Lost in the Mirror Ch. 3

After a long fruitless search with no hint of Smokescreen's signal to be found, Bumblebee could only be forced to return to the base as a crescent moon rises in the night sky. A well placed bridge, thanks to Ratchet, catches the yellow scout off guard, his tires squeal in anger that he was being brought back with nothing, but going to fast to avoid slipping into the base.

Furious, Bee stands up and charges at the medic, demanding to know why his search was cut short. He reaches for Ratchet's throat but Arcee quickly pins him to a stack of crates.

“Bumblebee! Calm down!” she speaks with an authoritative tone, “Lashing out at Ratchet isn't going to bring Smokescreen back. We've all been looking ever since you reported his mysterious disappearance. Ratchet has scanned every signal imaginable, Jack, Miko, and Rafael are still checking every website for even a picture of him, Bulkhead, Optimus, and myself have searched in separate corners of the planet, and even Agent Fowler has sent his men and set himself on a quest to locate anything about Smokescreen's whereabouts!”

Bumblebee lowers his head then faces her again, his optics narrowing in anger as several more fierce beeps and whirs pour from his damaged vocalizer.

“I never said we gave up,” Arcee answers as calmly as she can muster, “But we can't continuing looking without a lead. We need to rethink our methods. And we need you to calm down, collect your thoughts,” she slowly releases her grip on the scout and backs away from him allowing Bee to drop his arms, “And tell us. What exactly did you see; both when you carried Rafael away and when you returned to the scene.”

Bumblebee looks at them optics full of sadness and in fear for the well being of his friend. Sure Smokescreen was rash but having another bot of his generation around, it was almost comforting to know he was not the last of the youngest ones left. Holding his servos before him, the young scout list off the stream of events, from Rafael alerting them to Knockout's presence, Smokescreen rushing to take on the medic, and to where he had grabbed Raf and raced away from the scene. He embarrassingly admits to not looking behind himself paying attention to only the road ahead and getting his human friend back to safety.

Bulkhead tries to comfort him, “Don't be embarrassed about that. I would have done the same Miko.”

“And I with Jack,” Arcee notes.

Ratchet speaks up, “Both stories of Rafael and Bumblebee's retreat are similar enough. Smokescreen's signal vanished, I assuming, just before you got back to the battle field. What did you see when you got back?”

With a whirring sigh Bee continues as Raf translates for the other two humans, the scout detailing how he jumped back into the area ready to fight but on Knockout was in his sight. Smokescreen had vanished seemingly into thin air. The scout clenches his fist his beeps and whirs carrying anger as he tried to get Knockout to talk. Butt all the Decepticon said was 'Stay away from him, bug!'.

“Wait,” Optimus interrupts, “Who is 'him'?”

Bumblebee looks at his leader and places one servo over on his head, still in disbelief of what he saw. When he looked behind Knockout, he had saw Breakdown.

“Breakdown!” Bulkhead suddenly states, “That's impossible! He's been deactivated. First by M.E.C.H. then by Megatron, I bet. You sure it was him, Bee?”

Bee quickly nods to the large green bot. Something was off about the other Decepticon but it was Breakdown. He had gotten enough up close and personal looks, the scout could pick him from the crowd if needed. The scout quickly shakes his head continuing his story how Knockout was of no use, pleading innocent to Smokescreen's demise and after that, he took off to look for his friend. As he finishes his story, Bumblebee hangs his head, door wings dropping in defeat, even he didn't believe what he had saw with his own optics.

Miko groans, “That doesn't give us anything to go off of....”

“Wait,” Jack speaks up, “Bee. You said that Breakdown looked off. What did you mean?”

Bumblebee gives Jack a confused whirred which Raf translates, “His color was different, and he was face down in the dirt. It could have been the Sun playing a trick on my eyes. I was too worried about Smokescreen to pay much attention to him.”

“Bumblebee!” Ratchet suddenly shouts in a scolding manner, “You shou-”

The medic's rage is cut short as the computer alerts them to an incoming message, “Prime!”

“Agent Fowler,” Optimus greets the dark skinned human agent, “Have you found anything?”

“Negative,” he answers, “But I thought you bots would be interested in this.” He brings up a picture of the crashed Decepticon warship, “The 'Con's fell out of the sky into a remote location just south of Russia. I would guess an engine malfunction.”

Optimus raises one eyebrow ridge, “Are you suggesting that Smokescreen is somewhere on board?”

“He could be,” Fowler answers. Bee suddenly let's out a whir and shakes his head. “What'd he say?” the agent asks.

“Not likely,” Ratchet translates, “Bumblebee returned to the scene and Knockout was still present. If they had intended on capturing Smokescreen, Knockout would have left as well.”

Fowler groans, “So much for my idea. Alright then, does this make any sense to you bots?” He displays another picture, this time of a red all terrain jeep leaping away from the Nemesis as it crashes but still shrouded in smoke, “One of yours?”

The others gather closer to the computer as Ratchet narrows his optics trying to enhance the photo, “Doesn't appear so. I can make out a Decepticon insignia on it. Probably was trying to leap from the wreckage.”

“By the great bald eagles,” Fowler groans, “We got nothing on Smokescreen yet. You lot?”

“We are still in the dark as well,” Optimus answers, “And I am more concerned for our young recruit then a down Decepticon ship. If anything, this will give us a temporary lead in our other quest.”

“Good luck,” Fowler speaks, “I'll keep my eyes peeled, Fowler out.”

Bumblebee let's out a sadden whir, door wings drooping down his back as he looks to Arcee and softly beeps an uncertain question to her.

“We'll find Smokescreen, Bee,” she answers, “It... will just take some time.”

“Ratchet and I will keep looking,” Rafael pipes up trying to reassure the young scout.

Miko nods, “And with the Cons down for the count, they will be out of our way, for a little while.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Knockout returned to the ship in panic, his blue armor caked in dust hiding many of his scars. He knew he could see only so much from the ground, he prayed to Primus that one of the fliers had seen something, “Megatronus Prime. Sir,” he speaks racing the the bridge, optics wide in fear and desperation “Anything! Please, tell me someone has seen something!”

“I am afraid not, Knockout,” the silver leader speaks calmly, “We have circled this planet in our search for Breakdown and Rafael.”

Starscream nods confirming it, “My armada and I have dug through the darkest depths to the highest points of the this world.”

“I've looked in every underground crevice I could find,” Arachnid adds.

“I've even taken Jack with me to look,” Dreadwing states looking to the young human, currently frantically typing away on his communicator.

Jack's hands were quivering as he works with the device, “I'm not able to send Raf any calls or text. Its keeps saying this number is not in service. I've must have tried a hundred times.”

“Soundwave and I have scoured every signal possible, some I didn't even knew existed until today,” Miko speaks up looking to the slender, dull gold and silver communication officer, “Other then that bizarre double Smokescreen signal. We haven't found anything.”

Soundwave then turns to Knockout his screen flashing an inquisitive look into how a second Smokescreen could suddenly appear from the odd temporal disruption that was caused. A seemingly innocent query caused the medic to fly into a rage, “Frag Smokescreen!” he growls bearing his denta and charging at Soundwave, “I rather know about Breakdown and Raf!”

“Knockout!” Megatronus suddenly bellows as Starscream grabs the enraged medic from behind and holding up back, “Calm down. We are all worried about our missing friends. But the fact remains that a second Smokescreen has appeared and this could give the Autobot's an advantage.”

“So you're just going to forget about them!” Jack suddenly barks at the Prime.

“Jack!” Miko sneers at him, “Keep your head on straight. We have two problems to solve, not just one.”

The human breathes deeply trying to bite down his rage, “I'm sorry. Raf... he's practically my brother after what happened to Jasper! I, I can't take losing another family member, not like this.”

Dreadwing looks to him, “I know your pain. But we have to stay level headed now.” Jack looks up to the large green flier then hangs his head before rocking back to lean against the wall, slowly sinking into a sitting position.

Knockout growls and and roughly shoves Starscream off of him moving to lean against a railing trying to calm his circuits, “I won't forgive myself if something happened to them.”

Starscream crosses his arms tapping one long talon against his helm, “Breakdown disappears along with Rafael. Then a second Smokescreen suddenly appears We know that the Autobots have already gone to the rescue of both of them. All these we know to be true, now just to tie them together. Knockout, what did you see right before Breakdown and Raf disappeared?”

Knockout turns to look at the white seeker before fully turning back around the face the others, “Smokescreen had captured Raf. Breakdown engaged him and managed to retrieve our small friend. But how he did so was odd. He had that Autobot pinned to an invisible wall.”

“An invisible wall?” Megatronus asks.

“I know how it sounds,” the medic continues with a nervous chuckle, “But he had him pinned to something. It was causing a bright display of colored electric spark to fly from Smokescreen's back and  quite a considerable amount of pain if his screaming was any indication. I ordered him to retreat but, well, with Breakdown he has to leave his mark. He went for a final attack; then I was suddenly blinded by a bright red light. When the light faded, and to my horror, two Smokescreens lay unconscious before me with similar burns to their back. I looked up and found my assistants had vanished and started the mad search for them. Without a second thought.”

Arachnid look at him a disbelief, “A sudden bright light and Breakdown gets replaced with a second Smokescreen?”

“I know how it sounds,” Knockout replied, “I can scarcely believe it myself. And I saw it.”

Soundwave suddenly looks up summoning a ground bridge allowing Laserbeak the fly back into the ship and return to his rightful perch on Soundwave's chest. The silent officer looks at his pet for a moment before unwinding one tentacle and plugging it into the computer console, turning to face the screen.

Both Decepticon and the humans gather close to the computer screen as the video feed from Laserbeak plays. They watch with baited breathe as a silent picture unfolds showing the side of the factory. A brief burst of static and a song bird can be heard singing. Suddenly, as if he was a ghost, the white Smokescreen leaps through the walls a humming blue aura marking his outline in the wall. The young Autobot then flees from the site. A loud explosion is heard and Hardshell shoots out of the fresh hole in the wall leading his Insecticon troops after him with Bumblebee, Arcee, Bulkhead, and the black Smokescreen in hot pursuit. The camera swings to try and follow the chase but they soon scatter in all directions with no sign of their prey.

“He went rouge!” Dreadwing suddenly states.

“With the phase shifter,” Starscream points out, “This could be bad.”

“Phase shifter?” Arachnid asks.

Megatronus hums in thought, “This second Smokescreen has made an enemy out of Optimus and the Autobots. How or why is uncertain. But I do not trust this newcomer. He is involved some way with Breakdown and Rafael's disappearance. Continue the search for our lost comrades, but watch your backs even more closely.” He then turns his blue optics to the human children, “Knockout. Soundwave. Return the children to their homes.”

“What!” Miko shouts in protest, “Why!?”

“No!” Jack spits, “Rafael's my brother! I can't go back without him! What am I suppose to say!”

Knockout gently scoops Jack up as Miko hops to Soundwave's hand, “You were separated and his communicator died. You looked for a long time but couldn't find him.” The medic speaks with a sad look in his optics.

Jack glares at the blue 'Con such a speech sounded all to scripted and over used, “Is that a nice way to say he's dead!?”

Knockout shifts and ties the seat belt around Jack uncomfortably tight, “I hate this just as much as you do,” he starts as they go through the glowing bridge, “However, we are lucky enough that some of your kind knows that the blue eyed titans are friends. If the same is not true for wherever Breakdown and Rafael are, Primus help them.” The worn blue car pulls the to foot of Jack's home and opens the door for his passenger.

Just as he unwillingly slides out, Jack's cellphone rings, “Hello?” he answers holding it to his ear.

“It's me,” Miko answers as she walks through the city streets of her home, “Soundwave gave me a copy of what we've decoded so far. Science might have an answer, but, well. You were the first to trust the blue-eyes. That other Smokescreen had blue eyes. I can't believe I'm saying this, but try to find him. Work your magic of observation. Get whatever you can. Anything! Send it to me and I'll get you in. I have a theory about Raf and Breakdown. But I need to look further into it first. I need you to trust me, okay Jack?”

“I trust you, Miko,” he answers and pockets the phone turning to see Knockout drive away, “Doc bot!” Knockout stops but doesn't turn around, “We're going to find them.” Jack continues, “God and Primus as my witness we will.”

“I hope you are right,” Knockout says sadly as he drives off, the last drive he shared with Breakdown and Rafael playing in his head over and over again, praying that it wasn't the last.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Breakdown looks over to his small friend, curled up and fast asleep on a bed of cave moss. Hiding like an insect in the ground, the large red Decepticon couldn't believe it. Only a small sliver of sunlight could dance into this cave, giving away that the sun had risen on the foreign world. They were sure of only one thing now, they couldn't call for help. Megatron attacked them in hate, behaving like Optimus! Those so called Decepticons had tried to take Rafael. They would have killed him, Breakdown was sure of it.

The large bruiser clenches his fist trying to bite down his rage at the memory, what in Primus name had happened and how did they get here! A sudden blip appears in Breakdown's display but he quickly blinks it away, “I know I'm low on energon. We always have been. For the longest time.” He sighs and looks to the sleeping human, “You have no idea how easy you humans have it, multiple sources for food. What I wouldn't give for such a luxury right now.” He turns his golden optics to a passage just behind them, “Maybe they missed some shard of energon. If it'll make this stupid alarm stop.”

“What alarm?” Raf sleepily asks as he puts on his glasses.

“Nothing,” Breakdown quickly answers, “Did you recharge okay?”

Raf shakes his head, stretching out and rubbing his neck, “Barely got any sleep. You?”

“I don't need recharge as often as you humans do,” he simply answers, “Let's get moving. I saw an old mining spot not to far from here. Maybe they missed some.”

“Alright,” the human answers and nods, sliding from the makeshift bed and following the robot titian on foot deeper into the cavern with only Breakdown's headlights showing the way.

At the other side of the tunnel a ground bridge surges to life, two Autobots stepping through as it vanishes just as quickly as it came. Bulkhead and Arcee walk into the cavern, the slender blue femme holding an energon scanner. For a moment they walk in silence before Bulkhead speaks, “Arcee. You.... you don't think Bumblebee actually saw Breakdown do you? I mean, surely he's been deactivated.”

“Breakdown, yes,” she answers, “But that Cylas creature in Breakdown's shell. Well, if its not dead then Megatron is surly torturing it one way or another.”

“So you think he's gone?” Bulkhead asks.

Arcee nods, “I believe so. But with Smokescreen suddenly vanishing like that and Breakdown in his place. Its unsettling, don't you think.”

“I was going with familiar,” he confesses.

“Familiar?” Arcee questions looking at him, “How?”

“Well...,” Bulk tries to think how to word it, “Miko, running off, familiar.”

“Oh please,” Arcee remarks turning back to look ahead, “Smoke might be reckless but he's no Miko. He would have contacted us by now. That's what has me worried.”

Rafael happily walks along the edge of the cave hopping from rock to rock in a kind of game, Breakdown walking at a steady pace behind him holding up an energon reader. “Any luck big guy?” Raf asks hopping further ahead.

“We're close,” Breakdown remarks, “Be careful jumping like that. Don't break yourself.”

“You sound like Knockout saying that,” Raf counters with a laugh.

Breakdown chuckles, “He isn't here. Guess I'll have to fill in.”

Suddenly, the device beeps, an arrow pointing to their right, causing Breakdown to stop, “They did miss a bit. Thank Primus. Back up little guy.” He carefully sets down the scanner  watching closely as Rafael moves to the opposite side and behind some rocks.

With ease, Breakdown shifts his right servo into a large hammer, pulls it back behind his head, and let's out a shout and he hammers into the rock sending a resounding crash echoing through the cave and shaking the floor, ceiling, and wall.

Arcee and Bulkhead jump at the crash, spreading their limbs to stay balanced in the sudden shake, “The scrap was that?” Arcee asks looking ahead.

“Sounded like a wrecking ball,” Bulkhead answers, his optics suddenly growing wide, “Or... a wrecking hammer.”

“Let's go,” Arcee orders as they dart ahead following the resonating sounds of crash after crash, leading them a machine made tunnel. Soon they hear rock hitting rock and the dull sound of metal breaking away rock. They crouch down behind some fallen debris , weapons at the ready, Arcee looking out from the side and Bulkhead from the top.

Dust swirls around the miner, the signature sound of a transformation, followed by a voice they thought would never be heard again, “No wonder they left it!” The dust clears, reviling none other then Breakdown. Armor a brilliant red, but there was no doubting it, even with a different paint job it was the former wrecker turned Decepticon.

Arcee and Bulkhead's mouths hang agape at the sight both of them ducking back behind the boulder, “You saw that right?” Bulk whispers to her.

Arcee nods frantically and looks back out again, “By the All Spark he's alive....”

Breakdown slides one arm into the newly made hole reaching for the precious glowing crystals laying just out of his reach, “Come on... come here.” He grumbles at the energon.

“We should finish this,” Bulkhead states and leaps out from behind the the cover, wrecking ball raised.

“Bulk!” Arcee hisses all to late.

Bulkhead yells out charging at Breakdown swinging at him. Breakdown turns and gasps in horror, quickly pulling his arm free and jumping away from the attack, pulling out his hammer, “Cheap move Autobot! Wouldn't expect anything less from someone like you!” He roars and takes a swing at Bulkhead causing them to lock weapons and square against one another.

Bulkhead growls as they stand caught in a shoving match, “So, tell me, Breakdown. How did you come back to the land of the living? One of Knockout's twisted experiments?”

“Only Ratchet would even dare to tempt fate with dark energon and bringing back the dead,” Breakdown snarls back, “Did a shoddy job with your pale Cliffjumper didn't he!”

“Has a scraplet been eating your processor?” Bulkhead spits in anger, “We both know Megatron is the one who messed with the dark energon!”

They break away from each other and charge again, swinging and dodging at one another, Breakdown trying to dance between both guarding Rafael and his energon find. The human watches the battle wide-eyed in amazement. He had never been able to get up close to a pair of dueling titians, Megatronus might have Breakdown's head for letting him be so close. His attention is momentarily drawn from the scene as a glint of metal catches off of their head lights. Raf draws a sharp breathe then suddenly shouts, “Arcee's with him! Look out!”

Arcee turns her attention to the sudden cry in shock, “Rafael!”

Bulkhead slams Breakdown against the wall, the last of the rock giving away to fully revival the remaining energon crystals. Bulk then turns his head, “Rafael!?”

Breakdown roars again and knocks Bulkhead away from him. Catching the bulky green bot off guard, he too easily sends him flying back towards and into Arcee, causing both Autobots to tumble away from the battle field. He turns and takes the energon crystals then kneels to pick up Raf, “Thanks, kid.”

“It's what wreckers do, right?” Rafael boasts puffing out his chest.

“Right,” Breakdown answers, “Now let's get out of here!” He quickly transforms and drives off back to where they had spent the night. If he retraced his trail, they should be back on the surface and away from these Autobots in no time!

Arcee groans shaking her and quickly transforms into a sleek motorcycle and gives chase after the red jeep, “Let's roll Bulkhead!”

“Right behind you!” Bulkhead answers transforming as well into a large ATV following her tracks.

Breakdown slides around the corners the cave throws at him, weaving through the maze of tunnels, still to frighten by the encounter with Megatron to uncloak his signal and give him a better viewing area, he was forced to rely on memory. A growling engine behind him distracts him for a second, “Ah scrap!” he growls pushing himself  faster through the cave.

“Man, she's fast!” Rafael notes, “I think we can lose Bulkhead, but I don't know about her.”

“Watch me!” he answers suddenly turning down a new path.

Arcee couldn't be so easily tricked, “Bulk! I'll keep following him! Try to head him off! Arcee to Ratchet! Come in.”

“What's happening Arcee?” the medic answers in a frantic tone, “Are you hurt?”

“No,” Arcee answers, “Where's Rafael?”

This question catches Ratchet off guard. He glances over to the humans' living area, each of them and Bumblebee returning the odd look, “Rafael is safe and sound here, as well as the other children. Why?”

“Must have been hearing things. Never mind!” Arcee suddenly states, “Bumblebee wasn't seeing things that day! Breakdown is alive!”

“What!” Ratchet shouts, “Are you sure!?”

“Positive,” Arcee answers, “His paint is different but he is a-whoa!” She slams the brakes and quickly stands up, digging her heels into the floor but still slams into the rock wall, “What.... where did he go!?” Her blue optics dart around the cavern, Breakdown seeming to have vanished into mid air, “Bulk! I lost him! Do you see him?”

“I can't find him either,” Bulkhead remarks then stands back up, “I think he bridge back out.” He growls and slams one fist into the wall, “Scrap!”

Breakdown pulls himself out of the cave, digging his fingers into the slick morning grass  and stands back on the surface, dusting him self off, “Breakfast to go,” he states holding the energon crystal, “Cybertron style.” He turns to Rafael, the two of them sharing a laugh  as they sit down to breakfast, energon for the titian and trail mix for the human, before continuing their blind run through this strange world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Smokescreen pauses in his mad blind run across the abandoned landscape taking a chance to hide among the trees. Quickly rising to his feet, he readies his guns and looks around for any of those so-called Autobots. It seems his plan with the phase shifter had worked, for now any way he had gotten them off his trail, “How long have I been running?” He asks no one as he walks into the dense woodland, “And where the scrap am I?” He pauses for a second debating on accessing on of Earth's many satellites but quickly shakes his head. “Too risky. They'll find me.”

Holstering his weapons, Smokescreen cautiously walks his body tense, he was pretty sure he was still on Earth, but no longer certain if this was a bad dream. An Earth day, maybe more, had passed since Arcee had found him and his darker paint job look a like. He had lost all sense of time at present. Just an alert telling him his energon is low continued to pester him but again and again he would bat it away, “Think Smokescreen think. What happened? Well, I'm not sure. Last thing I remember is fighting Knockout. Yeah! That's a smart idea, go ask him what happened to you. Megatron will scrap me faster then that fake Optimus ever could. This better not be some psychic patch nonsense going on-whoa!”

Smokescreen flails his arms and stumbles backwards from the cliffs edge, “That was close.” He sighs in relief and looks down into the gully below. A river races through covering the entire of the bottom, it must have rained recently for the water to be moving so fast the young warrior thought. He looks down either side of the gully then to the other side, “Coast's clear. May as well just jump this thing.”

First he backs up, holding up it hands to mark an imaginary landing pad on the other side. Now to count steps, one, two, three, four- hang on a second. Smokescreen does a double take and peers back into the water again. It couldn't be, “An energon crystal?” Hunger overcomes the need to hide and he eagerly slides down the embankment and into the water's edge. The water was icy cold running over his peds but to refuel, it would be worth it. Without a second thought he walks into the water, which rapidly rises to half way up his lower legs.

Smokescreen bends slightly, not wanting the water to get much higher on him, already the systems in his legs were growing numb. He plunges one arm into the river and grabs at his prize, “Easiest meal yet!” he speaks in triumph. But he was celebrating too soon. The crystal was still lodged deep into the river bed and refused to move. Smoke growls to the sky, “This isn't funny Primus!”

Further up stream walking along the edges on the gully, Arachnid and Dreadwing march through the forest, the white spider seeming to be lost in the sounds of birds singing and chirping. “Arachnid,” Dreadwing speaks trying to get her attention again, “Focus, we are on a mission here.”

She simply giggles, “Apologies, Dreadwing. But what can I say. If we are stuck on this world why not enjoy the beauty of it.”

“Considering two of our own are M.I.A., one of which is a human,” Dreadwing reminds her, “We need to find some kind of clue as to what happened.”

“No offense,” she starts, “But I am not sure how much help this other Smokescreen will be in finding Rafael and Breakdown.”

“It's the only clue we have,” a third voice speaks.

Dreadwing nods and starts walking again, “Exactly, Jack.” He then pauses and looks to the forest floor, “Jack!”

“Jack?” Arachnid stops and looks behind her spying the human, “You followed us!”

“Sure did,” he answers walking up to them, “So, which way, Dreadwing.”

“For you,” Dreadwing starts, “Back to base.”

“Wait! No!” Jack shakes his head and runs up to the large green flier, “Here me out! Please. You know Rafael is like a brother to me. I promised Knockout I would find both of them. Please, let me come with you two. I'll be safe with both of you.”

“Jack,” Dreadwing starts but Arachnid cuts him off.

“Let's him come with us,” she simply states, “He's safe with us.”

“Yes!” Jack pumps his fist and walks after Arachnid, both of them leaving Dreadwing with a shocked look on his face.

He quickly snaps out of it and catches up to them, “I can't believe you're encouraging him.”

“Wouldn't you do the same for Skyquake?” the white spider asks. Dreadwing growls at the question but it was true. In that sense, he couldn't fault Jack for being so adamant on this search.

A splash is heard from further ahead followed by someone shouting, “Primus! Will you just get the frag out of there already!”

“Who's that?” Jack asks and trots ahead.

“Oh no you don't,” Arachnid states, planting on slender leg in front of him, “I'm taking point, stay in the back.” She smoothly transforms, walking on eight legs, Dreadwing following with his gun at the ready. They walk slowly to the sound of the splash Arachnid gasping in shock at what she finds, “It's him.”

Indeed, it was the white version of Smokescreen. Now mostly wet from falling into the raging river. He shivers from the cold and spits out another curse, along with some water. Digging his feet into the river bed and pushing his weight against the firmly lodged energon crystal, he strains and grunts to free it, so close to a decent ration and yet so far, “This have best be worth it!” He growls pushing with all his might. At last the crystal breaks free, causing Smokescreen to do another face dive into the river, “Finally!” he shouts to the sky holding up his prize.

“None to graceful is he,” Dreadwing remarks, “Think there's more energon under this river?”

“I am not getting soaked to find out,” Arachnid answers, “But,” she grins watching as Smokescreen trudges from the river and looking for a way back up the river bank, “He did go through all that trouble for us.”

“That's a bit mean isn't?” Jack points out, “Optimus chased him off after all.”

Dreadwing huffs, “May have been a clever trick. Wouldn't put it past him.”

Smokescreen jump and grabs at the edge of the river bank with his left servo, “Now to get dry and- ah!” His right servo, and long fought for energon crystal, suddenly becomes captured in webbing, gluing him to the side of the embankment, “What the!?” He turns and spies Arachnid and Dreadwing, “By the All Spark you exist here as well!” He growls and pulls out his rifle firing at them, “Get scrapped Decepti-creeps!”

“Whoa!” Jack runs out of the way of the blaster fire and into the trees, Arachnid skillfully hopping up a nearby tree as Dreadwing locks onto the trapped warrior.

“Alright Auto-scum!” Dreadwing growls, “One chance! Where's Breakdown and Rafael!”

Smokescreen growls at him, “What are you talking about! Didn't Megatron turn that Breakdown Cylas mutant thing into an experiment. Or deactivate him even! And you are out of your fragging mind if you think I'm telling you the location of any of the humans!”

Arachnid laughs, “Are you one of Ratchet's failed cloning experiments? Sounds like he's screwed up your memory chips!”

“Go get scraped!” Smokescreen snarls freeing his hand from the webbing and opening fire on them again.

“Oh no you don't!” Dreadwing growls returning fire and Arachnid attempts to spin her web around him again.

Smokescreen grits his teeth, deciding he can't get much wetter, turns, transforms, and takes off up stream, away from them.

“Scrap!” Dreadwing holsters his weapon and takes flight chasing after Smokescreen as Arachnid follows underground.

Smokescreen flees for his life, things couldn't get much worse. Not only was Optimus and the Autobots here after him, but there were Decepticons here as well. Soaking wet, carrying a single energon crystal, and seemingly no way out of this gully on wheels, he begins to think today is the day he would lose his spark, “This can't be how it ends for me! I'm destined for something much greater. Surely I am!”

“Got you!” Arachnid shouts suddenly emerging from the side of the embankment causing it to collapse.

“Arachnid look out!” But Dreadwing's warning comes to late and instead of Smokescreen, she runs into Dreadwing, causing herself to hit the opposite embankment then land in the icy water; Dreadwing forced to pull out of the gully and regain aerial balance.

Smokescreen spins around, a look of hope returning to his face as he shoots up the collapsed dirt, “Thanks spider!”

“Scrap!” Arachnid snarls leaping out of the river and giving chase once more.

Smokescreen laughs in triumph, “Man these Cons are just as dumb as I remember! You stay right there my tasty treat.” He speaks turning the rear view mirror to focus on the energon crystal in his back seat, “That should be enough to last me for a while. Maybe I can figure this place out better with a full tank.” Smokescreen refocuses on the road ahead then suddenly let's out a shout of horror, quickly returning to his bipedal form and sliding across the grass.

Jack, paralyzed by fear, holds up his arms expecting the Autobot to pick him off as an easy target, but instead he finds himself suddenly in its shadow, “H-huh?” Jack blinks and looks around then up jumping at the sight of Smokescreen hunched over him protectively.

“Jack!” Smokescreen speaks stunned, “I-is that you?”

“H-How do you know my name...,” he speaks shocked then blinks getting a good look at Smokescreen's optics, “Wait, you are a blue-eye! But you're an Autobot. Autobot's don't have blue-eyes.”

“What are you talking about?” Smokescreen asks him, “They've always been blue.”

“Jack!” Arachnid calls out in fright, “Don't hurt him Autobot!”

“Hurt him!” Smokescreen yells, insulted that she even suggest the idea. He looks back down but sees Jack is no longer under him, instead, now taking shelter under Arachnid, “Hey! Jack! That's Arachnid! What are you doing!”

The she-spider places one servo in front of Jack protectively, “Take your energon and leave! Don't come near the humans again or I will scrap you! Now get lost! Before I change my mind.” She snarls at him.

Smokescreen stands and looks at them in disbelief and confusion. Jack had actually ran to Arachnid for protection, and she was giving it to him, willingly! How badly did he want to stay and fight but he was at a horrid disadvantage. The young warrior slowly backs down, “Hurt the human and I'll come for you personally!” He warns her before taking off.

“Fragger,” Arachnid growls as he leaves, “are you alright, Jack?”

“I'm fine,” He speaks looking at her.

Dreadwing drops from the sky landing next to them, “You let him leave?”

“We compromised,” Arachnid speaks.

“Dreadwing,” Jack starts looking at his friend, “I think you might be on to something with this other Smokescreen.”

“Oh?” Dreadwing inquires urging Jack to continue.

Jack looks to were the Autobot had ran, “His optics.... they were blue, yours. And he looked like he was trying to protect me. Like Arachnid did when I first met her. He was acting like a Decepticon. Not an Autobot.”

“Huh?” Dreadwing asks giving Jack a confused look.

“I don't trust it,” Arachnid simply states.

Jack nods, “I'm not saying anything for certain, but, he's defiantly different from the other Autobots.”