" Optimus, the information we received by way of Soundwave-" He shot Arcee a dirty look- " has revealed that there is three deposits, each containing a high form of concentrated energon." He said, only an hour later. Optimus and Arcee had decided to wait up, to determine if the information was worth acting upon immediately. Jack had wanted to as well, but after ten minutes he had fallen asleep on the couch. Arcee wished he had been awake, having someone to bridge the silence, uneasy at it's best, which would have lifted her mood. Yet she couldn't bring herself to shake Jack out of his peaceful slumber, and it made her wish she had chosen to recharge instead.

"I don't need to tell you what that could mean in the wrong servos." Ratchet finished, as he drew a map of the globe, displaying three symbols.

" Well, time's on our side. Soundwave said-"

" And now your just going to trust what Soundwave says now? It's bad enough your trusting information from him, and haven't even begun to reveal how you two came into contact with each other-" Ratchet said unbelievably, but Arcee interrupted his rant.

" He said Megatron wouldn't know till morning, which is a few hours away. Best to grab them and run while it's quiet." Arcee said with iron. Optimus nodded, dismissing the tension in the atmosphere.

" That may be our best option, but Ratchet is correct, this could still be a trap."

" Well, dividing resources would make it easier to obtain the energon. But if it is a trap, I think it could be devastating." Ratchet said sceptically.

Optimus sighed.

"A risk we will have to take. Arcee, wake Bumblebee and Bulkhead. They shall go to two of the sites, and I to the third."

" What about me? I can give back up-"

" I am sorry Arcee, but you will remain at base with Ratchet." Both her and Ratchet looked at each other.

" Optimus, she is more experienced than Bumblebee, surely it would be best to send her instead."

Optimus looked to Arcee, and she understood why he had said so. If she wanted to keep it a secret still, from anyone else, she was going to have miss this one out.

" No. Optimus is right. 'Bee can handle it." She said, confidently to Ratchet, and she left to wake the others.

The two had complained bitterly about being awoken, and so Arcee told them both the 'cons where Attacking the base. A cruel joke, but she had to laugh, she had not seen them move so fast.

When she reached the control room, Bulkhead and bumblebee turned to her.

" 'Cons attacking the base, huh?" Bulkhead pouted.

" Only way to get you two off your afts." Arcee commented light-heartedly, and Bulkhead returned with a sort of look that seemed very much like bemusement. Optimus briefed them both Bulkhead an Bumblebee, and then Ratchet charged up the ground bridge. Bumblebee was the first to leave, followed by Bulkhead and Optimus. When it closed, Arcee felt left out. It was the first time in a long time since she had been withheld from going on a mission. Ratchet had already turned to the monitor, with three different screens patched thought to each of the three Autobots. Already tension hung in the air around them. Jack found it had to bear, having woke up at the sound of the rest of team arriving in the control room.

"Cover Bumblebee, I'll cover Bulkhead and Optimus." Ratchet said, not looking at her. Arcee nodded, turning to the screen where Bumblebee's life signal was displayed. His whirs and beeps met hear audio processors.

" Well, I'm here. Where too?" He beeped.

" About a click north of your position. Keep an eye for any Decepticons, and be careful." Arcee responded, praying the information Soundwave had given her was correct, and her own judgement was as well.

Bumblebee's optics took on a bored look. He had heard the same words before. 'Be careful'. He understood crystal clear, and hated everyone always telling him to be so, almost as if they were constantly reminding him of his lack of experience or youthfulness. Which was true. Walking at a steady pace, he headed north. In this location, somewhere in the heart of Africa, the sun was high above him. He felt his own circuits and internal fans having to begin to keep him cool already. Surveying the terrain, he found a rocky grassland, with animals grazing in the distance, and tall yet rather sparse trees. There was no hiding here, so if any Decepticon came his way, he wouldn't have a chance to even get the jump on him. And also no hiding for him. He continued, looking in awe as he saw several Gazelles. Organic creatures sure are strange. He thought to himself. Five minutes later, he saw a small outcrop of rocks, and spoke to Arcee.

"Am I close yet?" He beeped, getting tired of the heat. Arcee's voice responded.

" Yes. It should be literally within your location."

A few minutes passed, and every second that passed without incident was a prayer answered by Primus. Arcee kept going over the stats, and then peered over at the monitor Ratchet was working at. Everything was fine. Until Ratchet caught her looking. She quickly turned back to the screen. Silence reigned for a moment.

" So, care to tell how you met Soundwave?" Ratchet queried. Arcee kept her gaze on the monitor.

"No. And I didn't meet Soundwave." She said arrogantly. Ratchet looked her up and down.

" Arcee this is serious. You can't just trust the information given to you-"

" I seem to recall you trusted Starscream's opinion-"

" That was different-" " IT's the same-"

" NO it wasn't." Arcee went to interrupt him but he cut her of quickly. "Arcee, I don't know what game your playing, but Starscream is a coward, and Soundwave is one Megatron's most loyal servants. I never thought in a million years anyone, even you would come to trust anything he says or do- and how you even met him is another story."

" Ratchet please-"

" GUYS! Focus on watching over the others, alright?" Jack suddenly butted in. The two Cybertronians fell silent, and returned to their monitors. Ratchet let out a quiet sigh. Something doesn't add up.

Bumblebee hedged a bet the energon was within the rocks. Walking over, he saw a deep blue glint shine through a small patch of dirt. Reaching down, he began scooping the dirt and rocks within his hand away, revealing luminescent energon crystals. Although not much, about one servos full, Bumblebee's mind already replayed what Ratchet had said its effects could be. All circuitry ran faster, increasing speed, agility, and mental processors became more sharper. He knew the Autobots would never use such energon, and he considered it an unfair advantage, since the decepticons would use every last scrap.

Carefully picking up the first conglomeration of crystals, he admired it's deep colour, and could feel its energy radiating outwards towards him. He smiled inside, as he went to contact base, he paused as a ground bridge appeared a couple of metres in front of him.

" Umm.. Arcee? Did you send a ground bridge?" he beeped, unsure.

" No..." She replied back to him.

Arcee looked confused as Bumblebee queried about a ground bridge.

" By the all spark..." Ratchet muttered furiously. Arcee looked worriedly at him. The tense silence between them was broken.

" What's wrong?"

Ratchet looked at her with sincerity.

" Both Bulkhead and Optimus are being attacked by Decepticons. It seems they were informed sooner than we anticipated." He said, sending a jeering look at her. She ignored it as spoke fast to 'Bumblebee.

" 'Bee, I'm sending a ground bridge, you need to get back to base now!"

Bumblebee heard her words, but his optics widened in shock as the large silver mech walked through. He came to stand still, looking from the deep blue energon to the young scout.

" So, we meet again, scout. Tell me, are you going to give what I want this time, or am going to have rip you apart just to get what rightfully belongs to me?"

Bumblebee quickly repossessed his composure, and to his left, a ground bridge made a run for it, not wanting to test his luck- in that situation, he doubted he would have any. He didn't believe he could have ran faster than any other moment in his life, yet still he was cut of as three Vehicrons blocked his path. He let out an angry set of beeps as he looked back over his shoulder. Megatron was already closing in. Sudden laser fire flew over head as Arcee appeared out of the ground bridge, taking down one of the Vehicons, and viciously attacking the second. Bumblebee was able to spare a shot at the last remaining Vehicon, before quickly dodging a way to close for comfort attack by the dark lord himself. Bumblebee stumbled as he avoided falling over, and came to stand defensively, Megatron staring at him with optics of hatred.

"I shall enjoy ripping you apart, scout."

Megatron spoke through gritted teeth, his servos holding the sword found previously, ready to strike. Bumblebees' memories of that day long ago surfaced, and although he still felt the fear, he caged it, focusing on evasive manoeuvres, which were more than likely going to save his life at the present moment...or so he hoped.

Megatron suddenly strode forward raising the sword high, and bringing it down in a single motion, Bumblebee only just managing to dodge the attack. He then began a relentless barrage, leaving no opening for the young scout to counter attack.

Bumblebee dodged left and right, and suddenly he felt the cold hard rock surface press against his back. Before he had time to register anything the sword was shoved deep into shoulder, energon suddenly spraying out. Bumblebee cried out in pain, his resounding beeps catching Arcee's Audio processors as she finally defeated her own adversaries, and turned to gaze upon the first consequence of her choice.