LOG-012.

  "Soundwave! Zoom in there, focus on the Autobots' beloved pets."

  We were at a stalemate. Prime's team possessed two Keys, while our own forces had control of the other two.

  Really, the only good part of the situation was that Megatron still didn't know what the relics actually did. All he knew was that Optimus wanted them. Bad.

  But of course that was more than enough justification for the warlord. Surely the identical keys were important somehow if his nemesis so desperately wanted to keep them out of Decepticon influence. And thus he'd concocted an oh so brilliant plan. One that signalled that our conflict was about to escalate severely.

  The three children displayed on Soundwave's visor made that quite clear, even as the silver mech gestured to the images in triumph.

  " This is how we shall force Optimus' hand. His foolish empathy will prove his downfall."

  The rest of the Decepticons assembled in the command center didn't seem inclined to say anything, so I took the opportunity to speak up.

  "Lord Megatron, acquiring these...organic hostages will require a certain degree of subtlety. What forces shall be dispatched to retrieve them?"

  The former gladiator pondered the question for a moment, before nodding to himself.

  "Knockout, Dreadwing and Soundwave should prove more than capable for the task. After all, we know precisely where the insects will be. Capturing them shouldn't prove too difficult."

  I resisted the slight urge to smack the palm of my servo against my optic as Knockout stepped forward, his signature buzzsaw making an appearance.

  "Abducting a couple of fleshings? Ha! This'll be easy!"

  ---

  The plan had been relatively simple. Which was probably a good thing, less moving parts and all that.

  Thanks to Soundwave's efforts, we had the addresses of what could technically be referred to as team Prime's biggest weaknesses. Raphael Esquivel, Miko Nakadai and Jack Darby.

  Again, pretty simple plan. Locate small organic. Grab small organic while their guardian isn't present. Return to Nemesis.

  So of course, Knockout had managed to fuck it up.

  "You WHAT!?" Megatron's response to the flashy medic's report was...well it wasn't unexpected.

  Nor was said medic's attempts at damage control.

  "A-ah but I am still on the chase Lord Megatron! That Autobot scout will never outrun me!"

  My modified helm hid any sign of a wince as our master roared, turning and throwing an unfortunate Vehicon to the ground.

  Just as he was about to stomp on the shaking trooper's torso and (presumably) crush him flat, I stepped in and got in the enraged warlord's path, Megatron's scathing glare turning my way as I spoke.

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  "Lord Megatron, leaving the acquisition of the hostage to Knockout alone poses an unacceptable risk of failure. Allow me to personally ensure the operation's success."

  For a moment, it almost looked as if the insane revolutionary was going to swing at me. Then he smiled. It wasn't a very nice smile, but it was a smile nonetheless.

  "Very well, Shockwave. It is good to know that I have at least a few mechs I can count on. Report to the groundbridge! We will lock on to Knockout's coordinates from here."

  Nodding my helm, I left without another word, all while ignoring the way the battered vehicon scampered along behind me for a few moments before hurrying out of sight.

  ---

  Along a small stretch of road in the middle of the desert, a pair of vehicles tore across the earth. A black and yellow muscle car, chased by a brilliant crimson Aston Martin.

  Of course Rafael was a bit too panicked to pay attention to such details. One moment, the young boy had been waiting outside his home for his best friend to pick him up. The next, he'd been sprinting from a laughing red Decepticon.

  He shuddered to think what might have happened if Bumblebee hadn't shown up in time. Then he paled as he realized that if he'd been targeted, then Jack and Miko had likely also been attacked too.

  "Bee? What do we do? We need to call the others!"

  The Autobot scout responded with a series of beeps that effectively shot down that idea.

  "Jamming? But how? And how did they find us!?"

  Sadly, Bumblebee knew just about as much as Raf did.

  The boy turned to glance back at the red car roaring after them. Knockout. His eyes were drawn back to the road as Bumblebee attracted his attention.

  Rafael grinned.

  "A groundbridge! Ratchet and Optimus must have figured out something was wrong!"

  ---

  I let the energy of the green vortex remain open behind me as I stepped out into Nevada's harsh, dry heat. Z-2 and Z-3 drawing their weapons as they strode to stand either side of me.

  It seemed inputting the exit point's coordinates a fair bit ahead of Knockout had been the right call, as a muscle car skid to a halt in front of us.

  Knockout's slightly strangled voice rang out as he transformed behind the black and yellow vehicle, effectively boxing the Autobot in between us.

  "Ah-Shockwave. I see you've chosen to join the hunt!"

  Ignoring the medic, I levelled my AstroMag cannon at my target, calibrating for a hopefully non-lethal shot. As I did, I spoke.

  "You are both outnumbered and outgunned. Surrender peacefully, and I will ensure your fair treatment as a prisoner of war."

  I resisted the urge to glare at Knockout's scoff as Bumblebee shifted into his root mode, clutching onto a terrified looking Rafael, his bright blue optics narrowing to glare into my own cyclops-like faceplate.

  I gestured to his precious cargo with the barrel of my cannon.

  "The probability of you successfully defeating all four of us without the organic being terminated in the process is extremely low. Think this through, Autobot."

  The yellow mech swivelled between my Zakus and I, briefly turning to stare at Knockout before looking back to me.

  I idly noted his rather inventive use of Cybertronian morse code as a form of speech as he ignored Rafael's desperate pleading not to give up and responded.

  "I...fine. I surrender. Just...don't hurt him."

  I waved my guards forward, even as I turned to glare at Knockout who had the decency to look at least a little sheepish.

  "Pass through the groundbridge and await our return. I will settle matters here."

  For a moment, Knockout seemed ready to protest. Then he presumably thought better of arguing with the mech that had salvaged his failure, shrugging and striding past us.

  In turn, I approached Bumblebee, holding a servo out expectantly.

  The scout glared, but the twin hums of a pair of energon rifles being levelled at him seemingly broke his resolve. Slowly, very slowly, his human charge was deposited into my waiting servo.

  But fuck me if the poor kid didn't look like he was about to pass out from stress.

  That's when the sound of a second groundbridge opening drew our attention, alongside the three vehicles tearing their way through it.

  I had only a moment to step back as that oh so familiar red and blue semi transformed, followed by a green armored truck and a blue motorcycle.

  Optimus stared at my form in shock, even as I held up a squirming Rafael. To Bumblebee's utter dismay it seemed. Ratchet or Optimus had likely managed to figure out a workaround to combat the jamming. If the scout had just held out a moment longer...hm.

  My attention was drawn back to the Prime as he stepped forward, pausing as Z-2 levelled his rifle at the trio of bots. Meanwhile, Z-3 stepped back, keeping his sights trained on a twitching Bumblebee.

  "Optimus." I inclined my helm, ignoring Arcee and Bulkhead's smoldering glares. They wouldn't move. Not while I held a little kid trapped between my digits, primed for squishing.

  ...Wow I really was working with the bad guys, wasn't I?

  "...Shockwave?"

  The Prime's blaster had shifted back into a servo, one he almost desperately held up as the warmask slid out of view, revealing his full faceplate. I did notice his other arm remained in gun-mode however. It seemed he understood the reality of the situation. Mostly.

  "I am certain we can resolve this peacefully. Please, allow us to-"

  He paused as I held the crying (oh fuck he's crying) Rafael up slightly higher, tilting him left and right.

  "Lord Megatron will be in touch. For what it's worth...you have my apologies."

  I stepped back through the groundbridge, followed by my creations.

  The last thing I saw before the portal closed was the Prime's defeated expression.