironhide smirked behind his leader at the now fearful young mech.

“If I had wanted you to address a senior officer, my SIC no less, I would have asked you to. You will show Prowl respect or I will give him permission to rip out your glossa. Do I make myself clear?”

Rodimus winced as he felt the grip tighten. “Yes, perfectly clear!”
He found himself flung into the far wall, sprawling on his back. Ironhide loomed over him. “I suggest you get out before he really loses patience with you.”

“Slaggin’... gli...”

“Ah...” Ironhide tapped the cannon now pointed directly at Rodimus’s head. “Oh you know I want you to finish that sentence...” He leered menacingly. Rodimus shot up glaring at the black mech who was roughly his size, and stormed out of the room.

“Prowl, I am disappointed to hear you haven’t disposed of the Decepticons at your location.” He left the unspoken threat hanging in the air. Prowl was not as easily intimidated as others, this impressed him enough to keep him as his SIC. His cool, calculating, brilliance was only matched by his ferocious, murderous temper and a deeply ingrained desire to offline every ‘con he met, not always limiting his desire to ‘cons. He had built up a reputation for himself and was feared almost as much as Prime himself was.

Prowl characteristically remained unfazed, if his leader’s words invoked fear, he didn’t show it. “In that case Sir I am pleased to report a recent victory.”
Prime’s optics brightened slightly.

“We have also captured the seeker Starscream and his trine.”
“You captured all three seekers?” Ironhide exclaimed with shock.
“They are being brought to me as we speak by my Lieutenant Jazz.”
“Lieutenant?” Prime enquired quietly.
“Yes Sir, Bluestreak was killed two days ago, I required a capable Commander to lead the men on this mission.”
Prime nodded his acknowledgement.

“There’s another thing Sir...” Prime frowned his SIC sounded uncertain and that was never a promising thing. “We have captured, or rather detained three other Autobots, Jazz believed it too complicated to explain over comm. and is bringing them to my attention with the ‘cons.”

“Really? Interesting. The space bridge has been repaired Prowl. You have done well; I shall forgo my intended visit this time.” Prowl’s door wings visibly relaxed. “Report back to me and bring your guests with you.”
“Yes Sir.”

“Prowl... I ask that you adequately restrain yourself in order to leave them sane enough to be questioned by me.”

The tactician inclined his head in a slight bow of obedience and the comm. fell silent. Ironhide sniggered at the thought, remembering Prowl’s last interrogation of a prisoner. The ‘con in question had spectacularly offlined himself rather than be in the same room as the tactician after no more than an orn.
“You really think he can hold back? You know how he likes to get involved.”

Prime cast a thin smile at his body guard. “If only all my men enjoyed their work as much.” He mused, beckoning to him. “Come Ironhide, I have an impudent young glitch to deal with.”

Ironhide’s face broke into a wide evil grin as he followed his leader from the room.

****

SG Earth

Autobots stared at them as they passed. Their expressions a mixture of fear, suspicion and awe. Nobody smiled in their direction a few even primed their weapons at the sight of the bound trine. Prowl maintained his composure, his processor clocking over steadily as his battle computer calculated possible means of escape if it became necessary.

Bumblebee was beside him, silent, afraid. One of the soldiers jabbed him in the shoulder hard causing him to stumble forward. Prowl caught his small frame, Bumblebee nodded his thanks silently as Prowl glared at the offending soldier who shrank back visibly from his gaze. His optics wide with fear.

Prowl frowned, the reactions of these Autobots to him was unsettling, what kind of Autobots were they? Why were they so afraid of him? Even Jazz for all his authority over the others kept glancing back at him when he thought it went unnoticed and kept his distance.

They reached what could only be described as a metallic fortress. Prowl and the others noticed humans in shackles being led in chains by different Autobots. Some carried electrical stingers and Bumblebee gasped in shock as he saw one being used on one of the human captives. Sunstreaker held him back firmly, his optics glancing over at Prowl who remained impassive, hiding his shock and now his worry about what sort of world they had been dropped into.

He motioned carefully over to Jazz as they continued on their way into the large metallic structure ahead of them. None of the other soldiers dared hold him back.

“Jazz... why do you keep the humans captive?”

Jazz looked around at the humans that scuttled around near their feet. “They’re good workers. They know their planet better than we do, makes perfect sense to use them for mining resources. Surely you understand the logic of that?” He glanced back at him slyly his visor hiding his optics as his mouth curled in a not so pleasant smirk. Prowl nodded. “Of course.” He dropped back slightly. “It is perfectly logical...” He added quietly as he watched yet more humans get dragged from their path.

They were led through a darkened interior. The bulkheads were grey, cold, metallic. Autobots walked quietly by them; there was very little idle chatter. Jazz was the only one who appeared even close to cheerful, greeting many a ‘bot as they passed. The corridors narrowed and many of the soldiers dropped back when they were taken up a flight of stairs. Jazz gave them a nod and a thin smile, sending them on their way; they saluted and dashed off, eager to get away from whatever, whoever was up this flight of stairs.

Prowl felt a strange sensation tugging at his spark chamber as they neared the next floor. Jazz pushed open a twin set of reinforced doors revealing a large room on the other side. Sunstreaker’s air intake valves rattled as he gasped loudly at the sight. Lining the walls were trophies from other worlds, artefacts, emblems, artwork and curiously by the largest window stood a tall green plant. It’s colour contrasting the grey and steel bulkheads. The room was elegant and yet sparsely decorated, the walls were uncluttered and it was incredibly neat and clinical. Prowl was intrigued, his own interest in other cultures, their art and the nature of organic life was peaked with curiosity. He resisted the urge to inspect the artefacts and artwork.

The room had another quality; a blank wall was free of any kind of furnishings. Jazz pressed a small switch allowing heavy chains to fall from the ceiling. He motioned to the one soldier who had remained with them silently to grab the seekers. Starscream winced as Jazz grabbed him roughly, dragging him over to the chains. He struggled weakly, his body having lost too much energon to put up much of a fight.
Sunstreaker leaned close to Prowl. “Why isn’t screamer... you know... screaming...?”

Prowl was tense as Starscream was turned to face him. His arms were shackled high above his head and his feet were fastened to the floor. The other two seekers were restrained in the same way. Jazz pressed the switch once more. The seekers twitched and jerked as they were raised up off the floor, their bodies stretched to their full length, arms and legs strained painfully as they hung suspended in the air by the chains. Prowl held Starscream’s red optics that were screaming at him. Prowl clenched his fists, this was not the Autobot way; this was humiliating, degrading and wrong.

“Prowl?” Sunstreaker nudged him lightly.
“Their vocal processors have been deactivated... they are screaming...” His voice trailed off, unable to keep the sympathy from his tone Sunstreaker glanced up at the twitching, jerking seekers.

“What are you doing to them?” Bumblebee asked innocently enough. Jazz looked at him a dark look on his face. “They’re being restrained; the chains pass a small electrical current through their bodies at regular intervals, just to deter them from any thoughts of escaping. Reminding them of our mercy.”
“How is that merciful?” Prowl asked careful to keep his voice in check as he felt his anger build up.

Another voice sounded through the room. Bumblebee and Sunstreaker both stared at Prowl incredulously, mistaking the voice for his own.
“It is merciful as the chains are only pulsing at 5% of their full capacity. Reminding them of the pain we could quite easily inflict. If it is deemed necessary.” The deep voice was calm, unfeeling and completely indiscernible from his own.

All three pairs of optics widened in shock as the almost completely black and chrome mech approached them, the only colour on his frame was in the form of a blood red chevron on his forehead. His movements were fluid, graceful and unthreatening. His hands clasped behind his back he eyed them all carefully.

“Who decides what to inflict...?” Bumblebee asked quietly.
The newcomer curled the corner of his mouth in a distinct contemptible sneer as he looked down at the small yellow ‘bot.
“I do. Of course.”

His optics returned to the stunned Prowl who stared, his mouth slightly parted in shock, as his CPU tried to frantically process what was happening. The tug in his spark chamber was strong, almost painful as if he had a bond mate present. That was not possible, he had no bond mate. His two companions glanced between them in fearful surprise as the darker Prowl smiled coldly.
The realisation hit him. Hard.

“Jazz, what delightful treats have you brought me?” The black mech purred deeply. His optics widened in amusement as the black and white mech before him crumpled to the ground in a heap.

****

This is intense, and you leave me squirming for more. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease keep going!
--Dorca

This story is Teh Epix so far! No one knows Prowl, good or bad Prowl, like Carrie does. ^_^

ToysInTheAttic wrote:This story is Teh Epix so far! No one knows Prowl, good or bad Prowl, like Carrie does. ^_^

Omg making me blush much! He he he you and HK are too kind... but I do adore Prowl it's true

A/N: Oki in this scene there are mild scenes of torture using electricity, I have edited this chapter and read it repeatedly to make sure it's still PG 13 but if you think you maybe disturbed by torture scenes please feel free to skip this chapter it won't impede your enjoyment of the story. It's simply a necessary step to highlight the differences between the Autobots and also to make sure that SG 'bots aren't seen as just the same as our 'cons.

That being said please enjoy the story. (If you're following elsewhere this chapter may confuse you. It is different).

****

SG Earth

The servos in Starscream’s arms were stiff to the point of sore to even think about moving. Skywarp and Thundercracker had long since slipped into an uncomfortable recharge due to lack of energon and their earlier injuries. Starscream allowed himself no such luxury. Whatever world they had fallen into was certainly not one to be willingly recharging in. There was something very, very different about these Autobots.

They had been strung up by the electrified chains for some time since the Prowl he knew had collapsed. The tactician had briefly regained consciousness once during Prowl’s torture of his trine and had futilely tried to help them. The punishment he had received for his efforts scarred Starscream’s sensor net, his screams of agony as Prowl had cruelly used a hand held electronic stinger on him, still made Starscream cringe.

The alternate Prowl had disappeared sometime after, ordering that the collapsed tactician be taken to his private quarters. Starscream didn’t want to think about that right now, his thoughts were solely focused on how to get out and report back to Megatron. Starscream was no fool, during his time as a scientist before the Great War began; he had investigated possibilities of alternate dimensions and parallel universes. There was no doubt in his mind that the space bridge accident had caused them to fall into this parallel world. One where the Autobots seemed even more sociopathic than Megatron sometimes did. Especially that universe’s Prowl, with the way he had beaten on Jazz for some failure or transgression he had committed.

At least he had switched off the electric current running through the chains before he had Jazz deal with the Autobots Sunstreaker and Bumblebee from his universe. He growled softly as he tried to shift, his arms stretched painfully above his head, fastened to the high ceiling with thick reinforced chains. Glancing up he noticed that the chains had cut into his wrists leaving beads of energon staining his armour.

The room was dark and so when the door hissed open he couldn’t see who entered until he came closer. He glared defiantly at the strange looking Jazz in front of him. His helm horribly disfigured by what looked like animal claws gripping each side. His blue optics were dark, hungry. Starscream tensed, he disliked being this vulnerable under any circumstance.

“Do you realise how long I have waited to see you like this seeker?” Jazz spoke softly, his accented tone unfriendly.

Starscream winced as he tried to shift again. “Well I am sorry to disappoint. If I had known, I would have dressed for the occasion.” Sarcasm laced his sharp tone; Jazz narrowed his optics, approaching the restrained seeker slowly. He looked him up and down, with a leer that made Starscream more uncomfortable, if such a thing were possible.

“You are going to have to watch your tone with me ‘Con. This interrogation can be easy or it can be hard.” Biting his lower lip he leaned in closer. “Choice is yours seeker.”
“Go slag yourself Autobot!” Thundercracker growled heatedly, straining against the chains holding him.

Jazz laughed coldly. “Looks like your decision has been made for you.”
“Why not take us all on disgusting Autobot then we shall see how confident you really are.” Starscream spat defiantly.

A sharp pain shot across Starscream’s cortex as Jazz struck his face harshly, his head snapped to the side viciously.
“I am going to teach you to watch your mouth ‘Con.” Jazz snarled deeply.

He would teach this seeker some manners, some respect. He may not be the Starscream he knew - he had more fight in him - but this pleased Jazz. It would make him all the more entertaining to break as per his orders.

He clutched the lever controlling the chains. Slowly Starscream felt himself being lowered to the ground, his legs collapsing weakly under him he landed on all fours. His arms ached, the servos in his legs and arms painfully stiff after being kept stretched for so long. He was severely lacking in energon and the movement caused many of his systems to alarm.

Jazz gave Starscream no chance to regain his bearings, he was still held by the chains but now they were on a level footing, just the way he liked it. He launched a vicious kick into Starscream’s torso, the seeker yelped in pain as he fell to the ground, curling inwardly coughing up energon from ruptured systems. Jazz approached once again.
“Not so cocky now are we seeker?”

“You are a coward; fight me ‘bot to ‘bot without the chains.” Starscream hissed as he forced himself up. Jazz growled and threw himself onto the seeker’s weak frame. Starscream tried violently to claw him off but Jazz was too strong for his weakened state.
“I am going to make you think twice before shooting your mouth off at me ‘con.”

“Let him go!” Thundercracker yelled bucking in his restraints as his leader was straddled on the cold floor. Jazz glanced up at him and sneered with a menace Thundercracker was not used to seeing from blue optics. He could only watch as Jazz reigned down punches onto Starscream’s head until Starscream could only grunt in pain.
Shoving himself off the seeker’s limp frame. Jazz reached for a control.

“Get up.” He spat. Starscream glared at him.
Jazz grinned slightly and pressed a button. Both Thundercracker and Skywarp screamed as an electrical current shot through their sensor net from the chains. They fell limp gasping. Starscream’s optics were wide with fury.

“I said get up… and now kneel.”

Reluctantly Starscream got himself off the floor and grimaced as he lowered himself to his knees.

“Don’t Star…scream…” Skywarp whispered through his own agony, twitching as the electricity pulsed through him.
“Let them go… I will do what you ask.”

Jazz laughed shortly. “You will do what I ask… THEN I will think about showing them mercy.”
He stood himself in front of Starscream, who looked up at the Autobot with hate filled optics.

The electrical stinger was waving close to his helm as Jazz leered down at him. “I’m going to enjoy this.” He grinned darkly before thrusting the stinger against Starscream’s chest; the electric jolt caused Starscream to yelp as he was sent sprawling across the floor. Starscream could hear the protests and shouts of anger from his trine as Jazz administered his brand of punishment.

Starscream stirred groggily after passing out from the pain, his audios bracing against the hollers of the other two seekers. He felt himself hauled once more to his feet by the chains, once again strung against the wall painfully. Jazz continued to wave the stinger in front of him casually Starscream stared at it almost fearfully with wide optics.

“Oh don’t worry; I think you’ve learned your lesson for today ‘con… I’ll be back tomorrow. You three be good now.”
Jazz sauntered from the room leaving them in darkness once more.

****

Starscream opened his optics after falling into recharge. He could hear voices seeping into his senses. Focusing on the scene before him. The room was lighter as sunrise hit the Autobot settlement.
Thundercracker sub voc’d him as he noticed him stir.

//Starscream… are you ok? We have been worried about you…//
//I’ll be fine… what’s going on?//

Skywarp replied. //Looks like Jazz has some issues with Prowl…//

They watched the scene unfold before them. Starscream felt a twinge as his optics fell on the ‘bot that assaulted him. Jazz looked different in the light however. His optics stared at the floor, his shoulders slumped forward as Prowl’s smooth, yet condescending tone filled the room.

“I am disappointed Jazz… you were aware of my orders and yet you disobeyed… you approached my guests anyway.”
Jazz nodded meekly. Prowl moved closer to him taking his helm in his hands.

“You did not even glean any information that I would deem useful?”
Jazz shook his head, remaining silent. Prowl leaned his head on Jazz’s for a moment. Starscream watched intently, his curiosity getting the better of him. Then in a sudden move, the speed of which surprised even the watching seekers. Jazz was flung face first onto the desk. He gasped loudly as Prowl leaned over his bent frame.

All three seekers winced as Jazz shot upright when Prowl jammed an electrical stinger into his back plating between his shoulders. His screams were muffled as Prowl clamped a hand over his mouth, his own mouth parted in twisted enjoyment as the ‘bot writhed in his strong grip. He released him, allowing him to slump to his knees. Patting his helm lightly Prowl crouched lifting Jazz’s face to his own. “Learn to do as I ask Jazz, or things will become very difficult for you.”

Jazz let out a whimper as Prowl withdrew, his pain and embarrassment visible for the seekers to see. Starscream smirked with derision and began to snigger at his humiliation. Thundercracker and Skywarp joined him, their taunts mocking the furious Jazz.

“You’ll get yours seeker… you mark my words…” His fists clenched as he stormed from the room. Starscream knew he was going to regret his insolence. But now he knew his tormenter’s weakness, his desire to please his SIC, his unrequited yearning for praise and acceptance and he was going to use it to his advantage as much as he was able.

****

A/N next update for you... and now to the imprisoned 'bots. We finally get to see how Prowl handles Prowl.

Solar Cycle – 1 day

Cycle – 1 hour

Stellar Cycle – 1 year

Astrosecond – 1 second

Deca-cycle – 2 weeks

//internal comm. speak//

Prowl came to on his back. He was lying on a wide berth in a vast room. His optics focused as he pushed himself up, his head ringing with the dull ache of a recent CPU crash. His battle computer had glitched, he cursed inwardly as feelings of anxiety and fear gripped his spark. His battle computer was still off line, his capacitor ticked over irregularly as he tried to calm himself. With his logic centre shut down it would take all of his efforts not to let the emotions over whelm him.

He swung his legs over the berth and stood, taking stock of his surroundings. Bumblebee and Sunstreaker were no where to be seen. Only one small door was visible at the opposite side of the room. There were no windows and only a small number of Earth artefacts dotted the surfaces. There was a large desk in the corner, Prowl noted uncomfortably how very similar it was to his own desk. He walked over, eyeing data pads carefully. He knew there would be no information on them. He tried the door to no avail, it was locked. He was a prisoner.

In his growing desperation he tried sub voc’ing the others. Static filled his comm. they were either too far away or… Prowl didn’t want to think of the other alternative. He ran a self diagnostic; his weapons had been stripped from his armour. This was not good. Not good at all.

The door opened and he spun round his air intakes increasing sharply as he watched his counterpart lock the door behind him. The darker mech watched him curiously, his optics narrow, calculating. He headed over to his guest and looked him up and down slowly as he circled the now tense ‘bot.

“You should really relax you know. I don’t want you to crash again.” Prowl turned to face the dark mech to find faint amusement on his face.

“I understand your anger. I am not going to harm you. I am merely curious; surely you of all mechs must understand that.” He continued softly his tone smooth, unwavering, confident.

Prowl couldn’t relax, he didn’t trust this Prowl, something about him was simply unnerving and the uneasiness flowing through his cortex was further emphasised by the almost painful tug he felt clutching at his spark. This was his only evidence he had that he and the black and chrome ‘bot were indeed one and the same.

“What have you done with my friends?” He asked as calmly as he was able.

Prowl stood from his perched position on the edge of his desk and moved closer to him. Running a finger across his frame as he circled him once more, Prowl grinned slyly as the white and black mech shivered and tensed further at the touch. Coming to a stop in front of him Prowl rested his hands on his shoulders. “They are unharmed. They are our guests here. Try not to worry yourself… Prowl.”

Prowl drew his mouth into a grim line, refusing to trust the black mech in front of him. “Can I see them?”
“In due time. I have questions for you first.”

“I have nothing you could want; we simply want to return home.”
“Yes about that… where are you from exactly? Your symbol tells me you’re an Autobot, but you all act like no Autobots I have ever met. Even the ‘cons that came with you act more like we do than you three do. What kind of world is it where you come from?”

“That is none of your concern.” Prowl replied pointedly. The apprehension building in his tanks was becoming too intense to ignore and he shuddered slightly.

His counterpart noticed, of course he did, he missed nothing.

“Oh… I know this is difficult for you. I had to shut off your battle computer. It is a liability you can understand so if I know me and I think I do you will be suffering an increased onslaught of emotions right about now. I must say you’re handling it very well considering. You really should get that glitch repaired you know.” The black and chrome mech continued absently as he once again perched on the edge of his desk, gesturing to an empty seat before him. Prowl had no choice but to sit as his systems struggled to control his raging emotions that were normally kept in check by his logic circuits.

“I had mine repaired many stellar cycles ago. It has proven much more useful to be able to switch it off whenever I please.”
“You can do that?” Prowl asked slightly astonished.
“Yes, it is especially useful during interrogations.” He let out a disturbing chuckle. “Starscream discovered this not so long ago. You know I don’t think he has a lot of respect for you.”

Prowl’s optics widened as he took in what his alter ego meant. “What did you do?” He asked quietly.

The darker mech shrugged ever so slightly. “I did my job Prowl, my duty. I gathered intelligence. I must say your Decepticons are far more resistant to pain than the ones we face here. It made for a much more interesting challenge…”

“You tortured him?” Prowl whispered in shock.
“Nothing so crude.” The other Prowl retorted sharply. “I am not here to discuss my methods with you, I already have a feeling that we would disagree.”

Prowl looked away in disgust, focusing instead on the wall in front of him. “I have nothing to discuss with you. If we are your guests then let us leave, we will cause you no more inconvenience.”

His counterpart sighed softly. “Now if it was up to me, I would let you all return.” The insincere tone told Prowl otherwise.
“Pleasingly for me however, Prime has shown an interest and you are all to be taken back to Cybertron for… introductions. You really mustn’t worry so much Prowl.” The dark mech frowned as the black and white mech stood and began to pace.

“Then I request that you reactivate my battle computer.”
“Your request is denied. You do not have too long to wait. The space bridge will reopen in just less than 2 earth days.”

He positioned himself in the path of the nervously pacing Prowl. His blue optics glared at him distrustfully.
“What do you want with us?”

“I haven’t quite ascertained that yet. I shall know more after I have asked the questions.” He answered coolly. He smiled thinly. “You are going to want to sit for this.”

Prowl stiffened defiantly. “I would rather stand.”
The darker mech growled faintly as he drew closer to the tactician. “You will sit, or I will make you kneel.” His blue optics bore into Prowl who; without his usual firm, logical, iron grip on his processor felt himself crumbling inwardly as anxiety and concern for his friends was overtaken by the unfamiliar aching fear, deep within his sensor net, for his own life, as the black and chrome mech approached him slowly.
****
Sunstreaker sat uncomfortably, his helm resting against the cold steel wall, his optics shuttered. Bumblebee fidgeted idly. It had been some time since they had been brought here. Prowl had wasted no time in having them detained once their Prowl had collapsed. Sunstreaker winced as he remembered Bumblebee struggling against Jazz as he tried to help their unconscious superior, earning the butt of Jazz’s rifle in his head; he had dropped like a dead weight. His smaller frame no match for the heavily armoured Jazz. Sunstreaker had found himself face to face with their Prowl, the tactician’s firm grip around his throat. There had been something odd about his optics, something dangerous. Something that told Sunstreaker his neck would be snapped in two without hesitation if he struggled.

Sunstreaker grimaced as he recalled that dead stare, even the Prowl that he knew, as stoic and seemingly unfeeling as he was, had never looked at him like that.

Sunstreaker smiled to himself as he cast his mind back to one of the many reprimands he’d received from the SIC. Bumblebee shifted again, the smile fell from Sunstreaker’s face as he was brought rushing back to reality, what he wouldn’t give right now to be able to have Prowl here to chastise him, just once.

Opening one optic he glanced across at the small yellow ‘bot who, was visibly upset at the turn of events. His helm badly dented from the strike he’d received from Jazz. Sunstreaker on lined both of his optics.

“He’ll be alright Bee.”

Bumblebee rubbed an energon stain on his leg absently.
“Didn’t that… that other Prowl just seem… off to you though…?” He shook his head. “And what Jazz was doing to the seekers… it’s just…”
Bumblebee looked up as Sunstreaker gripped his shoulders firmly.
“Bumblebee, he’ll be alright and we’ll find a way out.”
“How can they be Autobots Suns? What they were doing… it was…”
“You heard what Prowl said, it’s another reality… or something…” Sunstreaker trailed off as his knowledge failed him.

Bumblebee fell silent for a little while at Sunstreaker’s sharp tone.
“What do you think the other Prowl wanted… you know… with Prowl?”
Sunstreaker sighed and sank back. “I don’t know Bee but this is Prowl we’re talking about here he is more than capable of taking care of himself.” Sunstreaker got to his feet slowly as Jazz approached the makeshift cell. “It’s us I’m more worried about right now.” He added quietly.

Bumblebee quickly followed suit. His optics eyeing the alternate Jazz fearfully.

Jazz smiled bearing his dentals; it was not in any way friendly.
“Prowl wants to question you… who wants to go first?”
“Take me.” Sunstreaker rested a hand on Bumblebee’s shoulder and patted it discreetly.

//Don’t worry, I’ll find Prowl. You’ll see short stuff//

Jazz sneered distastefully. “Ugghh you’re worse than the self sacrificing, noble Decepticons.” He growled softly.

Sunstreaker glared at him, all traces of his usual carefree mirth, buried, as he snarled menacingly. “Considering what I’ve seen that passes for an Autobot here so far I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Jazz snorted with derisive laughter and grabbed his arm viciously. Sunstreaker found the muzzle of a pulse rifle digging into his chin, forcing his head back. Jazz’s face so close to his own that he could feel the heat from his air intakes wash over his face plates.

“You are already a traitor here ‘Con.” Jazz spat the words out, “so I’d think twice about opening that pretty mouth of yours. The SIC is not nearly as nice or as patient as I am.”

He tapped his chassis twice with his weapon. “You think on that, now move! Or am I going to have to drag you?”
Sunstreaker was tense as he made his way out of the cell. He cast a quick look back at Bumblebee and winked slyly as Jazz shoved him down the narrow, dark corridor.

Bumblebee’s capacitor plummeted as he found himself alone, with only the distant guard for any kind of company. A guard who’s cold blue optics glanced his way more often than he was comfortable with.

Earth
Ironhide frowned as Prime entered the bridge for the fifth time that cycle. He shook his head absently, they were all concerned by the lack of contact from Prowl’s team, but the Prime’s pacing was not making the atmosphere any easier. Ironhide silently thanked Primus that it was the CMO who pointed this out to his agitated leader.

“Your pacing isn’t going to get us anywhere Prime and you’re making the rest of us ‘bots nervous.”

Optimus stopped and stared at his CMO for a second, his shoulders slumped. “You’re right Ratchet.”
“Usually.” The medic drawled.
“It’s not like Prowl to not check in.”

“We know that pacing still isn’t going to help though.” The white mech grumbled softly. Optimus sighed for lack of anything more constructive to do as they waited for news.

“Optimus we’re all worried about them Prowl’s your SIC for a reason he’ll keep them safe.”
Optimus nodded as he glanced at the viewer of Teletraan 1. “Teletraan scan the last known location of the Autobot team.”

“Scanning.”

Ironhide’s frown deepened as his optic caught something on the screen. “Stop! Go back!”

“Ironhide?” Optimus questioned softly. “What is it?”
“Look, there something moves only for a nano klik and then it’s gone.” All three pairs of optics focused on the minute section of the screen where Ironhide was pointing.

“What is that?” Ratchet mused, his tone laced with impatient irritation. Teletraan 1 answered with its usual monotony.
“Scanned area is detecting tachyons and neutrinos caused by a space bridge implosion. Tachyon emissions are increasing by varying degrees approximately every cycle this is creating a distortion.”

“Tachyons?” Ironhide was confused. “What the frag are tachyons doing near a space bridge event horizon?”
“Tachyons are indicative of a tear in the fabric of space at the space bridge location.”
“We need to get Perceptor down here stat.” Ratchet glanced at his leader.

//Prime to Perceptor, report to the bridge immediately.//
//Optimus, Sir… I mean Prime… I am currently in the middle of an experiment.//
//Now Perceptor.// Optimus insisted firmly.
//I… ah… yes Sir… be right there. //

Optimus shook his head wearily at Ratchet’s raised brow.
“Do I even want to know what that crazy scientist is working on now?” Ironhide’s deep voice rumbled through the bridge. Ratchet rolled his optics. “Just be thankful he’s not working with Wheeljack.”

Ironhide snorted his agreement as he thought of the disastrous possibilities of having their engineer experimenting on anything, near any sentient life. Where Wheeljack was concerned Ironhide would have preferably kept him at a hundred mile radius at all times.
****

Yay an update. Just more SG stuff going on here.

Solar Cycle – 1 day

Cycle – 1 hour

Stellar Cycle – 1 year

Astrosecond – 1 second

Deca-cycle – 2 weeks

//internal comm. speak//

SG Earth

Sunstreaker stood tense, once again in the vast room where they had first encountered the alternate Prowl, the seekers were no longer there, although Sunstreaker couldn’t help but notice the stains of blue energon and other fluids marking the area where they had been held.

Jazz kept his weapon trained on him as he headed over to a small door in the right corner of the room. Sunstreaker glanced at the bland desk in front of him, filled only with data pads and reports.

‘I guess Prowl is Prowl wherever he’s from.’ He thought absently. His attentions were suddenly caught by the muffled sounds coming from the doorway, as Jazz knocked politely and then opened the door.

An angry snarl filtered through to Sunstreaker’s audio sensors as Jazz slowly ventured into the room.

“What? What do you want? I gave specific orders not to be disturbed!” Sunstreaker heard Prowl’s voice, but just from the sheer level of anger and venom in the tone he knew it wasn’t his Prowl. Adjusting his position slightly Sunstreaker strained to try and peer over Jazz into the room. The vision of the black and chrome mech crossed his vision as he stood.

‘What is he doing on the floor?’ Sunstreaker was deeply concerned, he knew Prowl was in there. Jazz and Prowl talked in muffled voices on the other side of the door. Sunstreaker tried to make out what they were saying but to no avail. Jazz straightened suddenly and lowered his weapon before heading fully into the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Sunstreaker took his chance and ventured forward slightly. He caught sight of the familiar white and black mech’s frame on his knees, before Jazz blocked his line of sight. Cursing silently he ventured forward a little further. Another sound more muffled than before, tickled his audios, he heard his Prowl talking.

A sharp cry of pain from the room startled Sunstreaker, sending him a couple of paces backward his optics wide. The door opened slowly as the other Prowl exited, locking the door behind him.

His cold optics rested on the golden yellow ‘bot in front of him. Sunstreaker recovered from his shock quickly, and glared at the tactician.

“Where’s Prowl?”

Prowl ignored him and headed over to his sparse desk, sitting himself quietly. Gazing with a softer expression he gave a faint gesture to the seat opposite. Sunstreaker hesitated, glancing towards the small door as the sound of scraping metal whispered out through the cracks.
“Please.” Prowl insisted politely. No trace of any animosity or any feeling toward him of any kind. Reluctantly Sunstreaker sat and faced the stoic mech who smiled thinly.

“Thank you. Now you can understand being a fellow Autobot, that we must gather information from you. This is simply a precaution to ensure you are not Decepticon spies sent here to try and infiltrate the base.”

Logic was never a useful tool to try and win Sunstreaker over; he thought in agitation, his Prowl at least knew that. Another angry shout echoed faintly from the room followed by a crash of metal.

“I demand to know what you’re doing to Prowl!” He snarled, planting his hands firmly on the desk and leaning forward threateningly. “Where is he?”

Sighing Prowl clasped his hands patiently in front of him and held Sunstreaker’s gaze. “You know full well where he is. And I am not doing anything to him. He is my guest and will be treated as such. Now sit down.” The stark emphasis and underlying threat to the tone of the last three words forced Sunstreaker back into his seat, his capacitor ticking over rapidly as the adjacent room fell silent with a muffled, anguished cry.

Clenching his jaw Sunstreaker stared defiantly at the mech in front of him. “I am telling you frag all, until I get to see Prowl.” Crossing his arms across his chest he maintained his stare of defiance. Prowl refrained from rolling his optics with impatience, instead choosing to get out of the seat. Calmly walking over to the window he idly stroked the leaves of the tall green plant.

“Sunstreaker that is your name correct?” He turned to face the seated ‘bot, who nodded once.
“I am merely doing my duty. Gathering information is vital to our cause. We need any and all help we can get in our battle against the murderous Decepticons.”

“Like slag you do.” Sunstreaker muttered looking away from the stern gaze of the tactician. In no time at all Prowl reached Sunstreaker’s side, much to the ‘bot’s surprise he found himself hauled out of the chair with such force one of his collar fairings snapped in Prowl’s vice like grip. A sharp pain shot through his cortex as the back of Prowl’s hand belted him hard across the face plates, causing him to yelp in pain and shock as he was sent sprawling on the floor. Pushing himself up he turned to find the black and chrome mech towering over him.

He grabbed the broken collar fairing making Sunstreaker scream as it snagged neural lines leading to his neck. He lifted him up to face him as he stood over his frame.

“I was hoping you would resist.” His smooth, deep, voice dripping with loathing as he lifted his hand to Sunstreaker’s helm. “This is a little something that Soundwave gave me at our last… encounter. It is going to bury itself deep into your cortex and you will tell me everything that I wish to know.” His snarl turned into a sneer as he planted the device firmly onto the side of Sunstreaker’s helm.

Sunstreaker jerked violently as the sharp stabbing pain penetrated his helm. His cortex screaming at him as his sensor net was overwhelmed. A deep weight seemed to fill his mind causing his optics to roll back in his head. He heard himself crying out as the heavy, dead weight took over his mind, dampening all of his other senses. The room started to spin as he tried to focus his optics. In a sharp, painful movement he found himself seated once again in the chair. Prowl perched in front of him casually, his tone once again even and controlled.

“Now." Prowl's voice was as smooth and as sharp as cut glass. "What can you tell me about your Autobot base of operations?”

****

Sunstreaker winced as Jazz’s hands grabbed him harshly. How long had he been standing there watching Prowl rip the information from his mind? He groaned defeated, he’d told Prowl everything he knew. Where the base was, their defenses, how many ‘bots were there. He was beside himself with guilt and hate as Prowl wrenched the probe from his mind. His cold blue optics peering down at him were the last thing he remembered before his cortex shut down from the violation.

His optics blinked open at the mech, half dragging him back to the cell by his collar fairing which had been repaired. He took in the scrape of black and white paint on his white chassis, his armour dented in a number of places that didn’t have dents before. Prowl, what had he done to Prowl? Struggling Sunstreaker used the last of his energy reserves trying to escape his grasp. Jazz seemingly in no mood for any kind of hassle, planted the butt of his weapon squarely onto Sunstreaker’s helm flooring the golden yellow mech with one blow.

Sunstreaker stifled his cries of pain as Jazz hauled him up once more, his feet struggling to keep up. Upon their arrival to the cell, the crashing of metal could be heard along with Bumblebee’s shouts of defiance and pain.

Jazz growled softly to himself, dropping Sunstreaker to the floor he accosted the guard who had Bumblebee up against the wall by his throat, his face spattered with energon, the face plates shattered around one of his optics. The smaller mech kicked his legs out viciously as Jazz approached the cell and growled. Jazz stared at him and without a word struck the guard across the back of his helm. The guard cried out in shock stumbling to the side clutching his head.

“Jazz… what the?”

“You know what Prowl’s orders are regarding the prisoners.”

The guard straightened and smirked at the fuming mech. “Well, I figured you’d be the one to tell the slaggin’ SIC… you know… seeing as you like taking it from him!”

Bumblebee gasped in surprise as Jazz suddenly turned on the guard in a fit of rage, until the guard’s screams filled the cell.

“Now get out!” Jazz snarled. The mech scrambled free and sprinted away down the corridor. Jazz lifted Sunstreaker with seeming ease and dumped him unceremoniously in front of Bumblebee. Without another word Jazz left them alone.

Evil Prowl is evil.

And I simply MUST know what's going on in Jazz's head.

A/N Ooopps I literally just remembered to post this. Damn... for my three readers here you go.

A short time later the guards returned much to Bumblebee’s trepidation as Sunstreaker was still unconscious from his injuries. Standing defensively in front of Sunstreaker’s prone form Bumblebee readied himself for another attack.

The guards laughed at the small ‘bot’s stance and dragged in the two seekers. Skywarp and Thundercracker had seen better days. Their frames were stained with dried energon. Skywarp’s legs shook beneath him before he crumbled to the floor with a distinct moan. Thundercracker tried to swipe at his captors before being shoved into the cell, landing painfully on his wings.

The guards left them, their laughter echoing down the corridor.
Bumblebee watched the two seekers closely, no matter their current predicament they were still Decepticons. Thundercracker winced as he gingerly positioned himself against the wall; taking Skywarp’s helm he gently caressed his barely conscious trine mate’s face plates. His optics flickered over to the tense Autobot, he sneered derisively.
“Relax Autobot; do you really think we have the energy to attack you?” Bumblebee hesitated, not willing to let his guard down. Seating himself next to Sunstreaker he stared at the floor, the tension and discomfort thick in the air.

“What happened to him?” Thundercracker’s quiet voice shocked Bumblebee from light recharge. He’d let himself recharge with the enemy directly across from him? Bumblebee cursed his negligence. Thundercracker seemed to read his thoughts and he sighed softly.

“Little ‘bot… we are not the ones you should be worrying about, we have a common enemy now.”

Bumblebee’s capacitor cycled rapidly at the words, he’d never thought he’d see the day when he would consider another Autobot an enemy.

“Prowl interrogated him.” He spoke up quietly; the seeker’s presence was still intimidating even if they weren’t going to attack him.

“Thought as much. He took Starscream.”

“Our Prowl too.” The two mechs glanced at each other, recognizing the other’s plight. Skywarp turned his head towards Bumblebee; he was still resting in Thundercracker’s lap.

“Looks like we need each other right now little ‘bot.” He whispered his voice hoarse.

Bumblebee nodded slowly, his optics glancing over Sunstreaker as he stirred with a groan.
“Ooooh… what… what happened?” He held his head in his hands before on lining his optics. The first sight he had was of the seekers watching his movements.

“Gaahhh!!” Sunstreaker shoved himself back against the wall, the jets chuckling at him for his efforts.

“Good morning sunshine.” Thundercracker drawled a smirk gracing his face plates.
“What… why are you here?”

“We thought we’d try out this prisoner lark on for size.” Skywarp interrupted. “Can’t say it agrees with us.”

Bumblebee nudged him gently. “We’ve been trying to think of a plan to escape.”
“We…? What do you mean, we?” He glared down at Bumblebee, speaking through clenched dentals. “Bee… they’re the enemy… they’re ‘cons.”

“Fine suit yourself don’t need your pathetic help anyway.” Skywarp retorted acidly.

Bumblebee sighed. “Sunstreaker, we need to work together if we’re going to get out of here they know where Prowl is.”
“Slag I know where Prowl is!” Sunstreaker snapped impatiently. “Doesn’t mean we can fraggin’ get to him he’s locked in that Prowl’s quarters. Primus knows what he’s doing to him.”
His voice trailed off, unwilling to think of the possibilities.

“We have an idea… of what is happening.”
“How d’you…?”

“Trine link.” Thundercracker’s optics glanced at the floor his hand absently brushing against his spark chamber as Skywarp winced at some unseen pain. They looked at the Autobots with a renewed anger. “He has Starscream.”

The two ‘bots stared at the seekers. They could feel everything their trine leader was going through. Every wince, hiss and gasp they uttered was in response to another potential injury, a possible blow, pain filtering down their bond. Their capacitors stalled in horror as their minds were cast to their SIC. He had been with Prowl a whole day prior to this. Bumblebee shuddered visibly as Sunstreaker rested his hand on his shoulder.

“So you see Autobot our fates are joined for the time being.” Skywarp continued. “We find your… Prowl.” His mouth spat out the name with thinly veiled disgust. “We’ll find Starscream.”

Sunstreaker frowned at the seeker’s tone. “You know Prowl from our world would never treat you like that… right?”

Skywarp snorted with a harsh laugh silenced only by Thundercracker’s glare. “We know Autobot.”

Sunstreaker blinked in surprise at the blue seeker’s sad tone. Thundercracker met his optics.
“After your Prowl collapsed and you were brought here… I presume. He regained consciousness as that Prowl was letting his guards…” He grimaced at the memory. “You get the idea.”

“They were torturing us Autobot.” Skywarp snapped agitated.
Thundercracker continued. “Your Prowl tried to stop them, he was over powered and that Prowl did something to his head.”
“Wasn’t pretty.”
“Skywarp!”
“No point in hiding it from them!”

Thundercracker lowered his tone. “You ever heard your tactician scream… truly scream for his life… Autobot?” Thundercracker’s red optics pierced into Sunstreaker’s helm. He opened his mouth to speak letting out only a faint digital whine. Both the seeker’s optics softened slightly as their fellow prisoners struggled to grasp the imagery of their stoic superior ever reacting to well anything much.

“Didn’t think so.” Skywarp muttered bitterly.

“We have.” Thundercracker held Sunstreaker’s glare. “So… yeah we know that your glitch-headed friend, despite all of his renowned logic, would still try to stand by his sickeningly noble, Autobot ideals in any ridiculous circumstance.”

“Slaggin’ dense as a youngling if you ask me.” Skywarp growled softly.
Bumblebee tensed. “He tried to help you!” He yelled angrily at the seekers petulant tone.

Skywarp merely blinked at him. “Yeah… he got fragged for it like I said; dense. Wouldn’t catch a ‘con doing that.”

Bumblebee seethed as Sunstreaker placed a hand on his chest. “Not now Bumblebee, let it go.”

“It does mean we will help you though.”
“Why?”

“We are not entirely without compassion Autobot.” Thundercracker retorted. “For all of our… disagreements he still tried to help us. Starscream won’t forget that.”

“You find your leader; we find ours that simple enough for you?” Skywarp drawled his optics shuttered once more.

“Makes sense to me.” Sunstreaker grumbled much to Bumblebee’s displeasure.
“We have a truce then?”

Sunstreaker nodded slowly and rubbed his face tiredly with his hand. “Now we just have to find a way to get to them.”

A movement caught the prisoners unaware, startling them all into readiness. The seekers were up, ready to pounce before Sunstreaker and Bumblebee had even realized what was happening.

A disembodied voice spoke to them across the cell’s shield. “I believe that I may be able to provide you assistance.”

All the prisoners stared mouths open as the atmosphere shimmered in front of them. The tall mech smiled warmly. His blue optics taking them all in warily. The shield suddenly flickered and died casting the dim light of the corridor into the cell.

The mech’s smile widened at the look of surprise on their faces. He chuckled lightly. “I believe someone said something about an escape.”

Prowl returned to his quarters fingering the mind probe in his hand. His optics came to rest on the black and white mech sat in the corner of the room, his knees hunched up as his helm rested on them, his arms wrapped around his head. Upon hearing the door shut Prowl glanced up at his captor. His optics flashed dangerously before dropping his head down weakly.

Prowl placed the probe on his desk, frowning slightly. His Lieutenant had done a number on his counterpart’s once neat, pristine frame. One of his door wings hung loosely on his back; scrapes of paint were visible on his chassis mixed with stains of energon and oil from nasty looking cracks in his armour.

He’d known, when he’d allowed Jazz to take care of this Prowl that he wouldn’t have been able to control himself, his logic centre telling him it was his fault. Prowl felt no guilt in this, he had Jazz so wound up and frustrated it was surprising that his prisoner wasn’t lying in a growing pool of energon his frame torn open and defiled. As it was he would be more cooperative this way.

A faint shudder washed over the white mech’s frame and Prowl felt a faint stab of sympathy in his spark as his mirror image winced when he tried to move. Kneeling beside him he traced a finger along the exposed wiring in Prowl’s arm, his armour had been ripped away leaving rivulets of energon seeping from traumatized cables. Prowl hissed at the touch and jerked away from him, his proud voice hoarse, cracking.

“Do not… touch me…” He glared at him, hate filling his features.
“I did not do this to you… Jazz is somewhat… overzealous at times.”
“Oh… I am sure… you had nothing to do… with it.” Prowl replied, bitter sarcasm filling his tone.

“Hmmm… no matter. Are you ready to tell me what I wish to know?”
“Not… telling you… slag…” Prowl whispered dropping his head back down feebly.

The black and chrome mech brushed a hand along his helm, reaching down his neck his fingers digging into the joints of the damaged door wing. Prowl hissed and cried out his back arching away from the pain, but the strong merciless fingers would not release they tightened their hold and wrenched Prowl to standing using only his door wing.

Stifling his cries of agony Prowl stood shakily, freely flowing energon and oil dripping onto the floor from his arms, his chest, his legs and his back. His cortex fired alarms at him, he cancelled them all, completely aware at that moment how badly damaged he was. He staggered to the desk as Prowl dragged him with one hand by the torn door wing, the joint screamed at him, it was only held on by one small joist thanks to Jazz’s work. He yelped sharply as Prowl jerked him into the seat.

“There now isn’t that more comfortable?” Prowl purred softly as he straddled his legs lifting his hand to his helm, the tactician snarled in rage clawing at his counterpart’s face as he pressed a device to the side of his head.

“Gaahhh… no… get off me!” Prowl yelled defiantly. His roar of pain turned to muffled whimpers as the probe began its work. His cortex began to fog, with his logic centre off line Prowl had no defense against its relentless onslaught of his mind as it hacked past his firewalls, violating his thoughts. He moaned softly in defeat.

Prowl left him seated as his door buzzed. Skyfire and Sideswipe stood holding the cleaned up form of Starscream between them.

“Put him over there. Ensure his chains are secure.”

They obeyed silently as Prowl watched them like a hawk. Bowing very slightly they practically fled the room. The defiant glare had returned to Starscream’s red optics as he watched him approach.

“You’re looking much better now.”
“Where is my trine?” He growled deeply.

“They are secure. Don’t be concerned my mechs are under orders not to touch them in any way as long as you cooperate with me.”
“Seems to me like your mechs won’t stop anything… or anyone from doing what they want. Or is Jazz an anomaly to your shining example?” He spat, goading Prowl, bravely? Stupidly? That remained to be seen, but Starscream was not about to lie down and beg for this Autobot or any other for that matter.

He earned a vicious slap across his face. Spitting out energon onto the floor he leered up at the impassive Prowl. “You will watch your tongue. Now remain silent, I have work to do.”

He paced back over to his desk, Starscream noticed for the first time he was not on his own in the room. Prowl took up his customary perch on the edge of his desk. His prisoner shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the mind probe filled his mind. Starscream could only watch as the Prowl he knew was forced painfully to reveal tactical secrets about the Autobot base back in their world. Starscream grimaced, cursing himself inwardly as he found himself recording Prowl’s answers. Yet he did not stop, the information would prove invaluable to Megatron.

Starscream extrapolated what would happen if these Autobots ever reached their Earth. Megatron was almost foolish enough to join forces with them to defeat the Autobots, Starscream could not allow that to happen, no matter what the benefits were, there was no doubt in his mind that these Autobots would betray his Decepticons as soon as they had outlived their usefulness. He vowed silently not to let that happen, he would die before he let anyone of these vile Autobots cross over into his world.

He winced as Prowl’s shrieks filled his audios. The mind probe was digging further but the tactician was fighting it. The information in his cortex would cripple the Autobots if all of it fell into the wrong hands. Starscream understood his need to fight back, understood the pain he was willingly inflicting on himself to protect his fellow Autobots. This was the action of a warrior, Starscream felt grudging respect for the Autobot as he watched him thrash against Prowl’s grasp pinning him to the chair. To get off this world, they were going to need each other.

****

Prowl’s optics flickered on line. His mind felt light, clouded, sore. He groaned lifting a hand to his optics. Someone stirred beside him, jerking fully awake Prowl tried to sit up but a firm hand pressed onto his chest pushing back onto his back. Panic filtered through his sensor net as a familiar voice graced his audios.

“Stay still, I’m not finished.”
“Starscream? What… what are you doing?”

The seeker grunted in response, shifting uncomfortably. “Your energon levels were below 15% you were going to stasis lock, without treatment you would have almost certainly off lined permanently.”

Prowl felt something disconnect from his frame. He winced as he pushed himself up onto his elbows. Starscream eyed him, his optics unfriendly but not threatening. Prowl’s gaze fell to the fuel line Starscream was tucking back away into his frame.

“Why would you… do this? We’re enemies.”
“You are accurate in your assessment, we are enemies but… you attempted to help my trine… that is not without merit.”
“But?”
“If we are to escape Autobot then we must set aside our differences and come to a conclusion together.”

Prowl stared at him in disbelief. He tried to push himself up, his arms struggling to support his weight. He felt strong arms lift him gently to his feet.

“Thank you.” He mumbled graciously, Starscream cast him a curt nod in response. Prowl groaned and clutched his helm.
“What did he do to me?”
“He used what I can only surmise is a mind probe stolen from this universe’s Soundwave. It is identical.”

Prowl’s optics opened with growing horror. His voice dropping to a whisper. “What… what did I tell him?”

Starscream held his gaze, his optics softened only slightly. “Everything Autobot you resisted valiantly which eventually resulted in you temporarily off lined but he took everything he wanted from your mind.”

Starscream shifted uneasily and Prowl clutched at his chest once more. “He’s close I can feel him our sparks are connected somehow.”

Prowl slumped in the nearby chair his head resting in his hands. “Oh Primus and he plans to cross over into our world.”
“This is why we must work quickly.” Starscream tugged on the chains securing his ankles. “I believe we are to be transported to Cybertron in the coming solar cycles.”

Prowl got up sharply, regretting the move instantly as his injuries jarred and began seeping energon once more. “Sit down please.” He commanded weakly.

“Do not presume to order me about Autobot.” Starscream snapped acidly.
“Please Starscream.” Prowl repeated his voice sounding much weaker than he would have liked. “I can help.”

Starscream limped stiffly over to the chair and lowered himself slowly, in an obvious amount of pain. Prowl scowled as he knelt at his feet. “What did they do to you? My scans show a number of internal injuries.”

“That is none of your concern Autobot.”
Prowl sighed and glanced up at the seeker. “Please Starscream… my name is Prowl.”

“I am well aware of whom you are but…” He dropped his tone, “your name leaves a bad taste in my mouth at the moment.”

Prowl blinked unable to argue and took hold of his shackles.
Starscream glanced down between his knees at the kneeling tactician. “What are you doing?”

“Acid pellets I still have a store of acid in a back up reservoir. It will burn through these chains.”

“Oh.” Starscream replied simply sitting back gingerly resting on his aching wings. He chuckled softly. Prowl frowned at him in confusion. Starscream’s chuckles grew to a quiet laughter as his red optics met the blue.

“Starscream what in Primus’s name is so funny about this?”
“Well… of all the times I have wished to have an Autobot kneel at my feet - the second in command to Prime no less and here I have you right where I want you and…” His laughter shook his frame. “And… I do not wish for it.”

He composed himself a grin still tugging at his face plates. “I enjoy the irony.”

Prowl smirked slightly at his amusement. “You’re free.” He stated simply. They stood scanning the room for a possible escape.

“Would that acid not work on the door lock?” Starscream mused.
“The metal is protected; it would just leave a mark.” Prowl replied.

The door at that moment scraped open, both mechs turned sharply as the mech entered the room. Clasping his hands behind his back his blue optics narrowed as the two prisoners took a step back. Jazz entered the room and joined him growling threateningly.

“Well now… this is an interesting development.” The alternate Prowl smirked dangerously as he reached for his weapon.

:SG Autobot internal comm.:

//Autobot internal comm.//

Solar Cycle – 1 day

Cycle – 1 hour

Stellar Cycle – 1 year

Astrosecond – 1 second

Deca-cycle – 2 weeks

Mirage led them slowly through the dark corridors; there was a spark stopping scare at one point as a flurry of ‘bots ran past their location. Weapons ready, shouting to each other as they ran.

“How did they not see us?” Bumblebee hissed. Mirage smiled. “Magic.” He stated with a wink. “Unfortunately my power is running low I won’t be able to cloak you all again. We’ve got to move. Prowl’s office is up ahead.”

“You mean where those guards were headed?” Skywarp snarled his injuries slowing him down.

Mirage nodded once. “Yup looks like now’s our chance though there’s some kind of trouble. I’ll go ahead. I will contact you. Stay hidden until you hear my signal.”

“Wait can we communicate?”

“We’re still Autobots; our comm. systems will be compatible.”

Mirage raced off after another crowd of guards shot past. The misfit group of ‘bots slid into an open doorway and waited in the darkness as more shouting and now weapons fire filled the air.

Sunstreaker jumped as his comm. buzzed he put it on speaker.

: Looks like my Starscream has chosen this time to attack the base. I told him of our situation. He’s here to help us:

: We can’t leave without Starscream and Prowl, Mirage. Have you found them?:

: It looks like they tried to escape Prowl and Jazz are up there now, with Skyfire and oh no… Sideswipe too… he’ll kill them if he gets chance.:

: Right we’re coming to you.:

: Up the stairs, top floor, you’ll hear it before you see it Mirage out.:

The comm. cut off. Sunstreaker’s capacitor stalled he did not want to meet an alternate version of his twin that induced fear into the sparks of other mechs. He nodded to the others. They filed out of the room, luckily all of the ‘bots were preoccupied with the Decepticon attack. Explosions and shouting could be heard echoing down the corridor. They turned sharply as they reached the stairs. Sunstreaker paused, halting the others.

“Someone needs to get out if we all go up there and we fail…”

Thundercracker nodded in agreement. “Need to get word to our side, close the bridge down.”

“Thundercracker will you take Bumblebee?”

The blue seeker nodded.

“Wait why me?!” Bumblebee resisted.

“You’re the smallest Bee you’ll get through unnoticed more easily than we will. Go with him now! Find Prime tell him what’s happened. Tell him not to come through. If we can follow you we will.”

Bumblebee glared at him as Thundercracker dragged the small ‘bot away.

“You ready Autobot?” Skywarp grinned, his hands clenching ready for a fight.

“Let’s make this look good.” Sunstreaker returned the grin.

“Always do.” Skywarp replied as they raced up the stairs.

****

Prowl and Starscream, were at a great disadvantage with their injuries and lack of weapons. However upon seeing the black and chrome tactician reach for his weapon Starscream half transformed and leapt atop the briefly stunned mech. His attack was relentless, punishing as Prowl wrestled him. Starscream had the advantage of size but Prowl knew exactly where he was injured. Jamming his fingers into his wing joints, Starscream shrieked, flinging the Autobot against the solid desk hard. Prowl grunted as he launched himself into the seeker, snarling like an animal he was merciless. His fingers grabbed at Starscream’s throat, closing tightly around wires, with a deep growl Starscream felt him tug viciously, alarms flashed across his vision as circuits and wires were ripped from his neck. He staggered back, clutching at the weeping wound. Not one to give in he lunged at Prowl before the tactician could reach for his weapon sending them both crashing to the floor in a mass of writhing limbs and punches.

Jazz eyed the black and white mech hungrily. Prowl knew he wouldn’t survive a head on attack from the saboteur. Jazz rushed him, Prowl managed to duck and roll from his charge, his intakes struggling to keep up with the fading energon moving sluggishly around his systems. More alarms rang out across his sensor net. Jazz soon got bored with the more agile mech. Reaching for his weapon he let out a shot into Prowl’s legs as he evaded him once again. Prowl cried out loudly his legs collapsing beneath him sending him crashing face first to the floor. Jazz was upon him before he could turn himself fully. Prowl grunted as strong, fierce blows reigned down onto his body. He choked with barely suppressed pain as his armour plating cracked around his spark chamber. His optics widened in terror as Jazz clawed at the wound, his blunt fingers ripping away parts of the protoform beneath, protecting his spark.

Prowl screamed in agony as his spark tried to shrink back into his chamber, he dug his fingers into Jazz’s face, the force of which crushed one of Jazz’s optics the mech clutched at his face howling. Prowl gasped for air and scrambled from beneath his weight as Starscream, momentarily free of his foe, grabbed the smaller mech’s helm and bodily launched him into the bulkhead.

“Thanks…” Prowl gasped. Starscream inclined his head slightly, offering his hand. Prowl reached for Jazz’s abandoned weapon. Grabbing onto Starscream’s leg he reached behind him and fired at his counterpart who roared with rage and pain.

Starscream glanced back at the other Prowl. He hoisted Prowl to his feet. “You missed…his spark is still intact.”

Prowl winced as Starscream released him, his weight falling onto his damaged leg. “Be my guest.” He growled. Starscream snarled his mouth curled in a sneer as he practically flew over to the other Prowl making sure his heavy frame landed firmly on the injury in his chest. Prowl howled and fired his weapon before Starscream batted it from his grasp.

Suddenly the doors burst open and shots battered Starscream’s body. He stumbled back as Skyfire approached him. Sideswipe went straight for Prowl his strong arm landing a heavy punch to his head. Prowl found himself restrained by a now recovered Jazz while Sideswipe battered his body. He threw out a kick; Sideswipe grunted and began tearing into Prowl’s armour.

The air suddenly shimmered beside Prowl, Sideswipe stopped in confusion. Mirage winked at him before firing his weapon which was pressed against Sideswipe’s chest. The armour plating on his back shattered, the sheering sounds of metal were drowned out by Sideswipe’s howls as his spark chamber was eviscerated. His optics spiraled out and went dark as he slumped to the floor in front of Prowl.

More bodies entered the fray.

“Prowl!” Sunstreaker bellowed as he caught sight of the SIC falling to his knees, when Jazz let him go to fight Mirage. He was at his side in no time. “Come on we’re getting out of here.”

“Sunstreaker? Where’s Bumblebee?”

“He’s safe now come on.”

Skywarp clawed at Skyfire’s wings giving Starscream time to escape. He then launched himself onto Jazz’s back, the mech crumpled beneath his weight. Mirage nodded thankfully and they raced from the room.

Prowl bellowing commands could be heard from the room as they fled, leaving trails of oil and energon in their wake.

“After them!!” Shots zoomed past their heads a glancing blow caught Mirage in the shoulder sending him tumbling down the stairs. They skidded to a halt sharply as they reached the bottom. Starscream’s cries of rage and dismay echoed down the hall.

Thundercracker’s badly damaged frame was flung at his feet. The seekers gathered around their trine mate, cradling him gently.

Sunstreaker supported a severely weakened Prowl as he glanced at the prone blue seeker. Thundercracker’s optics flickered open; he smiled weakly at Sunstreaker and nodded faintly.

Sunstreaker sub voc’d the tactician. // Bumblebee made it Prowl he’s ok…//

Sunstreaker glanced at the SIC as he felt the weight increase on his arm. The strain of the battle had proven too much for Prowl he hung limply in Sunstreaker’s arms.

“Prowl… no… Prowl… don’t slaggin’ do this to me now!”

Jazz and Skyfire flanked the darker tactician as he strolled down the stairs.

“Good work everyone. Prime will surely reward you for this.”

Sunstreaker was bent over his superior now lying on the ground, frantic with despair as he watched him fall into stasis lock.

“Take them to the medic. Prime would prefer his guests to be alive when they are introduced.”

The guards grabbed them roughly. Not one of them had the strength to fight back. Mirage placed a hand on Sunstreaker’s shoulder. “I will carry him.”

Sunstreaker nodded silently. The larger mech lifted Prowl into his arms as the guard shoved him. “Slaggin’ ‘con traitor should have known.”

Mirage didn’t retaliate merely walked in front proudly. Sunstreaker could hear the faint mews of reunion between the seekers. Starscream’s voice was bitter, saddened.

“I’m sorry I failed you both.” He whispered softly, his trine mates disagreeing vehemently.

“No… the small ‘bot Bumblebee got out.” Thundercracker moaned. “Help is coming.”

“Megatron won’t co….”

Sunstreaker fell into step beside them, his face alight with hope. “Are you kidding me Starscream?” He hissed.

“What is it Autobot?” The seeker snapped.

“NO TALKING!” One of the guards yelled.

Sunstreaker dropped his voice. “Megatron might not come, but knowing Prime...” He glanced at the seeker his blue optics bright considering. “Knowing Prime, he won’t rest until he finds us.”

“You can’t be sure of that.” Starscream whispered back.

Sunstreaker shrugged. “True but even if Prime doesn’t Sides’ will tear this place apart to find me.”

“Overly confident of you Autobot.” Skywarp sneered as they were steered into a clinical looking med bay.

Sunstreaker blinked at him. “He’s my spark twin Skywarp wouldn’t you do it for your trine?”

The seekers had no response to that knowing full well what their answer would be.

:SG Autobot internal comm.:

//Autobot internal comm.//

Solar Cycle – 1 day

Cycle – 1 hour

Stellar Cycle – 1 year

Astrosecond – 1 second

Deca-cycle – 2 weeks

****

SG Earth

First Aid had worked diligently on Prowl, despite Sunstreaker’s misgivings First Aid was a good medic, even if he was dispassionate and cold. A little like someone else he knew. His optics drifted to Prowl, he was a little shaken to see the SIC in such bad shape. The alternate Prowl really had worked a number on him. He let out a deep intake, realizing he much preferred Prowl online and reprimanding him rather than lying half dead in an enemy’s med bay in some Primus forsaken universe. He felt Mirage’s hand on his shoulder.

“He’s got a strong spark and for all his failings First Aid is a perfectionist, he can’t abide having patients offline on him.”

Sunstreaker nodded, his optics remaining watchful over the only true ally he was absolutely certain wouldn’t shoot him in the back. He just hoped Bumblebee really had gotten out ok. He looked around the med bay, it was almost identical to the one they had back on the Ark except that had Ratchet’s own personal charm as opposed for the stark grey clinical feel of the one they were currently held in. He noticed the trine had fallen into a listless recharge due to their injuries and the countless cycles they had been confined to the med bay.

Sunstreaker jumped up suddenly startling the guards. He raised his hands in a show of surrender as he backed up towards Prowl’s berth.

“Unngghh.” Prowl groaned, his optics flickering online.

Sunstreaker grinned. “I knew you were too stubborn to offline.”

Prowl glanced up at him, frowning. “What happened?”

Mirage and Sunstreaker helped him to a sitting position while he eyed Mirage suspiciously. “Mirage I presume?”

“Is it that obvious?” The large ‘bot smirked.

“There’s no mistaking you in any verse.” Sunstreaker elbowed him lightly his optics catching the wary look on Prowl’s face. “It’s alright Prowl, he helped us escape. He’s one of the good guys.”

Mirage nodded in agreement. “I’m a spy for the Decepticons, have been for some time.”

“The good guys?” Prowl raised an optic ridge at Sunstreaker who shrugged.

“Don’t look at me it gives me processor ache just thinking about it.” He hoisted himself up onto one of the free berths for lack of anything better to do.

Prowl cast a worried glance over at the seekers. Starscream and Skywarp were huddled in the corner, Skywarp resting his head in Starscream’s lap as the two twitched slightly in recharge. He watched with narrowed optics as First Aid worked on Thundercracker in silence at the other side of the room.

“How long have we been here?” He asked quietly, his processor already trying to formulate potential escape plans.

“Too fraggin’ long.” Sunstreaker muttered the boredom and the silence getting to him.

“At least two solar cycles.” Mirage cut in. “We’re to be taken to Prime.”

“Prime? As in Optimus Prime?”

“’Fraid so.”

“Dare I ask what he’s like here?”

Mirage’s optics flickered slightly. “Well some say he knows a dark secret that drove him insane.”

Prowl quirked an optic ridge at the spy.

“Others say he’s bored as there’s not much left to conquer. Either way he has a reputation for being one of the scariest ‘bots you could ever meet. He’s smart too that’s how he’s stayed in power for so long and believe me there have been many attempts on his life. All of them were made examples of. There’s still plenty of ‘bots and ‘cons who would gladly see him off lined, but everyone is too fearful of succeeding. I don’t think the Autobots would know what to do if they suddenly lost their leader, wouldn’t be pretty I can tell you.” He drifted off, lost in his own thoughts.

Prowl uttered a soft noise, akin to human’s clearing their throats to capture his attention. “You’re saying they would fall into chaos?”

“Mmhmm, fortunately there’s only one other ‘bot I know of who could pull it off but… his reputation is almost scarier than Prime’s. He’s the sort of ‘bot you’d tell horror stories about to younglings to get them to behave.” Mirage laughed bitterly.

“Who?”

“You’ve already met him, his illustrious and psychopathic second in command.”

“You said fortunately?”

“Oh yeah, if Prime was assassinated the war would degrade into a massacre. The Decepticons would be wiped out Prowl has no regard for who dies as long as Cybertron remains glorious and power ultimately under his control, he would be preferable to Prime in many ways, there would be no war for one. He’s far too efficient to be wasting precious resources on war. He’d wipe out any and all opposition. I dare say he’d be nigh untouchable if he ever took Prime’s place.” Mirage spoke almost with a certain awe to his tone. “Only problem is, he’s insane. The ‘bots here have grown so apathetic they need entertainment, cruelty is their drug, he provides it. Worse than the Quintessons, before they were enslaved.” Mirage shook his head sadly; dropping his gaze to the floor as he remembered the countless atrocities the Autobots had committed just to maintain their level of power.

Prowl’s jaw fell slack as he listened intently, the alternate Prowl had seemed many things, he’d yet to witness insane. If anything there was an odd feeling of admiration within Prowl for his counterpart. His ability to maintain control over his superior battle computer and raging emotions was, for Prowl, nothing short of impressive, he’d even be loathed to admit being envious.

Mirage drew closer as he watched Prowl carefully. “I know what you’re thinking.”

Prowl’s head snapped up from his musings to stare at him. Mirage stole a quick look towards Sunstreaker who’d resigned himself to recharging on a berth, before he drew closer to Prowl. “Don’t let him fool you, that ‘bot can drive the most level headed mech over the edge. He is very dangerous Prowl, they all are. He in particular, never fails when he sets out to do something. You have to resist him, I have no doubt he’ll show a particular interest in you and probably try to tempt you into joining him, if he hasn’t already.” Mirage’s optics filled with regret.

“I’ve had to watch many a good spark go to the pits because of Prowl. Promise me you won’t trust him, or any of them, especially him and Prime. Promise me!” He grabbed hold of Prowl’s arm tightly.

Prowl winced at the painful grip and nodded sharply, slightly stunned. “I promise.” He breathed.

Mirage nodded once his palm crossing Prowl’s squeezing it gently. Prowl frowned at the contact, his optics widening as he glanced at his hand. His fingers closed tightly around the data track. He looked up at Mirage, the unspoken message clear in Mirage’s optics.

The guards at the door twitched uneasily as their comms. buzzed. Mirage scowled as they suddenly left the room.

“That can’t be good.” He muttered.

“What’s going on?” Starscream’s distinct vocals cut through the tension as he got to his feet gingerly.

Prowl shot him a concerned look, his optics drifting over Starscream’s energon encrusted wounds. The seeker didn’t miss a beat. “Don’t go soft on me now Autobot.” He quirked a humourless grin as Prowl frowned at him.

“I am merely concerned as to your injuries Starscream I do not favour the thought of potentially having to carry you should the opportunity arise for escape.” Prowl’s optic ridge was arched, his dry tone not lost on Starscream.

“Ha! I’ll have you thinking like a Decepticon in no time. Tell me Prowl have you ever considered a change of management?” He smirked as Prowl chose to ignore his recruiting tactics.

“So I see your battle computer has been restored?”

“How did you…?”

Starscream held up his hand. “Please Prowl; don’t insult my intelligence, your reputation for being a cold, emotionless computer precedes you.”

“I’m flattered.” Prowl responded blandly.

“You should be, very few things capture my interest.”

Thundercracker groaned on his berth, First Aid had disappeared into his private office at the back of the med bay. His red optics flickered. “Slag it all to the pits.”

“Thundercracker, it is a pleasure to see you too.” Starscream leant over his trine mate.

“I thought it’d all been some crazy memory purge or a really bad dream.” He rubbed his face as he sat up slowly.

“Someone’s coming.” Mirage hissed urgently. The mechs tensed; there was nothing they could do as First Aid had removed all of their weapons. Mirage drew away from the door as the brisk footsteps drew closer.

SG Earth

“You mean to tell me, that you have had a traitor in your ranks for Primus knows how many solar cycles and you weren’t aware of it?”

Prowl’s dark doorwings, held high and proud on his back, twitched almost un-noticeably at the clipped baritone voice over the comm. “I was aware of a spy, I was not aware of his identity. He has now been captured trying to help our guests leave prematurely.”

“Is that so? I trust you will find out what information he has sent to the Decepticons?”

Prowl straightened. “I will Prime. You can be assured of that.”

“It seems I can be assured of nothing Prowl.” Prime’s optics narrowed as he studied his SIC with faint contempt and ire. “I want the guests brought to me, relatively unharmed in one solar cycle, without fail. I trust you can manage that Prowl?”

“Of course Prime.” Prowl spoke with a carefully measured tone. “Sir what of Mirage?”

“You can deal with him as you deem fit, he’s of no use to me.”
“Thank you Prime.”

“Good. Do not disappoint me again Prowl, I am told that the first time you suffer the penalty for such a travesty is the most degrading and painful experience you could live through.” Prime tilted his scarred helm almost too casually. “I believe it would be your first failure would it not Prowl?”

“You are correct Prime, as always.” Prowl replied his voice betraying nothing, but his hands were clenched into tight fists out of sight from the monitor.

“Consider yourself warned Prowl. I am not normally so generous but I know I won’t have to repeat myself to you. Prime out.”

The comm. cut off. Prowl remained rigid in his seat staring at the blank screen. A whisper of air passed through his intakes, he hadn’t been aware he’d even been holding them in. Shuttering his optics briefly he forced himself to relax, fighting the murderous urge bubbling within him.

//Jazz my office.//

Prowl’s fingers drifted absently over the patched wound in his chest. The newcomers were proving more trouble than he deemed them to be worth. He’d already forced out the information for both Autobot and Decepticon bases back in their universe; it wouldn’t take too long to defeat both with a well coordinated attack, one which he was silently working on when Jazz knocked quietly at his open door.

“Come in Jazz, I have work for you.”

Jazz stood to attention at the front of Prowl’s desk.

“I have to interrogate Mirage so we can ascertain what information he’s passed to our enemies.”

Jazz nodded in quiet agreement. “What do you need me to do?”

Prowl’s optics brightened as a thin smile graced his lips. “Set up the arena and take our guests to the cube.”

Jazz’s optics widened in surprise. “Really Sir? We haven’t used it in some time.”

Prowl got up from his desk. “Jazz drop the pretense and stand at ease.”

Jazz relaxed a little as Prowl paced to the window, he enjoyed his superior’s company when he was in a more amenable temperament, Jazz only wished that he didn’t have to bear the brunt of Prowl’s frequent rages.

“I am well aware of the current unrest among us. I feel that my mechs could use some light entertainment.” He turned a sly quirk of his mouth caused Jazz to grin. “Don’t you agree Jazz?”

“Most definitely!”

“Good.” Prowl moved to stand before his subordinate, optics moving over his frame casually as he spoke. “I also want the human prisoners brought out as well.”

“The ones that tried t’ escape?”

“The very same. I trust all preparations can be completed in the next four cycles?”
“Count on it Prowl.” Jazz grinned eagerly. “I’ll see t' it personally.”

Prowl returned his smile with a dip of his helm, bringing his hand up he ran a finger along the jagged black helm, causing Jazz to shudder slightly, tension visible in his frame at the unexpected contact. “I have no doubt. Get to work.”

“Right away.” Jazz swelled at the indirect praise and dashed from the room as Prowl folded his arms. It was going to be a very interesting few solar cycles.
****
Mirage moved away from the door slowly, bracing himself for whatever came through.

Starscream stood between Thundercracker, now joined by Skywarp and Prowl, both still seated on their berths. Ever Sunstreaker was sat up waiting anxiously as the heavy footfalls grew closer.

The door slid open with a hiss, Prowl noticed Starscream take a step back as Jazz entered the room. He caught a glance of his red optics and frowned at the almost imperceptible tremor in Starscream’s frame. Turning back to the door he glared at Jazz, remembering his last violent and traumatic encounter with the mech.

Jazz smiled widely as he held Prowl’s glare. He approached the berth and with a flick of his hand he gestured to the guards accompanying him. “Take the traitor to Prowl. I will take these myself.”

Mirage hollered as the guards grabbed him roughly, Sunstreaker jumped down to try and help only to be knocked back onto his aft with the butt of a rifle. He yelped loudly as the guard struck him a few more times, ignoring Mirage’s protests and struggles.

“Stop this!” Prowl demanded loudly. Jazz held up his hand, the guard stopped instantly waiting his next command; he flicked his hand once more. The guards drew back, taking Mirage with them. The spy gave a slight nod to Prowl his optics dark with anxiety and fear as he was forced out the door.

Jazz grabbed Prowl roughly, dragging him off the berth bringing their chests close to touching. Being almost the same height Jazz barely had to look up to stare Prowl in the optics. His black hand closed around Prowl’s neck tightly causing the black and white mech to jerk back.

Pulling him back with a growl Jazz leered at him. “Don’t ever presume to give me a demand Prowl. You take orders from me or you and your friends will suffer greatly.” He leaned closer their faces close enough to feel the hot air cycling through their vents. “How I’d love to hear you scream for me again. Give me a reason Prowl, I could use the enjoyment.”

Prowl’s jaw was clenched tightly, his repaired processor restraining his anger and loathing for this strange version of Jazz. “Consider yourself deprived.” He uttered darkly. Jazz growled softly a grin forming on his twisted features, his visor locked on Prowl.

“We’ll see Prowl, we’ll see.” He dragged Prowl out of the med bay, gesturing to yet more guards who arrived to collect the others. Prowl could not deny his anxiety as the shouts of protests and hollers of pain, responding to the guards rough treatment, echoed down the dark hallway.
****

//internal comm.//

Earth

Prime transformed at the location of the space bridge. Perceptor had informed them that it was very possible a doorway still remained open and they were to remain vigilante while he ran simulations of possible destinations back on the Ark.

Prime glanced around the dusty copper landscape, there was no trace there had ever been any mech in the vicinity. He promptly ordered scouts to survey the perimeter, if there had been any further Decepticon activity in this area, he would know about it.

“Prime! I found something!” Ironhide bellowed from the other side of the space bridge.

Optimus rushed over, along with Ratchet. “What is it Ironhide?”
“Prowl’s weapon.” He held the rifle out to his leader. “He must a’ dropped it, when they disappeared.”

“Disappeared to where is what I want to know.” Ratchet grumbled, a frown creasing his features. He made his way over to the space bridge controls. “These have been blown all to slag Prime, I can’t make heads nor tails of it.”

//Prime to Ark.//
//Go ahead Prime.//

//Red Alert, instruct Wheeljack and Perceptor that I want them to get to the site of the space bridge location as soon as they can.//
//Understood Prime, Ark out.//

“Where are you?” Optimus muttered to himself as he gazed up at the barely detectable shimmer of the space bridge vortex above him.
****
SG Earth

A few cycles earlier

Bumblebee yelled sharply as he felt the sudden lurch of weightlessness. Thundercracker had taken heavy fire from the Autobots as they fled the base. He accelerated as fast as he was able to the space bridge, firing as he approached the small contingent of armed guards at its perimeter.

The yellow scout could do nothing else but hold on for sheer life, as the jet dived and swooped to avoid weapons fire. His left wing was shot through badly; Bumblebee’s olfactory sensors were assaulted with the putrid odour of burnt energon as it seeped from his still open wound.

“Going to have to drop you little ‘bot!”
“What about you?!” Bumblebee yelled over the shriek of the seeker’s engines.

“I’ll draw their fire; you get to that space bridge!”
Bumblebee’s spark and capacitor were pounding hard as Thundercracker swooped as low as he could to the ground.

“Go now!”
“Thank you!”

“Time for pleasantries when you get us out of here Autobot! Now go!”

Bumblebee leapt from the jet’s back without another word, breaking into his rough landing with a roll, which became a tumble as the speed at which he’d landed catapulted him across the rocky ground. He cried out as he felt cables in his shoulder snap under the force of him bouncing along the earth. He slid to an undignified halt. Mustering all his energy, his intakes racing, he scrambled for cover.

Glancing around the rocky out crop, he watched in horror as Thundercracker managed to successfully draw the Autobots away from him. They hadn’t even seen Bumblebee drop as he’d been shielded by the horizon line thanks to Thundercracker’s skilled low flying, the seeker however wasn’t fairing quite so well.

Bumblebee hissed in sympathy as a large blast exploded into Thundercracker’s side. The seeker was sent careening into rocks and steel structures. Bumblebee bowed his head as the dark jet disappeared behind the horizon with a roar. Taking his chance Bumblebee hobbled as fast as he could towards the now unprotected space bridge.

Present

He felt like he’d been walking for cycles. He’d been lucky so far, his small yellow frame blending in with the dusty sandy landscape as daylight drew to a close. He eyed the steep slope in front of him. The space bridge was just over that ridge. Dropping his head, Bumblebee wheezed, his intakes becoming clogged with dust as a sand storm picked up force around him. His shoulder was shot, leaving his arm hanging limply by his side and the energon line in his leg was torn.

Taking one last glance back at the distant Autobot base, looming, formidable against the darkening skyline, Bumblebee took a deep rattled intake. Using his good arm he scrambled frantically up the slope, cursing out loud as the shale and loose rock sent him sliding down more than once. Finally he broached the peak. Peering over the edge, he could see no one.

Driven on by the elated feeling that he was going home very soon, Bumblebee allowed himself to slide down the other side of the slope, not caring how much his paintwork was getting scratched, it was always something Sunstreaker could touch up later.

Sunstreaker, the thought of the golden ‘bot filled Bumblebee with regret and guilt, he and Prowl were still back there. They hadn’t managed to catch up to him which could only mean that their escape attempt had failed and they were now at the mercy of their captor or worse.

Bumblebee shook the latter thought straight out of his processor. No, he would get home he would get help. Filled with renewed determination to save his friends, the mini bot made his way over to the space bridge controls. He silently thanked Primus that they were still online.

A rustle of movement caught his audio, small rocks tumbled down the slope. He was no longer alone in the valley. Bumblebee froze as a large weapon was placed against the back of his helm.

“Turn around.” Came the cold voice.

Bumblebee flinched he knew that voice. It could only belong to one mech. Slowly he turned to face his captor. “Thundercracker.” He breathed in astonishment, taking a small step back until he was leaning against the console.

“How do you know my name?”

“Y—you rescued me…” Bumblebee leaned back further, his hand pressing down on the transmission switch.

Thundercracker took a step back frowning, his gun still trained on Bumblebee. “Autobot we have never met before.”

Bumblebee winced. “Frag it! Sorry not you, the other you… from my universe.”

Thundercracker blinked at him incredulously. “The other… what?!” Shaking his head he glared at Bumblebee. “What the frag are you talking about and what are you doing with the space bridge?”

Bumblebee proceeded to regale the entire story – at rapid nervous pace - from the battle with the seekers to falling through the space bridge and being taken prisoner by the Autobots. Thundercracker’s red optics widened as he explained everything, his weapon slowly lowering to the floor.

“Mirage… he helped you escape?”

Bumblebee nodded, is expression grim. “He was with them when I left; he’d gone to Prowl’s office to find my friends.”

Thundercracker raised his weapon sharply. “Where is he?”
“I… I don’t know… they didn’t follow me.”

“How do I know this isn’t some kind of Autobot trickery?” The seeker snarled dangerously, his optics narrow.

“I don’t know what to say to convince you, I just need to go back to my universe… to get help… to rescue my friends… please.” Bumblebee took a daring step forward, the jet being much taller and larger than he was. “If you came with me, I could show you.”

“Like slag Autobot!” Thundercracker lifted Bumblebee clean off the ground with one hand, ignoring the mini-bot’s loud protests. “You think me stupid enough to fall for that?” He let out a short, bitter laugh. “You’re coming with me.”

“No! No please, I must help my friends… Please I need to get back to my world!”

Thundercracker tweaked cables at the back of Bumblebee’s neck; the yellow mech fell limp into stasis in his grasp. “Keep quiet; I don’t want your friends to find me.”

//Starscream, I have a prisoner, says he’s spoken to Mirage, pretty certain he’s got some kind of glitch.//
//What kind of glitch?//

//He’s talking about another world and the space bridge. Crazy like the rest of the ‘bots if you ask me.//

//I didn’t ask you. Bring him to me immediately.//
//Understood.//

//Thundercracker.// Starscream paused, a faint sigh slipping through the comm. //Bring him to me, unharmed.//
****
Earth
The Autobots stared at the transmission light in disbelief.

“Is that for real?” Ironhide exclaimed, glancing towards Prime.
“It was most definitely Bumblebee’s voice.” Perceptor answered. “It was transmitting through the space bridge, a weak signal. I couldn’t pinpoint his location, it kept jumping around, it’s baffling.”

“Could his story be true Perceptor?” Prime asked quietly, his brow furrowed in thought.

The red scientist thought for a moment and nodded. “It is possible although unlikely. There is no way to know without…”

“Without what?” Ratchet demanded impatiently.
“Without going there ourselves.” Prime finished.

“You can’t be serious?” Ratchet whirled round to face his leader. “There’s no telling what lies for us on the other side of this infernal thing. Bumblebee didn’t exactly paint a pretty picture.”

Optimus absently brushed his fingers over his face mask. “We’ll recon’ back at the Ark. Ironhide I want guards and patrols put in place around the space bridge.”

“Got it Prime.”

“Perceptor, I need you to study this, work on nothing else. Find out how to get us there and to bring us back.”

“Understood.”

Ratchet touched his leader’s arm. “I hate to be the cynical voice of reason here Prime, but you can’t be serious about this?”

“If there’s a chance they’re still alive Ratchet then I am deadly serious.” His optics met the concern of his CMO. “I need your support in this Ratchet. I’m going to need you as are they.”

“You have it Prime, just felt it my duty to point out what a Primus cursed glitchin’ idea it was.”

Optimus smiled behind his mask at Ratchet’s quirked smirk. “Duly noted Ratchet. Autobots return to base. We’ve got a long few cycles ahead of us.”
****

A/N: This is Chapter 12. Quite a way to go yet so I hope you're settled and comfy. Ok there are umm shall we say suggestive parts of this chapter, implied undertones so to speak. I believe everything is above board an PG 13 though so no worries.

//internal comm.//

SG Earth

Prowl grimaced as he tried to look back at Sunstreaker and the trine. His optics met the red angry optics of Starscream, currently being restrained chest down to the floor by three ‘bots as they attempted to cuff him.

He yelped sharply as Jazz yanked his own bonds back, forcing him to stumble as the mech practically dragged him along the corridor. He glanced across at the determined face of Jazz, his processor working faster than most computers looking for possible solutions, escape methods, probabilities of success, this universe’s Jazz’s potential weaknesses.

“Where are you taking us?”
Jazz sneered. “Somewhere with a view.”
“What’s going to happen to Mirage?”

Jazz’s visor glowed brighter for a second, a second caught by Prowl’s sharp optics. “He will be dealt with, how is no concern of yours.”
“He allied himself with us; therefore he is every concern of mine.” Prowl replied.

He suddenly found himself slammed into the cold, hard wall with such force his optics whited out. A sharp pain stabbed him through his back as his doorwings were grabbed and yanked down forcing his back to arch.

“Let him go!” Sunstreaker yelled, trying desperately to fend off the armed soldiers who were viciously dragging him past the restrained Prowl.

Prowl hissed in pain when Jazz reinforced his grip on the door panels. “Go ahead, this one needs to be shown the meaning of respect, I’ll catch up.”
“Yeah course he does Jazz.” One of the soldiers leading Skywarp sniggered.

“Are you implying something soldier?” Jazz drew his weapon upon his fellow ‘bot, maintaining his hold on Prowl.

The mech took a step back, a small hand pulling him back by his elbow. “Leave him with his toy Hound. He knows what Prowl will do to him if he disobeys orders again.”

Hound snarled at Jazz, who held his glare. “Yeah you’re right Cliffjumper. Enjoy your fun… Sir.”

The guards continued on their way dragging their prisoners with them. The two seekers glanced at Starscream who watched Jazz return his attentions back to Prowl. The jet caught Prowl’s optics as he was pushed fiercely up against the wall. Looking back at his trine, Starscream shook his head, the guards shoving them hard in their wings to keep them moving.

Prowl tensed, trying to ignore the pain ripping across his doors, his back. He met Starscream’s backward glance and could have sworn he saw sympathy reflected in the ‘con’s face.

“Are all you ‘bots as fractious as them, or is it just your charm that rubs mechs the wrong way?” He hissed through the pain, determined to play on Jazz’s nerves, get inside his head as much as he was able.

Jazz grabbed Prowl and spun him round, slamming him back into the wall. His door wings caught along the rivets in the bulkhead, causing him to cry out as metal armour shredded and ripped along the panels. Jazz pressed himself into Prowl’s tense, slightly shuddering frame, his optics and fingers trailing along the lines of the black and white’s armour.

“You think you’re better than me?” Jazz growled deeply, his accent harsh, his face inches from Prowl’s. Trailing a finger up Prowl’s face plates, he sneered. “You think you have any rights what so ever here?” Jazz smirked. “I could kill you right now.” His face drew closer, Prowl could feel hot air exhaling over him.

“You can’t and you won’t. We both know that. He would kill you, Gaahh!” Prowl let a startled yelp escape as Jazz struck him across the face; he turned his head away sharply as his blunt fingers dragged across his chevron.

“I didn’t give you permission to talk.” Jazz was oddly calm considering his previous demeanor.

“You don’t have to do this.” Prowl replied through clenched denta, his air intakes sucking in sharply when Jazz yanked his head back to face his own, by the point of his chevron.

“What makes you think I don’t want to do this hmm?” His visor looked Prowl up and down, settling on his face with a wanton leer that caused Prowl’s tanks to lurch with anxiety at what he knew Jazz wanted from him.

“You have a choice Jazz.” Prowl choked out the words as a dark hand tightened around his throat.
“You know nothing about me.”

“I know… ack… he doesn’t… NNnnggaahhh!... Respect you… plays mind games.”

Prowl clawed at the vice like grip in desperation, feeling delicate cabling in his neck snapping under the strain. “Uses… you…” He rasped his vision fading as the flow of energon into his cortex became restricted. “No…one deserves… tha---accckk!!” Prowl’s optics rolled back in his helm.

Jazz’s intakes hitched sharply, finding himself listening to the mech struggling in his hands. Snarling he pulled back, catching Prowl by the shoulder as he staggered forward.

Surprised at the sudden show of mercy, Prowl frowned up at Jazz whose face was creased into a scowl. Then in a sudden flurry of movement and a harsh growl Jazz shoved Prowl back against the wall.

“You have no idea what I deserve.” He hissed his visor dark with anger. “What I’ve done.”
Prowl frowned. “Then help us, redeem whatever sense of morality you have left.”

Jazz stared into the earnest blue optics, his gaze softening. “You don’t know what you’re asking.” His helm dipped subtly. “It would destroy everything I’ve worked hard to achieve.”

Prowl’s optics hardened, all he was hearing was more excuses. “More death is going to help then I take it?”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Jazz’s tone had dropped into a softer, more nostalgic note. He absently traced the line of Prowl’s jaw, lost in his own thoughts. Prowl could tell Jazz was struggling, his words were affecting him, he saw doubt flash across Jazz’s face. Despite him being a stranger belonging to a strange and dark universe certain mannerisms remained the same. Back on his world Prowl knew Jazz well enough to read him quite easily and the Jazz before him was clearly troubled, torn.

In a last attempt to appeal to Jazz, Prowl took a more direct approach. Shoving the mech back hard he broke free of his grasp, his face contorted in controlled, measured anger, his lip curled in disdain. “The only mech you should have to explain anything to is yourself.”

Jazz took a startled step back at the sudden change in temperament. He stared back at the black and white mech who now, in anger, looked disturbingly similar to the Prowl he knew. It reminded him painfully of the torture and indecision he faced everyday.

Prowl straightened proudly and composed himself, returning once again to the aloof, stoic mech Jazz had first encountered as if nothing was wrong. “Now if you’re not going to help me, take me to my friends.”

Jazz heard the stern, commanding tone; this mech was also used to giving orders. Jazz knew better than to be played at Prowl’s game, he grabbed him roughly, leading him down the corridor.

“Bet you never thought you’d call a ‘con a friend did you?” He goaded, bitter sarcasm lacing his words.

“I never thought I’d be referring to an Autobot as an enemy either.”

Jazz stole a look at Prowl, his face remaining impassive as he met his gaze, blue optics seemingly looking deep into him, seeing the mech beneath the visor. Jazz growled once more, refusing to let Prowl’s words eat at his processor, fill him with yet more doubts. His Prowl made him frustrated and had toyed with him for as long as they’d known each other, it was always a little uncomfortable to be in his presence ever since his battle computer had been upgraded. This Prowl downright rattled him and he didn’t like it, not one bit.
****

A/N: WARNINGS: Character death, human death, gore, blood, violence, torture.

Do not say I didn't warn you.

****

Prowl coolly met the worried gaze of Sunstreaker and the questioning gaze of the seekers as he was brought to a transparent cage. Jazz silently unlocked the small box and shoved him inside, locking it behind him. Prowl turned and faced him, forcing him to look him in the optics.

Jazz paused for a few seconds as Prowl approached him.

“You have a choice Jazz.” Prowl insisted.

Jazz gave a short, bitter laugh. “Not anymore Prowl.” His lips curled up into an unfriendly smirk. “Enjoy the show. I know I will.”

He marched from their make shift prison. Prowl watched him leave, his expression grim, his optics narrowed.

“What was all that about?” Sunstreaker stood beside him. “Did he hurt you Prowl?”

Prowl detected the unnatural tremor of fear, uncertainty in Sunstreaker’s voice and looked down at the golden mech. “No, he’s only intent on hurting himself.”

“Ha! And I’m an Autobot.” Skywarp retorted quirking an optic ridge at Prowl’s cool glance.

“Where are we? What is this thing?” Prowl scanned his optics around the transparent cube cell. His optics drifted up to the ceiling above them which looked suspiciously like a door, or a hatch of some kind.

“They called it the cube, didn’t say what it was for.” Sunstreaker answered, looking as confused as the ‘cons.

“Can you hear something?” Prowl froze, his helm tilted up towards the roof. The other mechs followed his gaze.

“Cheering, shouting… I can hear a lot of mechs gathering above us.” Starscream frowned. “I believe we’re about to find out what Jazz was referring to by enjoying the show.”

As if on cue the sound of large cogs clinking into place, shifting beneath them filled the room.

“What in Primus was that?” Sunstreaker’s optics were wide as he stared at the floor of their cell.

In a sharp move the cell suddenly jerked upwards, the mechs leant against the smooth walls for support as they were slowly raised toward the opening hatch above them. The din of cheering and hollering became clearer as they found themselves rising out of the room into daylight. They were outside, in what looked like a large oval arena. The mechs glanced around at the optics all staring back at them, making as much noise as they could as the cell rose a few feet above the surface and locked into position.

Prowl’s optics fell on the black and chrome mech seated serenely at the apex of the oval, Jazz was stood beside him, along with First Aid and a few others that he vaguely recognized. He narrowed his optics as his counterpart betrayed no emotion on his face.

“He looks too pleased with himself.” Sunstreaker muttered.

“What’s the glitch planning?” Starscream snarled coming to stand on the other side of Prowl.

“I don’t know, but he’s activated his battle computer.” Prowl responded quietly, scanning the crowds for Mirage.

“How can you tell from here?”

“He’s entirely focused, whatever he’s planning, whatever this is, he doesn’t want his emotions getting in the way.”

“That is never good.” Sunstreaker flinched noticing a slight down pull of Prowl’s mouth, his gaze un-fazed. He leaned a little closer. “No offence intended Prowl.”
Prowl glanced at him in mild surprise. “None taken Sunstreaker, I am quite relieved that I am not exactly like my counterpart.”

“Oh yeah, spot the difference.” Skywarp scowled darkly at the tactician.

“Prowl here still has feelings even when his battle computer is activated. That one however, does not.” Starscream answered before Prowl could respond, smirking at Prowl’s surprised glance.

“How do you…?

“Look it’s Mirage!” Sunstreaker interrupted, pointing across the ground frantically as Mirage was led out by armed guard. “Primus, he’s been beaten to slag.”

The mechs in the cell winced as the arena erupted with a roar of excitement. Their audios rang at the increasing level of noise.

“Prowl I’m getting a really bad feeling about this!” Sunstreaker yelled over the din, hands slapping to his audios in an attempt to block out the noise.
****
Mirage stood proudly in the centre of the arena; he noticed his new allies trapped in the cube. A cube he knew all too well, he stared defiantly back at his former superior officer, refusing to bow down for their sick entertainment. If he was going out, he was going out with honour and dignity.

The two armed guards removed his shackles and handed him a single energon sword. Their optics glinted as they sneered at him. “I give him ten kliks.” The first guard laughed at him. “Everyone knows traitors never last long.”

Cliffjumper snorted. “Are you kidding, a few astroseconds tops.”

“You’re on!” Hound never removed his narrow optics from Mirage who ignored their ignorant betting.

“Unless you wish to join him, I suggest you withdraw.” Prowl’s voice cut through the air like a knife, the crowd fell into a more bearable murmur as their second in command stood to addressed them.

“My fellow Autobots. We are gathered here to witness the punishment of one of our own.” His optics fell onto Mirage who glared at him with hatred. “A traitor to our cause. Who knows how many mechs we have known who have lost their lives to this… Decepticon lurking in our midst.”

Prowl glanced around the arena, his calm yet powerful voice carrying effortlessly across the air. “I am responsible for allowing your safety to be compromised. For our allowing our secrets to be stolen, so this solar cycle, I present him to you as a gift.”

His face betrayed no emotion as he stared coldly back at Mirage. “Mirage you have been found guilty of treachery and collaboration with our sworn enemies. Your punishment is death.”

The arena erupted in agreement. Abuse hurled from the stands from mechs that Mirage once called friends. Prowl waited patiently for them to quieten down once more, simply holding up his hand to signal silence.

“You betrayed your Prime, Mirage and now your new friends are going to watch what happens when Autobots are defied.”

Prowl glanced up at the cube in the centre of the arena. “As you are aware, that cube is not impenetrable. If you want them to live, you will fight for them.” He relished the hollers of protests erupting from the cell at his command, sniggers of approval rattled around the arena.

“First things first, however. Jazz please have the humans brought out.”

“Yes Prowl.”

Jazz disappeared behind Prowl, Mirage watched with growing anxiety as Jazz returned leading four defenseless shackled humans before him.

“I believe you recognize these?” Prowl stared at Mirage who visibly shook with rage.

“Prowl you cold sparked glitch. Let them go! They have done nothing to you!” Mirage spat his words out as rage filled his circuits.

“They have been ungrateful to our hospitality Mirage and with your help they destroyed an energon mining facility. That is a crime.”

Prowl gestured to Jazz who brought the humans forward and pushed them from the stand. Mirage flinched as the humans hit the ground hard, having fallen over twenty feet, the three that survived screamed in pain as their fragile bones cracked and snapped upon impact.

“You can’t do this!”

Prowl inclined his helm, his expression curious. “Mirage you forget your place and whom you are speaking to.” A small, dark smile crossed his lips. “We can do anything.”

“You mean YOU Prowl! I know all about your plans to over throw Prime, you’re the traitor to the Autobots, it’s only a matter of time before they all see you for who you really are!”

Prowl’s doorwings tensed on his back, his chassis bristling with faint tricklings of anger that seeped through the battle computer's firewalls. “No amount of raving will save you now Mirage.”

“You will pay for this Prowl!”

“Not today.”

Raising his optics to the now silent arena, he lifted his arms wide and raised his voice. “Let the games begin!”

The arena shook from sheer force of sound. Prowl returned to his seat. “Release them.” He barely glanced at Jazz as he gave the order.

Jazz gritted his denta and pulled a long lever back, opening caged gates around the wall of the arena. The two mechs watched as Mirage dashed forward and gathered up the surviving humans; giving them purchase on his shoulders as he readied his energon sword.
****
The mechs trapped in the cube yelped as their cell shook and cracked from repeated blows.

“Sharkticons!?” Sunstreaker screamed as the gnashing creatures threw themselves at the cube. “They have fraggin’ Sharkticons on Earth?!”

“Oh slag!” Thundercracker swore as the mechs lost their balance, the cube tumbled onto its side, landing with a thud, cracking the walls.

The audience was enraptured; nothing could be heard over the noise. Prowl glanced up sharply as the flash of a blue energon sword crossed his vision. He watched Mirage fending off the Sharkticons from their cell, leading them to the other side of the arena as he hacked away at them bravely.

He was already badly hurt and losing energon. The mechs gasped in horror as he stumbled, sending two of the humans to their deaths. Their fragile, fleshy bodies easy prey for the large, steel, knife like teeth of the Sharkticons. The crowd fell into a hushed horrified awe as the Sharkticons snapped the bones of the humans with ease. Their pitiful screams couldn’t drown out the crunch of the razor teeth as they closed around their bodies.

The sandy ground splattered with blood as the Sharkticons tore apart one of the humans, the deep red stain spreading over the ground as one of the humans was tossed into the air only to be caught in the snapping jaws of a large Sharkticon. Cries of disgust echoed around the arena as arterial blood sprayed upwards and outwards onto the nearby audience.

Thundercracker felt his tanks lurch at the scene. “How do they hold so much fluid?” He couldn’t tear his horrified optics away as the second human was flung into the air.

Sunstreaker ignored the seeker and pummeled the cell wall. “Get up Mirage! You can do it! Let us out we can help you!”

Mirage glanced up at the pleading from the golden mech, a faint smile flickered across his face as he turned and ran in the opposite direction. He fought bravely, but could feel his body failing as the Sharkticons snarled and leapt at him, taking bites out of his armour with each strike.

He stumbled once more in front of the cell, energon dribbling profusely over his dark armour, his blue optics filled with pain as the last human was plucked from his chassis. The human male let out a blood curdling scream that made the prisoners’ energon run cold. They stared, aghast as his fingers slid across Mirage’s armour trying desperately to hold on for dear life, before his lower limbs were torn from his body with a loud rip.

Sunstreaker bent double and dry heaved violently. Mirage’s dark blue armour became coated in slick, dark blood, splashing onto his face plates as the human was devoured with a loud gurgling crunch, directly in front of him. He hauled himself up with a roar and stood his back flush against the cell, skillfully hacking into the unending attack of the piranha like mouths. He screamed as one ripped a chunk from his leg, energon gushed from his torn lines, mixing with the blood on his frame.

The prisoners followed him with their optics as he scrambled onto the top of their cell in desperation, the Sharkticons followed relentlessly.

His energon sword went flying from his grip; he was caught in the jaws of one of the larger creatures and flung to the dusty ground. Sunstreaker ducked his head as the Sharkticons piled on top of him. His screams scarred their sensor nets as the Sharkticons began to tear him to pieces before their very optics. His hand reached out toward them, trembling, his optics dimmed.

Prowl crouched low in the cell meeting his optics, he pressed his hand against the wall of the cell. Mirage nodded and cast him a weak smile before he was engulfed in a writhing mass of metal and razor sharp teeth.

A gasp escaped Prowl’s vocaliser, bowing his head from the horrific sight, his fist clenching on the clear wall. The cheers went unabated around the arena, mechs shouting for the death of another, it was barbaric. He shook with rage.

The trine watched silently, unable to speak or move as the horror unfolded in front of them. Starscream approached Prowl’s side and after a brief hesitation rested his hand on Prowl’s shoulder. The mech flinched but did not back away from his uncharacteristic gesture of comfort.

Prowl stood and gave Starscream a subtle nod before helping the distressed Sunstreaker to his feet. The golden mech turned and rested his helm against Prowl’s chest, mumbling angrily into his chassis. “I’m going to off line every last one of them.”

“We may have a more immediate problem to deal with.” Starscream took a step back and the cell wall cracked loudly under the strain of continued attack.
Prowl shuttered his optics for a moment, unwilling to counter either sentiment. He looked up sharply, their cell began to lower once again into the ground, the mindless, ever hungry Sharkticons clawing, thrashing at the cell walls in a maddening base desire to feed.

“It would appear not.”

Sunstreaker glanced up, his face plates flushed with rage, his hands balled into fists. “How could they do this?! What kind of monsters are they?! We have no chance, you hear me, we’re all dead!”

Prowl clutched his shoulders and forced him to look at him. “I assure you Sunstreaker I will not let that happen.”

“Oh yeah and what can you do Prowl? What can you do against them?!”

“Calm yourself Autobot or we will have a cessation of our truce” Thundercracker rumbled.

“You think I care what you can do to me right now?” Sunstreaker spat out his words with venom. “Do you ‘con?!”

“Sunstreaker cease and desist this instant!”

The golden mech froze at the angry command from his second. He stood shaking, not willing to turn around and face him.

“Turning on each other will not help matters. I assure you I will do everything I can to get us home.”

White tapered hands came to rest on Sunstreaker’s shoulders. “But I need you focused and with me.” Prowl’s voice had an unnatural calming effect on his worn and frazzled cortex.

Sunstreaker dropped his helm back wearily against Prowl’s chassis. “I don’t want to die here Prowl. Not like that.”

Starscream spoke up. “Show them no weakness Autobot and we will yet survive this nightmare.”

Sunstreaker had always before considered the cold, stoic tactician to be completely devoid of any kind of warmth or compassion. It’s what made it so easy to give him a hard time, but at this very moment, as he felt himself being guided to the floor by the white hands; he couldn’t imagine wanting comfort from anyone else.

If anyone could get them out alive, the ever vigilant, forever planning Prowl could. He nodded silently in acknowledgement of Starscream and shuttered his optics sinking back into Prowl’s arms as they leant against the cell.

The seekers also sank to the floor, finding comfort in the closeness of each other. Resting against the walls of their cell, they had no other choice but to await their fate.

Well. That was INTENSE .

Good work, looking forward to more. I'm gonna go have nightmares now .

Tomasemily wrote:Well. That was INTENSE .

Good work, looking forward to more. I'm gonna go have nightmares now .

sorries *hands out cookies to stave off nightmares* glad you liked it!

Carriemus Prime wrote:

Tomasemily wrote:Well. That was INTENSE .

Good work, looking forward to more. I'm gonna go have nightmares now .

sorries *hands out cookies to stave off nightmares* glad you liked it!

No prob, you're stories are some of the best I've read. And I hope those cookies have chocolate .

A/N: Edited to remove potential pg 17 material. Hints at violence and torture. Angst. PM me if you want to read the un-edited version. It's nothing explicit just not what I would deem pg13. Simply removes as well some of the angsty impact of the chapter but doesn't detract from the plot as a whole.

Enjoy.

Chapter 14

cycle = hour
solar = day
//internal comm//
'thoughts'
dreams

"speech"

Earth

Optimus was solemn, intently listening to the meeting unfold. His mechs were discussing heatedly what to do about the message they had heard over the space bridge, apparently from their very own Bumblebee. Clasping his hands in front of him Optimus interrupted the debate before it got out of hand.

“Alright what do we know so far? Perceptor, what can you tell me about the space bridge?”

The small red mech shifted in his seat. “Well Prime Sir, it appears from my readings that there was an interruption of the signal when the space bridge was activated. It threw the destination coordinates out of synchronization.”

Optimus frowned. “So where did it send them?”

Perceptor dropped his gaze and fidgeted absently with a data pad in front of him. Wheeljack gave him a squeeze of his arm and a faint nod of encouragement. “Sir my calculations show that… well…”

“For Primus’ sake spit it out will ya?!” Ironhide barked, his patience wearing thin.

“They’re not in our galaxy. They’re not… not even in our universe.” Perceptor finished meekly. “That’s the best I can tell you Prime, I’m sorry.”

Optimus shook his head as the room once again erupted into chaos. Holding up his hand he waited for silence. “Thank you Perceptor, good work.” The red mech gave him a grateful nod.

Optimus glanced at his engineer. “Wheeljack what’s the status with the space bridge controls?”

“I can get it running again, just give me another cycle or two and I will be able to retrieve the last coordinates, but from what myself and Perceptor can tell, the vortex is still open.”

“You mean locked on its last destination?” Optimus questioned.

“Yes Prime, but to ensure the safety of any teams that go through I will make a copy of the space bridge coordinates and close the bridge behind them. We should be able to get it open again when you need to return.” His blue side fins glowed as he spoke.

Optimus nodded. “Good we’ll need that. Get to work both of you.”

Both mechs stood and nodded, leaving the room swiftly.

“So you’re really going through with this?” Ratchet inquired softly, concern lacing his optics.

Sighing Optimus gave him a curt nod. “I’m not leaving three of my mechs stranded Primus knows where Ratchet, they’d do the same for any of us.”

He turned back to the table addressing the mechs who looked to him expectantly. “It will be a dangerous mission; we don’t know what lies on the other side. We are not there to explore. For all we know so far it sounds like there are hostiles. We know for certain that Bumblebee is online. We are going to bring all three back safely.” He dropped his gaze not wanting to consider the alternative. “Or at the very least we’ll bring back their frames.”

Letting the information sink in for a moment, Optimus paused. The room was uncomfortably silent. “Ironhide, First Aid, Mirage and Sideswipe you’re on the team with me, Silverbot and Slingshot.” He met each of their optics in turn gaining their silent acceptance. “Jazz I am leaving you in command of the base.”

Jazz scowled his usual cheer non-existent. “Sir I should be on the team, I’m the best special ops you got. I will be of more use t’ you off base.”
“Jazz those are my orders.” Optimus stated gently.

“But Sir!” Jazz’s fist clenched on the table. “I need t’ be on that team!”
“Jazz I’m not having a debate with you.” Optimus held the darkened glare of the visor with piercing optics. “Do I make myself clear?”

Jazz sat back in his chair, clenching his jaw. Folding his arms he turned from his leader in anger. “Yes Sir. Crystal.” He growled with a certain level of menace the rest of the Autobots were unused to hearing from their normally chipper and positive third in command.

Optimus vented a soft sigh. “We leave in two cycles. Dismissed.”

The room emptied slowly. Optimus glanced up and called out. “Jazz a moment.”

The saboteur tensed and waited stiffly by the door, he was prepared to defend himself, restate his case. He knew he would prove more useful on the rescue team but that wasn’t his sole reason for insisting upon it. Guilt raged through Jazz’s spark, guilt and intense worry of a kind he wasn’t used to feeling.

“You broke a number of regulations just then Jazz and publicly questioning me is the height of insubordination.” Optimus frowned eyeing him carefully.

“Well get Prowl t’ right me up a slaggin’ reprimand when you bring him back then.” The visored mech retorted his vocals laced with sarcasm and insolence his arm folded defiantly.

Optimus stood and made his way over to his officer. “Jazz what’s gotten into you?”

“I just think my skills would be of more on the rescue mission Prime.”

Optimus quirked an orbital ridge and placed a hand on the black and white’s shoulder, prompting the mech to look up at him. “I need every mech on board if we’re going to be successful Jazz, so… humour me… please.”

Jazz’s shoulders slumped and his helm dropped down. “It should be me on the other side of that bridge… not Prowl; it’s my fault he’s there.”
Optimus frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Jazz began to pace, his arms gesticulating widely. “I was assigned the space bridge mission. Prowl and I spent cycles going over the plans and tactics. The solar cycle before I was set t’ go, I was training with Ironhide and I fragged up my leg.” Jazz leant against the table, feeling the weight of guilt pressing down on him. “I was hold up in the med bay. Prowl was the only other mech who knew the mission apart from my team.” He turned and met Optimus’s gaze. “He took my place. If he gets… Primus… if he dies ‘cause of me… I don’t know what I’ll…” He shook his head, unable to finish.

Optimus empathized, in his position as Prime there had been many a time when he’d sent other mechs in his place at a great risk. “Jazz he’s not going to blame you for his current predicament.”

Jazz gave an ungainly snort. “Yeah I know, he’d be tellin’ me that it’s illogical fer me t’ be feelin’ this way… but Prime… I need t’ be on that team. Just t’ make sure he’s ok.”

Optimus could see the anguish in Jazz’s face; the visor was dim with emotion. “You care about him.”

Jazz appeared taken aback for a moment, stalling over the unexpected statement. “We’re close… yeah, you could say that.” He trailed off, unwilling to divulge just how close.

Jazz pressed his lip components into a thin line, remembering the last conversation he’d had with Prowl. The ever cool, collected tactician reassuring him of the odds of success, while he’d been lying beside him on the med bay berth.

His spark ached with helplessness, yeah they were close, not quite as close as Jazz would have preferred but then Prowl was a difficult mech to be friends with. Jazz knew he wouldn’t rest until he knew Prowl was safe.

“Please Prime; I am the best mech fer the job. Infiltration is my specialty.”

Optimus frowned. “Jazz please don’t take this the wrong way but, if you’re emotionally compromised then you’re only going to be a risk to yourself and potentially to others.”

Jazz stiffened visibly. “My mission comes first Sir, always.” He glared up at his leader. “Can you honestly tell me yer not emotionally compromised?”

Optimus held his steady, earnest gaze for a moment studying him carefully. Jazz was indeed his best special ops mech. He would only be an asset on the team. Cycling air through his vents in a defeated sigh, Optimus relented. “Be ready in two cycles.”

Jazz flashed him a quick, grateful grin. “Thanks I won’t let you down.” He turned towards the exit.

“Jazz.” Optimus called after him. “Do not disobey me on this mission, no matter whose spark is at stake do you hear me?”

Jazz gave him a terse nod. “I’m with you Sir, all the way.”

Optimus let him leave and opened his comm. to Ratchet. //Ratchet you’re going to be in command while I’m gone.//
//Gave in to Jazz then?//
//You know me too well.// He paused with a slight smile. //But Jazz will be valuable on the team.//
//Well just make sure that spark of his doesn’t get impulsive, any rash actions over there and we could lose all of you.//
//Jazz knows his place; I don’t think he’d risk another of our team willingly for his own purposes.//
//The spark plays tricks with your processor Prime, you know that.//

Optimus sank into his chair, weary and worried. //I will have to have a talk to my wayward second in command about it upon our return.//

He could almost hear Ratchet’s smirk through the comm. //Now that’s the spirit.// He hesitated for a second. //Come home safe Optimus, all of you.//
//I intend to Ratchet, I intend to.// He grinned. //I want my base and my mechs in one piece upon my return.//

//Don’t count on it.// Came the good natured reply. //Get some rest.//

The comm. link died and Optimus pinched the plating on the bridge of his nose. He could only hope for everyone’s sake that Primus was on their side this time.

****
SG Earth

Prowl tried to struggle to his feet, get as far away from his counterpart as he could. With his battle computer offline he couldn’t control the torrent of emotions assaulting his CPU. The black and chrome mech pinned him to the floor by his door wings. Biting back a cry of pain, Prowl stared up at his assailant, who had the strangest look of curiosity on his face plates.

“There is no where for you to run to Prowl, nobody will come to your rescue.” The mech leaned closer, their faces mere inches apart. “You’re all mine.”

The smile that followed filled Prowl with dread, trying with all his might to shove the straddled mech from off his frame, he snarled audibly. The mech simply laughed coldly and waved a shock rod in front of his face.

“Tut, tut… now hold still, this is going to hurt.”

Prowl screamed as the shock rod pressed against his sensitive door panels. Arcs of electricity trailed over his frame, sending him into violent convulsions. The pain relented and he fell limp with a gasp, his intakes shortened to pants.

There was an interruption at the door and his alternate growled impatiently. “I thought I told you no disturbances!”

“I’m sorry but Sunstreaker is in yer office.”

Prowl forced himself onto his side, pushing himself to his hands and knees. His optics caught sight of Sunstreaker’s golden legs through the gap in the door, he tried to call out to him but his vocaliser was too strained. Dropping his helm in defeat Prowl could only utter a static whine.

“My turn.” Another voice filled his audio, one all too familiar to him.
His optics fell onto Jazz. The mech had a certain glow in his visor. He grabbed Prowl roughly and flung him to the floor. Bearing over his weak frame Jazz leered. “Now he said t’ deal with you, but he never specified how.” He gripped Prowl’s helm and brought his face close enough to feel the hot air from his vents. “It’ll be easier fer you if you don’t fight me.”

Prowl whimpered as Jazz’s heavily armored frame pressed into him, pinning him to the floor. He turned his head away sharply, off lined his optics, anything but to look at the achingly familiar face. A sharp pain flashed across his face plates as Jazz slapped him hard. “You will watch.” He leered hungrily. “Its part of the fun, don’t you think?”

Prowl cried out in protest squirming in the mech’s vice like grasp he kept telling himself over and over it wasn’t Jazz, he was a stranger to him, it wasn’t the Jazz he knew. He flinched, hearing his name being uttered by that voice, not wanting this incident etched onto his memory files like a scar. Could he ever look at Jazz the same way again?

“Prowl… Prowl… PROWL!”

Prowl’s optics snapped open at the sharp yell. He glanced around the small cell. Sunstreaker’s blue optics were frowning at him, filled with concern.

“Prowl are you ok? You started muttering in your recharge…” Sunstreaker faltered not sure whether to reveal what he’d heard him say.

Prowl shook his helm, his immense self control keeping a tight hold of his raging emotions. “I’m fine. It was just a bad memory purge, I’m sorry if I said anything too… umm… uncomfortable.”

Sunstreaker glanced at the floor uncomfortably. “What did Jazz do to you?” He asked softly.

Prowl’s optics widened had he really uttered Jazz’s name out loud? Hiding his own mortification, he struggled to maintain his air of calm. “I mentioned Jazz?”

Sunstreaker nodded unwilling to meet his optics. “It… it didn’t sound -- pleasant.”

“It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with Sunstreaker, I’m fine.” He rested a hand on his shoulder. “Really.”

Sunstreaker wasn’t convinced but knew better than to push his SIC further. They’d never been close. In fact before this mission they hard never spent more than a cycle in each other’s company and usually that involved Prowl reprimanding him for one thing or another. It unsettled the golden mech to see even just the slight lapse in Prowl’s control. He met his earnest gaze with a small smile. “If you’re sure Prowl?”

The black and white nodded and turned his attention to the recharging seekers. Sunstreaker may not have been close to the tactician but from listening to Jazz from their world, he knew what signs to look for in Prowl’s body language. His doorwings were currently held high and in a sharp V on his back, his frame was tense, his mouth pressed into a thin line. From what Sunstreaker knew of Prowl, the mech was either troubled or furious. He dropped his gaze once more, out of respect for Prowl’s privacy. Whatever the twisted Jazz from this universe had done to him, Sunstreaker had a feeling Prowl wasn’t going to let him get away with it.
The main door to the room clicked open suddenly, startling the mechs to their feet. Prowl roused the seekers before turning to glare at his counterpart.

The darker Prowl smiled thinly at them. “It is time. You’re going to meet Prime. Be on your best behaviour.” He cast a quick glance at Prowl who glared at him fiercely. “If you know what’s good for you.”

He directed the guards to unlock the cell and each mech found his hands bound in front of him with energon cuffs. The black and chromed Prowl turned to Jazz hanging back at the door.

“Prepare the armed detail and ready the space bridge. Please inform Prime we’ll be arriving shortly.”

Jazz dipped his head in a short bow as they passed. His visor flickered and shot a glance at the bound Prowl, their optics locking for a split second before the prisoner was led out of the room.

Sunstreaker caught the subtle interaction between them and frowned, Prowl’s face was unreadable but not devoid of emotion. That in itself was… unusual and Jazz seemed troubled by their departure, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. Sunstreaker decided to make a point of getting the truth from Prowl, no matter how disrespectful he had to be to get it. As far as he was concerned none of these mechs were to be trusted and he would off line them all without a second’s hesitation. It was bad enough having a truce with slaggin’ Decepticons. Sunstreaker sighed wearily, his thoughts drifting to his twin.

‘Find me Sideswipe, I want to go home. Please don’t let me die here.’ He sent the plea through their sibling bond. His spark flaring with intensity. Sunstreaker had no way of knowing whether his brother could even feel him but he had to hope, at this point; trapped in a world where no mech was to be trusted, it was all he had.

Chapter 15

'thoughts'
"speech"
//internal comm//


Earth

“Are we ready to move out?” Optimus looked over his team waiting patiently outside the Ark.

Red Alert stood nervously to one side. “We’ve had some minor Decepticon activity along the perimeter around the space bridge Prime. I have sent Tracks and Inferno to check it out. It shouldn’t be a problem to the mission, just be aware.”

“What the slag are the ‘cons doin’ hovering around the space bridge anyway?” Ironhide groused, impatient to get going.

Jazz jogged from the Ark and relayed an urgent message to Prime.

“Alright everyone, looks like the Decepticons have chosen today to make a move. Red Alert gather anyone who’s free and follow us. I have a feeling we might need back up.”

“Right Prime.” The Security Director sprinted back inside, relaying orders rapidly through his comm.

“What’s going on?” Ironhide frowned.

“Mirage is our optics among the ‘cons, he said the seekers are missing. Megatron is throwing a fit; his last message said he was on his way t’ the space bridge.” Jazz replied grimly before transforming.

“The seekers?” Sideswipe drove up alongside Jazz and Ironhide as they followed their leader. “So if they’re missing, that means they’re on the other side of the space bridge with our mechs?”

“We don’t know that fer sure Sides’.” Jazz replied.

“But if they are?”

“Sides’ it’s too early t’ know yet, cool it mech.” Jazz bumped the red lambo’s side gently. “We’ll find yer brother.”

Sideswipe revved his engine in response, accelerating towards the space bridge. He would permanently offline any hostile, ‘con or otherwise if Sunstreaker had come to harm. His spark burned in his chest, their sibling bond was stretched, quiet. Sideswipe hated when it was quiet. He wasn’t used to not feeling his brother. It unnerved him and filled him with worry for his twin.

It was possible for their link to be strained so tightly that he would be unable to feel his brother’s spark being extinguished. The thought made Sideswipe growl with determined menace. No his brother was alive, he was sure of it. He wasn’t going to rest until he found him, Prowl and Bumblebee too.

He calmed his impatience with difficulty. He felt small relief that his rambunctious twin was in the company of both Prowl and Bumblebee, those two mechs had always had a strange calming effect on his brother and Prowl would make sure no harm would come to either of them. For all he knew of the tactician, his dedication to keeping them all online and safe was one certainty that Sideswipe knew could never be questioned or challenged.

‘I’m coming Suns, just hang on and for Primus’s sake don’t do anything too rash. I’ll see you soon.’ His spark flared the unspoken message as they approached the space bridge. The lack of response was unsettling. It only spurned the red mech on; he would not fail his brother. As long as his spark was online, Sideswipe swore he would get them home.

Optimus led the way towards the space bridge. //Silverbot can you see anything?//

The plane soaring above them picked up speed and flew ahead. //Space bridge looks clear Prime, I can only see Wheeljack and Perceptor from here.//

//Good, you and Slingshot go ahead. Let them know we’re on our way.//

//Understood Prime.//

****
It didn’t take the small team long to reach the space bridge. Transforming they skidded to a halt and made their way over to Perceptor bent over the controls.

“Percy where’s Wheeljack?” Ironhide armed his weapons in suspicion.

“He went to help Tracks and Inferno; it seems that there is some Decepticon activity just over that ridge.” Perceptor replied without glancing up from the controls.

Optimus turned to his team. “Ironhide you and Jazz go help them.”

“No!”

The ‘bots stopped and stared at the scientist’s outcry. Perceptor stared at his leader. “I’m sorry Prime, but if you’re going to go, you need to go now.”

Optimus frowned; he was unwilling to leave his mechs vulnerable to attack.

“Please Sir, Red Alert is on his way with reinforcements, we can hold them back. If they find these coordinates however, they will follow you.” Perceptor was worried. “If there are hostiles you know Megatron will ally himself with them in an attempt to destroy you.”

“Percy’s got a point Prime.” Jazz stepped up. His expression was somber. “The rest can handle the ‘cons.”

//Prime to Red Alert what’s your ETA?//

//Five minutes Prime, I have the majority of the crew with me, including the Dinobots, have they attacked?//

//Yes. Inferno and Tracks are holding them back with Wheeljack’s help. Perceptor tells me we have to go now. Can you handle them?//

//Yes, go! Bring our friends home.//

Optimus was slightly taken aback by the straight forward reply, from the normally nervous, panicky mech. //Alright, keep them from following us, good luck.//

//You too Sir.//

Optimus nodded to Perceptor. “Let’s go.”

The small red mech punched in a command to the console and the space bridge hummed into life. “Good luck Prime.” Perceptor cast them a thin, worried smile. “I’ll be closing the door behind you, take this.”
He planted a small transponder in Optimus’s palm. “It will send out a code when you need to return so we know that it’s you when the space bridge opens. We’ll be keeping a look out.”

“Thank you.” Optimus quickly sub spaced the transponder and directed his team towards the open vortex. Taking a deep intake he stepped onto the platform, joined silently by the others. He gave a curt nod to Perceptor who hit the activation sequence.

The space bridge whined into life and the vortex swirled above them. Perceptor watched as his leader, his friends were propelled towards the event horizon one by one. Hitting the controls once more the space bridge fell to a quiet hum and the vortex swirled into being with a roar before settling into a subtle shimmer caught in the sunlight. The ‘bots were engulfed by the doorway and catapulted across the universe, across dimensions.

Perceptor killed the power to the bridge once the destination light flashed green. Letting out a small sigh, he stared at the spot where his fellow Autobots had stood. Wherever they had gone, they were on their own.
****
SG Earth

The prisoners had been led in silence across the barren Earth towards the space bridge. The black and chrome mech had led the way, only occasionally uttering sharp commands into his comm.

Starscream walked beside Prowl and leaned in slightly. “We should attempt to escape, there is only a small number of guards. With combined efforts we can take them.”

Prowl didn’t look like he’d heard him, his expression remaining unchanged. Starscream was about to repeat himself when Prowl spoke up. “He will have that of possibility and taken suitable precautions.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I would have done.” Prowl cast a rueful glance at Starscream who scowled in frustration.

“If he thinks like you, then surely he’ll have known that you’d not attempt an escape for that very reason and therefore he could right now be under a false sense of security.” Starscream’s optics widened in surprise at the quirk of Prowl’s mouth, in what could only have been a smirk.

“It doesn’t work like that Starscream. Just because the possibility is unlikely doesn’t mean he will not have prepared for just such an occurrence.”

“You’re insufferable. You know that?” Starscream hissed in defeat. He knew Prowl was right but it didn’t make it any less frustrating.

“So I’ve been told.” Prowl replied softly, dropping his gaze. His processor was firing tactics at him at a rate faster than most ‘bots could handle. Without any luck. An escape attempt would prove futile. They would most likely be severely injured or killed. “It doesn’t change the fact that an attempt now could be fatal for all of us.”

Starscream met his cool optics with narrow concern. “Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try Prowl.” A smirk spread across his face. “Be unpredictable.” He glanced back towards their captor. “You may surprise you.”

Prowl followed his gaze, his optics narrowed. Starscream’s statement made sense, being unpredictable was the only logical course of action under the circumstances. “Alright.”

Starscream shot him a look. “You’re in?”

“I’m in.”

“Good, because we’ve already come up with a plan and I would hate to have to carry you through it.” He grinned at Prowl’s raised brow, mimicking the black and white’s words spoken in the med bay solar cycles earlier. “Make sure your friend knows what’s going to happen.”

“What is going to happen?” Prowl frowned.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t be unpredictable now would you?”

“Starscream I must have some awareness of the plan at the very least.” Prowl insisted, his concern growing.

Starscream’s devious grin widened. “You MUST be aware of nothing. Follow my lead.” He kept his voice to a whisper as he dropped back a couple of steps.

“But Starscream!” Prowl hissed in frustration.

“Hey no talking!” The guard roughly grabbed hold of Prowl dragging him further ahead. His alter ego stole a glance over his dark door wing and raised an orbital ridge at him.

“I do hope this insubordination isn’t a sign of things to come.” He turned away. “Prime will be most displeased if that is the case.”

Prowl ignored him, he had learned earlier on in their captivity that responding to his counterpart merely gave him more that he could and would use against you. It was shameful enough that he’d relinquished the majority of his tactical, confidential knowledge under duress. He wasn’t going to make matters worse. He would wait for Starscream to act first and pray to Primus that his counterpart hadn’t adequately prepared.

The space bridge came into view as they reached the crest of the ridge. The ground sloped away from them, leading down into the rocky, sandy valley. A small contingent of guards were standing ready at the space bridge. The black and chrome mech turned and his optics flashed dangerously. “Now.”

Prowl spun round as the seekers’ screams ripped through the air. His mouth fell open as all three of them fell to the floor. “Stop this!” He glared at the other Prowl. “We are already your prisoners, what is torturing us now going to achieve?!”

Prowl smiled darkly at him. “This isn’t torture my dear Prowl. This is a deterrent. They will not be able to think of escaping while they are in excruciating pain.

The black and white mech had no response, of course his counterpart had prepared. He met the cold optics of the darker mech with a fierce glare. Prowl waved it off dismissively. “Oh no point in getting angry with me Prowl. They brought it on themselves.” He nodded to the guards, who lifted the struggling seekers to their feet.

“Move out.” He stated simply, taking hold of Prowl’s elbow he led him down the slope towards the space bridge.

“Open the bridge.” He commanded to the mechs below.

The earth began to shake and rumble beneath them and a deafening roar filled their audios. “What’s happening!?” The darker Prowl hollered over the noise.

“I don’t know Sir, the space bridge has been activated but… but it wasn’t us… and it’s not Prime!”

“Everyone back off! Take up arms, it has to be the Decepticons!”

“How did they get the space bridge controls Prowl?” Another guard yelled through the din.

“It doesn’t matter, prepare to shoot on my command!”

The prisoners were herded away from the vibrating space bridge and dumped onto the floor. “Are you three all right?” Prowl quickly asked the ‘cons slumped next to him.

“Oh just peachy Autobot.” Starscream snarled.

Their attentions were suddenly drawn back to the space bridge. A deafening whine pierced the air, causing all the mechs to wince. The vortex flashed into existence and propelled a group of mechs onto the dusty quaking ground.

Prowl’s optics widened as the dust cleared. “Prime.” He whispered, not quite believing his optics.

“Hold your fire!” The powerful voice boomed through the air. Prowl simply raised his arm, halting his advancing troops. He glared at the strangers facing him. He frowned as a familiar black and white mech rushed forward. “Prowl!”

Jazz let out a lowly growl as Prime put out an arm to stop him. “Wait Jazz.” Their optics fell on the winged black and chrome mech scowling at them through the settling dust.

“Just who the frag are you?”

Jazz gasped in shock. There was no mistaking those vocals or that impassive, unfeeling expression.

“Prowl?” He whispered.
“Primus.” Ironhide uttered in disbelief.

Sideswipe clenched his fists, drawing closer to Prime. “I can see Sunstreaker, he’s with Prowl behind them, looks like they’re being held prisoner along with the seekers Prime.”

“Don’t do anything yet Sideswipe, they may not be hostile.”

“That mech glaring at us looks fraggin’ hostile to me.” Ironhide growled, aiming his weapon.

Optimus stepped forward his arms raised in a show of trust. “I am Optimus Prime. I have come for my missing mechs, I don’t want to fight you.” He frowned unable to shake the unnerving similarities from the mech approaching him with calculated confidence. There was no mistaking those door wings.

Prowl folded his arms and smirked. Optimus blinked unused to seeing such an expression on those face plates.

“I am second in command to the Autobots Prime, I believe you are already aware of my designation.”

“Prowl.” Optimus uttered in response. “I’m not here to fight you.”

Prowl’s smirk widened. “Then you’re welcome to be my guests.”

Jazz cast a nervous glance at Ironhide. “Something’s not right ‘Hide.”
“Yeah tell me about it.”

Jazz opened his comm. link. //Prowl can you hear me?//

//Jazz, don’t trust him. We’re being held prisoner, he’s going to take us to their Cybertron.//

//Cybertron? Just where the slag are we?//

//Earth, an alternate dimension. That mech…talking to Prime is dangerous.//

//He looks like you.//

//He is me!//

Jazz visibly tensed at the sharp tone that came from Prowl’s side of the comm.

//You must get Prime away from him. NOW!//

Jazz looked towards his leader and noticed the darker mech’s stance shift subtly, his arms moving to clasp behind his back. He stole another glance towards Prowl, whose optics implored him to act. Wasting no more time he sprang into action. “Hide cover me.”

“What the!”

“Sides’ get our mechs.”

The red mech grinned. “Gotcha.”

“Prime move out of there, they’re the hostiles!”

Optimus spun round, in time to have Jazz launch himself at the alternate Prowl. He gasped as Prowl’s hidden weapon went flying into the dust. Growling he drew his weapon and joined Ironhide in firing at the other mechs now rushing to their position.

Jazz soon found himself out of his depth. This Prowl was far more ferocious at hand to hand combat than he’d anticipated. He was thrown bodily from the black mech who snarled at him. Scrabbling out of his grasp he turned sharply and launched a sharp kick into Prowl’s face plates, throwing him off balance. Taking his chance he scrambled after Sideswipe towards the prisoners.

Silverbot and Slingshot rained down shots from above, giving their team plenty of cover fire, only to find themselves under attack.

“Seekers!” Slingshot bellowed.

Prime glanced up into the sky. “Decepticons!”

“We can’t fight them all Prime! We need to fall back!” Ironhide yelled beside him.

//Jazz, Sideswipe, fall back!//

//Almost got ‘em Prime!//

Jazz and Sideswipe had managed to break the energon cuffs. Jazz grinned as Sideswipe quickly embraced his brother. “We got t' go.” He urged.

Something tugged on his arm. He turned to meet Prowl’s glare. “We’re not leaving the seekers.”

“What?!” Sideswipe and Jazz shot a look at one another.

Sunstreaker suddenly moved to help Prowl deactivate the decepticons’ cuffs. “He’s right, they helped us. Thundercracker helped Bumblebee escape.” He turned back. “Where is Bee?”

“He’s still here as far as we know.” Sideswipe frowned at his brother. “They're ‘cons Suns we can’t trust them.”

“Can trust us more than you can trust them.” Thundercracker growled.

Prowl glared at his fellow Autobots with a sincere ferocity rarely seen from the tactician. “They’re coming with us and that’s final.”

Jazz sighed and knelt before Starscream to unlock his cuffs. He frowned when the jet flinched at his touch but didn’t think anything more of it.

“Alright, can we go now!” Sideswipe hissed.

“Jazz lookout!” Prowl cried out, reaching for him, too late to stop Jazz lifting into the air sharply.

“Arrrgghh!!” Jazz screamed as something sharp pierced his back plating, forcing its way through his frame.

“NOOOO!!” Both Prowl and Sideswipe cried out in alarm. They stared in shock at the black and white mech twitching in Prowl’s dark arms. His blade protruding through Jazz’s chest, energon staining his white chest in a stream of pink.

Prowl reached round his hostage and fired his weapon, hitting Sideswipe in the leg. “Stay down!” He growled. He was suddenly flanked by three of his mechs. “All of you on your feet. You’re coming with me, or your beloved Jazz here dies.”

The prisoners were forced towards the space bridge, wincing as the fire fight exploded with intensity around them. The ‘cons had the bridge surrounded from the high ridge forcing Prime and Ironhide to take cover. The bridge itself was unguarded.

“Coordinates now.” Prowl growled to his guards, still holding a gasping Jazz firmly. He glared at his prisoners. “Get in.” Sunstreaker and Prowl stepped onto the platform.

“No..ooo… don’t…” Jazz choked his protest, reaching out for them.

“Can’t let you die Jazz. I’m sorry.” Prowl gazed at him sadly before lifting his optics to glare at his alter ego.
“Let him go. You’ve got us.”

The darker mech grinned. “So I have.” He forced the seekers onto the platform before twisting his blade sharply dragging it out of Jazz’s convulsing frame. Jazz howled in pain, energon gushing from his wound as he dropped to the floor like a rag doll. Prowl stared at the sight in horror, drawing back when Prowl's blade, still stained with Jazz's energon was held towards his face.

Prowl stepped onto the platform. Sideswipe’s cry could be heard over the chaos.
“Prime! They’re getting away!!”

Optimus turned in time to see the space bridge activate. He watched a sudden flurry of movement on the platform take the darker Prowl down. His optics narrowed as the Prowl he knew pushed one of the seekers – the nearest one to the edge – off the platform.

Prowl glared at Skywarp who stared at him incredulously. The black and white mech thrust something into his hand. “Get that to the ‘cons, it was Mirage’s.”

“Why me?”

“You’re a ‘con they’ll trust you!”

He nodded still partially in shock as Prowl shoved him from the platform just as the vortex activated. His trine mates and the other Autobot were still struggling with their captors when everyone on the platform was sucked into the event horizon.

a/n: OK after the shocker of last week a slightly calmer chapter for you.

Thank you to Hellkitty for beta reading for me! ^^

cycle = 1 hour

'thoughts'

"speech"

****

SG Cybertron

Ironhide shifted impatiently beside his master and commander. His black frame glinting menacingly in the shimmering light of the space bridge vortex as it whirled into being.

“Hmphf took them long enough.” He grumbled deeply.

The dark blue helm of Prime tilted towards his body guard and weapons master. “Somewhere to be Ironhide?” His deep voice was low, inquisitive, curious. He knew Ironhide wouldn’t have dared to make plans without his approval, still it was amusing to poke the gruff warrior every once in a while.

Ironhide grunted and his body snapped to attention. “Of course not Prime, you know I know better than that.”

“Still, I also know how much you like teaching young Rodimus a lesson.”

“Youngling has it coming. He asks for it.” Ironhide retorted, the hint of a smirk crossing his lip components.

Optimus made a soft rumbling noise of agreement, an orbital ridge arched in vague amusement. “Probably not THAT often Ironhide.”

Ironhide puffed out his chest. “Someone’s got to keep the young uns’ in their place. You know he’ll only come gunnin’ for ya if I weren’t around.”

At the bold statement Optimus smiled. Ironhide was one of only a handful of mechs allowed to speak to him in such a manner. He had earned that right, through stellar cycles of dedicated service by his side and his unquestioning, unwavering loyalty to Optimus’s cause.

Their attentions were once again drawn to the space bridge as it spat out its passengers forcefully onto the platform. Optimus’s face was immediately creased with a deep scowl as his SIC leapt up to his feet, his weapon drawn, his black normally pristine chassis, stained with bright pink energon.

“Help him.” He commanded softly.

Ironhide was gone in a flash. It always surprised Optimus how fast the bulky mech could move when he needed to. He approached the platform steadily his optics taking in every minute detail of his guests. Two of his mechs were restraining a golden Autobot that was putting up one hell of a fight. Ironhide had taken down one of the seekers, leaving the blue seeker to the other two guards. Optimus’s gaze landed and stayed with his SIC, his frame was bristling visibly in anger and in his clutches a mech that caused Optimus’s intakes to stall.

It couldn’t be. The black and white mech struggled valiantly in Prowl’s grip. His door wings flaring out behind him. Optimus could see it was no use, Prowl had too tight a grip on his throat. Prime looked the black and white mech up and down as he approached; he was the spitting image of his SIC. A fact which both fascinated and unnerved him. The black and white frame was distinctive, appealing even and that face. Optimus’s optics narrowed. While he looked exactly like his tactician, there was something else Optimus couldn’t quite put his finger on. Sanity perhaps? A concern for those in his team he noted, watching the ‘bots optics flit quickly over to the golden mech snarling in anger and then to the seekers being restrained by his men.

Optimus decided it was high time he made introductions. “Prowl.”

His SIC’s body visibly straightened, his door wings becoming rigid on his back. Keeping tight hold of his captive, he turned to face his leader. His helm inclined into a small bow of greeting and his free hand shoved the black and white mech to his knees, helped with a swift kick to the back of his legs.

“Prime, these are the visitors I informed you about.”

“Yes I can see that.” Optimus glanced over the platform. “Encountered some trouble I see.” He eyed the drying energon splattered over Prowl’s dark frame.

“Decepticons Sir and also mechs from wherever they…” He gave his captive a sharp jab in the back of his helm with the muzzle of his weapon. “Came from. Autobots Prime, from another world. I can only surmise at this point.”

Optimus held up a hand to silence his impassive officer. “Leave the theorizing to Perceptor. I want you to clean yourself up, once you have taken our… guests to my private office.”

Prowl’s optics widened in surprise. “Sir these are dangerous mechs, they should not be underestimated. Allow me to…”

“You have your orders Prowl; do not make me repeat myself.” Optimus spoke softly but the warning tone was undeniably present. It hung low in the air like a dead weight, waiting to crush Prowl if he dared to defy him.

Prowl bowed his helm sharply. “As you wish Prime.” He uttered tersely.

“Before you go.”

Prowl raised his optics questioningly.

“Introductions.”

Prowl nodded sharply and gestured to the mechs on the platform. They roughly gathered up their captives and forced them to kneel beside the black and white mech.

Ironhide kept his cannons trained on the prisoners as Prime approached. “I am Optimus Prime. From what Prowl has told me I believe you already know of me.”

He didn’t really expect a response; the most he got was a snarl from the blue seeker, prompting one of the guards to belt the back of his helm with the butt of his weapon.

“You will state your name and rank when asked. Failure to comply with my wishes will result in painfully slow off lining. I do hope I have made myself clear.”

He made his way over to the Decepticons first. “Name.”

The seeker glared up at him, red optics dark with fury. A guard slammed Starscream’s head to the floor before hauling him back up by his collar fairing to stare at Prime.

“Name and rank. Please.” Optimus relished that these Decepticons had more fight in them then their usual captives. They were clearly oblivious to the might of the Autobot army and the sheer arsenal of interrogation techniques at their disposal.

“Starscream, Decepticon Air Commander and SIC to the Decepticons.” Starscream replied with a snarl.

“Interesting.” Optimus replied quietly. “Name.”

Thundercracker refused to look at him and merely stated his name with disinterest in the Autobot standing before him, resulting in another strike to his head.

Sunstreaker stared up at the twisted vision of his leader. His deep purple chassis horribly scarred and mauled by countless battles. Where the Optimus he knew and would follow without so much as a question, this Prime struck a cord of terrible unease within him. It was the way he stared through him with those cold blue optics. No trace of the Prime he knew.

“Name and rank Autobot.”

“Sunstreaker, gunner, soldier. Your worst nightmare.” He growled threateningly. Despite any misgivings he was not going to submit to these Autobots any longer.

Optimus actually chuckled at the ‘bot’s defiant reply, holding his hand out to stop the punishment from the guard stood behind the knelt mech. “That remains to be seen my friend.” He moved finally to Prowl’s captive. The mech’s eerily familiar face was impassive, unemotional, his optics hard as he watched him approach.

“Name and rank.”

“You need to ask?”

“I would like to hear you say it.”

“Designation is Prowl, head tactician and SIC to the Autobots.”

“Very, very interesting.” Optimus smiled darkly behind his face mask. “Well Prowl.” He moved forward and much to his own SIC’s disapproval he gently lifted the black and white mech to his feet, gesturing for the guards do the same with the others.

“You are going to be my guests for the foreseeable future.” He leaned in close to Prowl, prompting him to flinch subtly at the invasion of his personal space.

Prowl could feel his alter ego prominently bristling with ire behind him as Optimus moved in closer. He frowned, his processor bringing up the possibility that there was potentially something more going on between his counterpart and Prime. He tensed as Optimus leaned into his audio.

“I am very much looking forward to getting to know you Prowl.”

Despite the shivers of unease and discomfort rippling through his circuits, Prowl managed to maintain his composure. “I assure you the feeling is not mutual.” He spoke sternly, unable to keep the faint rasp of repressed emotion from his vocaliser.

Optimus drew back and gave a short laugh. “So much like Prowl and yet so very different.” He chuckled; turning on his heel without another word he led them from the platform to the waiting transport below.

****

They were taken through the large palace at the centre of Iacon. Mechs stared at them as they passed. Nobody dared to approach as Prowl escorted them to Prime’s personal office. He opened the door and directed them inside.

A clawed hand grabbed Prowl’s arm, roughly pulling him flush against his counterpart. “I know you tried to poison Jazz against me.” His voice was hushed dangerous and Prowl had no choice but to listen. “You failed, but as punishment for your arrogance I took from you the Jazz you know.” He leaned in with a soft sneer of satisfaction. “His death is on your hands Prowl.” He ran a sharp finger down Prowl’s faceplates, tracing the line of his clenched jaw. “And I’m not going to let you forget it.”

Prowl felt a growl erupt from his chest. He wanted nothing more than to rip out the dark mech’s spark at that moment. Prowl caught his wrist as he lunged for him viciously, his rage and despair taking over any sense of logic he had left. The black and white mech found himself pinned up against the door, the blade still stained with Jazz’s energon pressed against his throat.

The black and chrome mech dipped his head towards Prowl’s audio and whispered. “Your fault Prowl. He’s dead because of you.” He let out a short, cold laugh. “Did I tell you how delightful it was to hear him scream?”

The dark mech drew back sneering at the soft sob of anguish escaping Prowl’s vocaliser. He gestured to the guards, who shoved Prowl into the large room.

“Make sure they stay there, no one is to enter this room other than Prime or myself.” He commanded before taking his leave, already cursing his leader’s wishes to speak with the prisoners alone.

****

Prowl stood to one side, tense and agitated. Prime’s SIC had left them a couple of cycles ago, in the spacious office with a couple of guards, before he had disappeared with a non too pleased scowl on his face plates. He had promised his return.

Prowl growled as he thought about his alter ego, his frame shuddered subtly with restrained pent up rage. His cortex replaying the image of Prowl’s blade erupting from Jazz’s chest. He shuttered his optics, Jazz’s screams of agony still echoing in his audio. Bristling with anger Prowl swore to himself, to Primus that his counterpart was going to pay for Jazz’s death. He was going to pay dearly.

Sunstreaker watched his SIC discreetly. The black and white mech was standing apart from them, his wings unmoving, his optics cold, staring. Sunstreaker knew that his current demeanor had nothing to do with being held prisoner and everything to do with Jazz. Dropping his gaze, he debated going over to Prowl, trying to comfort him the way Prowl had done for him when they’d watched Mirage get torn to shreds.

He shook his helm; the sheer fury radiating from Prowl’s frame was enough to keep even him at bay. He had never seen the tactician looking so angry. Despite the odd raised voice or irritated command, he had never seen Prowl really lose his temper. Not once. No matter how hard he and his brother had tried to rile him. Sunstreaker knew that Prowl wasn’t really dealing with Jazz’s death right now, he was too angry. He hoped that he would be given a chance to be alone with Prowl later. He needed to help Prowl relieve some of the pain and anger clearly building inside of him, before it exploded and got them all slagged.

Starscream however had other ideas.

“You need to use it.”

Prowl’s optics snapped up to the seeker. “What?”

“The pain and the anger.”

Prowl looked away sharply, not wanting to address the overwhelming ache he felt in his chest. Jazz had died mere inches from his grasp; he’d died trying to save them. Prowl wasn’t angry, he was furious. He wanted to kill THAT Prowl with his bare hands if possible and he was angry at Jazz for reasons he couldn’t fathom.

“I’m fine.” He uttered finally.

“I didn’t ask.” Starscream replied coolly. “If you don’t use it, it will consume you.”

Prowl was becoming impatient, irritated, he did not want to talk about this right now, to anyone. Least of all a Decepticon. “I’m sure you know all about it.” He retorted harshly.

Starscream blinked at him in surprise, unused to such a cold tone from his forced ally. “Yes. I do Autobot.” He responded quietly, holding Prowl’s glare with steady optics. “Do not presume that you know me, just because we have to cooperate.” He pulled himself to his full height, towering over the tactician. “I have no interest in how you deal with your grief, just as long as your current level of reckless fury doesn’t threaten our survival.”

Prowl flinched beneath Starscream’s harsh yet honest words. He was right; he had to regain some control before he did something he would undoubtedly regret. He dropped his gaze forcibly burying his anger, leaving only the cold ache of grief behind. He couldn’t decide which was worse.

Starscream couldn’t help but smirk at the Autobot’s sudden submission. Not quite what he’d expected from the Prowl he’d come to know. ‘That Autobot’s death has affected him more than I’d realized. Someone close perhaps?’ He thought to himself absently, studying Prowl’s now slumped, dejected stance.

“I did not tell you to become weak Prowl.”

Prowl glared at him once more as Starscream leaned forward, lowering his voice.

“I told you to use it, use the rage to fuel your survival. As a true warrior should.”

Prowl frowned. “I am no warrior Starscream.” His helm bowed, his vocals filled with regret. “If I was then I could have saved him. Done something.”

“Doubtful.” Starscream sighed; he was not one for pandering to the melancholy of others. Grabbing Prowl’s arm he roughly jerked the slightly stunned Autobot close, forcing him to look at him.

“This is no place for your grief. Or this self deprecation. He is dead. There is nothing you could have done.” He hissed firmly, ensuring that he had Prowl’s complete attention, confirmed by the faint hitch of the Autobot’s air intakes as he held him tightly by the arm.

“We must survive, if only to defend our world from these disgusting Autobots. You will not survive if you continue to wallow in your misery. A true warrior will give his spark to save those who follow him, those who trust him. You put yourself through agony at the hands of Prowl, rather than relinquish your Autobot secrets. You are a warrior. Act like one. Use the anger.” He snarled baring his denta. “Use. It.”

Having noticed the seemingly heated discussion Sunstreaker had made a move towards them only to be stopped by a light grasp of his shoulder. Glancing up at the blue seeker he caught the slight twitch of his helm urging him to hold back. To trust him.

Starscream released Prowl, who stumbled back a couple of steps before regaining his composure. Tense silence flowed between them as blue optics studied red, Prowl was more than a little astonished by the nobility lacing Starscream’s words. He was a mech who cared about those who followed him. From their numerous encounters on the battle field, nobility and self sacrifice had not been one of the first things to jump to Prowl’s processor when he’d thought of the seeker.

Prowl straightened and clasped his hands behind his back, his doorwings flicking out once as he fought to ignore the throbbing pain of loss in his spark. Shuttering his optics and taking the seeker’s sage advice, Prowl focused on channeling his anger, he would get them home, Jazz’s death wouldn’t be in vain, then and only then would he have plenty of time to grieve.

His optics snapped open and he frowned at the jet indignantly. “I do not wallow.”

Starscream could only quirk an optic ridge at the dry, faintly insulted tone. “Of course not.” He turned back towards his trine mate.

“Starscream…”

He glanced over his wing.

Prowl held his gaze. “I thought you didn’t care.”

Starscream waved it off dismissively and huffed. “Don’t delude yourself Autobot, we are still enemies and in the heat of battle I would not hesitate to off line such a threat to my inevitable victory.

Prowl pursed his lip components. “I’m flattered.”

“You should be.”

****

SG Earth

Flashes of memory assaulted his cortex, his processor ached. He could hear screaming, distant faint like a memory. A name being called out again and again. A name he recognised, his name. He was there, why did they keep shouting him? His cortex flared to a brilliant white as agony pierced every sensor in his body then faded away to nothing.

The mech groaned and on lined his optics, only to be greeted by dark surroundings. Light flickered into his vision, shadows moving to the side of him. He tried to move resulting in a harsh gasp as pain and shock seared his armour. A firm pressure rested on his chest, pushing him back down gently.

“Try not to move.” Came the soft, concerned voice. “You need to rest.”

He moved his head, unable to focus on the blurry shadow above him. He could barely see and his processor fired scenarios at him wildly. He grimaced in panic, strong hands gripping his shoulders, holding him down. He tried to cry out for help, for something, someone, a name. He didn’t want to be trapped here.

“Prooowwl!!” He screamed as loud as he could. It was the only name that came to him, it was safe he knew that much. Why wasn’t he there? Why had he been abandoned?

A sharp pain stabbed his neck and he thrashed in the strong hold before a dull blissful weight began to settle over his processor. He fell limp, his limbs too heavy to move, letting out a strangled whimper he fell into complete darkness once more. A gentle voice urging him to rest.

****

Optimus glanced up at First Aid. “Is it bad?”

“He is suffering delusions, flashbacks; his spark is damaged, erratic.” The young medic shook his head. “It’s too soon to say Prime. I need to get him to Ratchet.”

“That’s not an option we have at the moment.”

First Aid sighed and turned back to his patient. “Then unless they agree to help us I don’t know what…”

Optimus rested a hand on the medic’s shoulder. “Do what you can. You’ve kept him alive this long, he has a strong spark.” He stood taking in a deep intake of air. “I will speak to the Decepticons again. Maybe there’s some way they can help.”

“Do you really think they’ll want to help us?” First Aid peered up at his leader. His spark heavy.

“We have to try.”

****

A/N: Not much action but we finally get to meet some SG 'Cons.

Hope you like!

Units of time are the same as always.

//internal comm//

SG Earth

"And why should we help you?" Starscream barely spared Optimus a second glance as he helped to tend the wounded Decepticons, injured in the skirmish with the Autobots. "Your mechs have no bearing on our cause. They're just casualties."

Optimus frowned. "Surely you don't mean that? You can't be that cold?"

"I can!" Starscream spun round, his red optics glowing dangerously. "And I have to be!" He turned back to a patient on a narrow cot. "They were in the wrong place at the wrong time." He muttered.

"Well at least help Jazz. He was stabbed by your enemy. Fighting your enemy!" He glanced around the makeshift medical center in exasperation. "Surely that counts for something?"

When Starscream didn't acknowledge him, Optimus lowered his gaze his spark plummeting. "He'll die without your help."

Starscream eyed him suspiciously over his wing. Shooting a sharp glance at the one he'd referred to as Hook, he gave a small nod. Cleaning his hands with a rag he turned to face the Autobot leader. "Thundercracker tells me you have a medic with you."

"I… yes, First Aid."

"He will tend our wounded and I will see what we can do for… Jazz." The seeker spat out the name as if it had a bad taste to it.

"Thank you Starscream." Optimus acknowledged graciously before comming First Aid.

"Don't thank me. Orders from above. Not that, that ever meant anything." He muttered, he turned to leave the med bay gesturing to Optimus to follow him. "I have someone you will probably want to meet."

Optimus followed him through the Decepticon camp. He was unnerved by the wary glances and the quiet murmurings as he passed. Some mechs even went so far as to hiss or shrink away from his presence. He shook his head, trying hard to keep the frown from forming on his face plates. Just what kind of Prime was his counterpart to elicit those kind of reactions? It didn't bear thinking about at the moment. He silently prayed to Primus to keep his mechs safe.

His optics fell upon the familiar yellow frame of a mini-bot currently recharging on the floor of a small barren room. "Bumblebee!" He took a few steps back, startled when another face appeared at the door. "Skywarp?"

"Prime. I must speak with you."

Starscream unlocked the door and held his weapon high at the other seeker. "Wake him, you're to come with me."

"Where are we going?"

Starscream gave a long suffering sigh. "Our leader wishes to speak with you."

"Megatron?"

Starscream remained tight lipped and merely prodded the small 'bot with his weapon. Bumblebee shifted and groaned, his optics onlining slowly.

"Prime!?" He shot up instantly and could barely restrain his excitement.

Optimus smiled behind his mask. "It's good to see you Bumblebee, have you been treated well?"

"Of course he's been treated well." Starscream snapped. "What kind of mechs do you take us for. We maybe hardened soldiers but we're not tyrants." He huffed haughtily. "We leave that to the Autobots."

"We're not like them!" Bumblebee retorted.

The jet beheld him with disdain. "You have yet to prove your worth to us." He signaled them to move. "Trust isn't something we give freely."

Skywarp fell into step uncomfortably beside Optimus. "Your Second, Prowl gave me something." He shot Optimus a cautious look. "He believes it will help these Decepticons."

"We shouldn't get involved in a war we have no part of Skywarp." Optimus cast him a sad look. "Especially when we're busy fighting one ourselves."

"You don't understand." Skywarp hissed. "Mirage helped us, all of us. Little 'bot here can tell you. We need to stop these Autobots, they know of our world, our existence." He grabbed Optimus's arm. "They're not going to stop."

Optimus's optics dimmed slightly and he shook his head. "We can't fight two wars Skywarp. We have no place here. We shouldn't be here, we're not involved. I intend to keep it that way."

"Gaahh! You're such a hypocrite!" Skywarp snarled, prompting a sharp look from Starscream guiding the way. "We're already involved! They have our people! Or don't you care? Too busy looking at the bigger picture as usual Prime to actually see what's happening around you?"

"Hey! You can't talk to Prime like that, he came for us just like we said he would!" Bumblebee's indignant retort silenced the jet for a moment.

"Yes, he came." His red optics glared at Prime's stony face. "For all the good that he's worth."

They came to a stop at a large pair of doors guarded by two mechs. Starscream nodded and pressed his palm to a scanner and the doors creaked open. He stood aside to allow them entrance. "Megatron will be with you in a klik. Now I have work to do. Army doesn't run itself." He growled stalking his way back down the corridor leaving the three mechs under the stern scrutiny of the two armed guards.

****

SG Cybertron

The mechs stared at the Autobot leader with fierce glares. They stood together, strength in solidarity. Optimus's face was unreadable as he paced his room silently. His optics studied each one of them in turn, without saying a word. The odd noise of interest occasionally escaped his vocaliser. Finally positioning himself on the other side of his desk he folded his arms. Sunstreaker couldn't take it anymore.

"What do you want with us slagger!?"

"Sunstreaker!" Prowl warned sharply.

"What?!" He glared back at Prowl. "He's staring at us like we're fraggin' specimens, we're being kept against our will." He turned back to Prime who simply looked amused by his outburst. "We deserve to know why you've taken us captive and what you intend to do with us!"

All the mechs waited Prime's response. "Well for one, Sunstreaker you're not far wrong."

"What?"

"While you are my guests, you've also arrived at a perfect time for our internal investigations."

Starscream shifted warily. "What kind investigations?"

"Scientific discovery really." Prime mused. "A study that Perceptor is conducting and we did require volunteers. Then you arrived." His optics narrowed in a smirk of satisfaction.

"We are not going to be subject to your experimentation." Prowl stated, his voice hard, determined.

Prime waved them off dismissively. "In due time. All will become clear."

The doors opened behind them, drawing their attentions.

"Prowl report."

"The Decepticons have taken Earth's space bridge. Jazz is planning a surprise attack as we speak."

"Good make sure there are no surviving Decepticons, the others I want brought to me."

Prowl dipped his head in acknowledgement. "I shall inform him."

"Good. Do you have the information I asked for?"

Prowl handed over the device that both Starscream and Prowl recognized as the mind probe. Prowl's intakes hitched as Starscream shot him a worried look. They could only watch as the information recorded on the device was displayed on the large screen behind the leader.

"Hmmm, interesting."

Sunstreaker stared at the information being downloaded, recognizing it to be tactical details, blueprints of the Ark, command codes. He heard Prowl's intakes stall beside him. Glancing at the SIC, he was thrown to see a look of stricken shame crossing Prowl's face. He gripped his arm tightly drawing Prowl's attention.

//It's not your fault Prowl, he used it on me too.//

Prowl gave him a faint nod, regaining some control over his systems before either Prime or his second noticed.

"Well it appears that my second is far more efficient at his job than I give him credit for." Prime stated cheerfully.

Prowl's dark door wings rose and stiffened on his back, his optics concentrating on the prisoners in front of him. Prime was well known for goading his own mechs into a response. It was something Prowl rarely indulged him in, which was why he'd maintained his position for so long.

"Looks like you'll be attending Perceptor's lab sooner than I had anticipated. I have everything I need to launch an attack on both of your bases and claim your Earth and your Cybertron for my own."

"Megatron will crush you before you get chance!" Thundercracker growled loudly.

"If Megatron is anything like his counterpart, he is a fool and a coward and he will fall." Prime replied darkly.

****

SG Earth

The medical centre had quietened much to First Aid's relief. He was tense and sore and had to tolerate being under Starscream's ever watchful gaze for the entire day, while he'd tended to the Decepticon wounded.

It was only when he had finished patching up the last mech that the Air Commander had rested a hand on his shoulder. He gestured for him to follow with a slight nod of his head. First Aid allowed himself to be guided to the medical center to a smaller room at the back.

Starscream turned to face him. "Hook did everything he could. It's up to him now."

First Aid nodded and stepped inside the dimly lit room. Monitors were hooked up to various berths all supporting the critically injured. He made his way to a berth Starscream pointed out. Coming to a stop his optics dimmed sadly at the prone black and white frame.

"Oh Jazz." He whispered, laying a hand over Jazz's. "Why is it always you getting yourself slagged up?" He dropped his helm, finally feeling exhaustion creeping over him.

"Blame… Prowl… slagger keeps… attractin'… trouble…"

First Aid looked down at the barely audible mech and a wide smile captured his lip components. "Jazz!" He took hold of Jazz's hand and arm gently. "I suppose that's why you can't keep away from him then I take it?" His smile broadened as he heard the rasping, choked chuckle from Jazz's vocaliser.

"'Aid… what hap—happened?"

"You got yourself stabbed, is what happened."

"Who…?"

First Aid's faceplates creased with worry. "Prowl, Jazz. Prowl stabbed you but not the one you know." He felt Jazz grip his arm tightly, worry clear in his optics no longer hidden by his visor, which had cracked when he'd been dropped to the floor.

"Prowl?" He tried to shift.

"You can't move you're still in critical condition."

"Where's Prowl?" He let out a burst of painful static.

First Aid dropped his gaze from Jazz's worried optics and shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry Jazz. He and Sunstreaker were taken captive. We didn't get to them in time before the space bridge activated."

Jazz's helm dropped back onto the berth in defeat. He let out a soft moan of despair. "Res… rescue mission?"

"We can't Jazz… not yet anyway. Prime is reluctant to get involved… I don't…"

"Frag!... It's his ... mechs! Get me Prime!"

First Aid tried to restrain Jazz as he tried and failed to sit up. "Jazz please you're still too weak, you need rest or your spark won't heal."

Jazz shot him an incredulous look. "My spark?"

"It was damaged in the attack. We're not certain of the side effects."

Jazz stared down at his chest. "Who operated?"

First Aid smiled thinly. "The Decepticons agreed to help you, if I helped them treat their injured. I believe Prime is trying to negotiate some kind of cooperation."

"Need… to speak… to him." Jazz rasped. "Can't leave… Prowl and Sunny… over there…"

"I have no intention of leaving them anywhere Jazz."

Both 'bots started at the sound of their leader's powerful yet softly spoken words. The large red and blue mech made his way over to Jazz and rested a hand on Jazz's shoulder. "I'm relieved to see you're awake."

"Glad t'… t' be here Prime…" Jazz managed a weak grin. "You'll rescue… Prowl?"

Optimus felt his spark weighed down by the expectant look of First Aid and the near desperate plea from Jazz. He knew he had to relinquish his position of no involvement if any of them were to get out unscathed but that didn't mean the decision sat well with him. He met Jazz's intense stare and gave them both a nod. "We're going to do what we must. All of us."

"The Decepticons?" First Aid asked quietly.

"Have asked for our help. In return they'll do what they can to help our mechs." He vented out a cycle of air heavily. "And I have agreed." He met their worried gazes with a false confidence in his optics. Well aware of what he'd signed himself and his mechs up for.

****