*BANG BANG BANG* 

The sound comes from down the hallway throughout the tunnels of the old missile silo. It rings in everyone's ears. Most of the Autobots and the children all have their ears covered, hoping it will stop soon. Shelby stands on top of the platform next to Dreadwing trying to ignore the salty cries for help. The whines for attention and the angered feeling of resentment. 

"Will someone please make it stop!" Miko cries out. "I would have stayed at home, if I would have known Starscream was going to be locked up in here."

"Optimus maybe the children should go back home. We don't know what will be happening soon. They need to be safe." Shelby suggests. 

"They are safer here. We can protect them better than their parents." Arcee snaps, glaring at Shelby. 

"I know you're not happy with how my retellings from my coma are, but you don't need to keep taking it out on me." Shelby says gently. 

"You ruined it for yourself. You could have been here the whole time, but you left. You could have told us everything, but you decided that something else was more important." Arcee starts to go off. 

"Whoa, our cause doesn't have to revolve around her. Maybe she did have something important going on." Hot Rod intervened, stepping closer to Dreadwing and Shelby. 

Dreadwing has yet to say anything. His optics staying locked on Arcee. As if waiting for her to strike. 

"She could know exactly how this goes and she isn't helping at all. How can you be on her side?" Arcee roars. 

"That is enough!" Optimus bellows throughout the base as he walks into the hanger. 

The whole group stops talking and turns to face him. His gait is strong and powerful as he comes in. He stops in front of the group, looking over them all. His gaze piercing into each and every one of them. A disappointed look that made them all shiver. 

"We should be grateful that Shelby even knows something of what happens in the future. She was also the one that was able to spot Starscream before he was able to get away with the keys. If anything, you should be thanking her, Arcee." He says pointing the last statement to the two-wheeler. 

Arcee huffs but doesn't say anything. Only crossing her arms and storming away. 

"We need to go out to Starscream's hideout and retrieve the last key." Optimus declares. 

"Did he even say where it was?" Bulkhead asks. 

"The harbinger." Dreadwing finally speaks. 

"Well let's go then." Miko piped up. 

"You are staying here, Miko. We don't know what else could be there." Bulkhead says strictly to her. 

"Aw." She whines and sits down on the couch, continuing to pout. 

"Ratchet, Arcee and Hot Rod will stay here. Incase anything happens while we are gone. The rest of us will go to the downed Decepticon ship." Optimus orders. 

"Can I come too, Optimus?" Shelby asks, raising her hand. 

"No, you will stay here. I can't risk your safety as well." He speaks. 

Her shoulders drop, but she doesn't say anything more. She knows he is right. It still isn't a good idea for her to go out until this whole thing is over. Dreadwing turns to look at her before looking back up at Prime. 

"I'd rather stay back, if possible." He speaks. 

"No, I know your history with Starscream. I'd rather you come with." Optimus says.

"You don't trust me." Dreadwing says sadly. 

"I trust you Dreadwing. You wouldn't be on my team if I didn't. I only don't trust your emotions with him so close." 

"I had a chance to kill him and I didn't. I say I would be just fine here." Dreadwing argues. 

"You were also once a Decepticon. I could use your intellect when we go to the harbinger." Optimus turns the conversation around.  

"Very well, Prime." He finally agrees. 

"Why am I staying here?" Arcee steps forward. 

"I need someone who will be able to take out Starscream if he escapes. As well if there is any other Decepticon threat. You and Hot Rod will be able to get there quickly." He makes a fair statement to her. 

She steps back and goes quiet. The others get ready for the groundbridge. The children stand up next to Shelby, watching as the groundbridge comes to life, whirling in greens and blues. As the Autobots start to go through, Miko starts to slowly walk behind Shelby. Shelby, without looking back, reaches behind her and grabs Miko's shirt, pulling her back. The young girl groans from the yank back. She crosses her arms and pouts again. After the groundbridge is closed again, does Shelby finally let go of her. 

"Your no fun." Miko mumbles under her breath. 

"If I can't go, neither can you." Shelby leans down and whispers into her ear. 

"Hmph." Miko grunts. 

The small group splits and starts finding stuff to do around the base. The kids start playing video games and Shelby watches the screens with Ratchet. Arcee and Hot Rod fiddle with their weapons. Then the banging continues. With the distraction, they weren't paying attention to Starscream. He must have heard it go quiet out here and decided he needed to make noise again. 

"God! Why won't he shut up?" Shelby growls out. She makes her way to the stairs. 

"Where are you going?" Hot Rod is quick to get in front of the staircase. 

"To yell at him to shut up." Shelby states. 

"That's what he wants. He wants us to engage with him. He will manipulate you to let him out." Hot Rod warns. 

"Ugh! I just want some peace!" She shouts, "I can't think with his banging!"

"We all do. But he is a war criminal, and he needs to stay in the cell." Arcee adds on. 

"I wasn't going to let him out. How stupid do you think I am?" Shelby argued. 

"Well considering you don't know in between of the future or what is about to happen besides the end. I'd say pretty stupid." Arcee yells. 

"Will you two stop bickering?" Ratchet shouts from his station. 

*Bang Bang Bang*

"Have the others gotten the key yet?" Shelby changes the subject, trying to ignore the racket. 

"I haven't heard anything yet. They just went inside." Ratchet answers. 

Just then, Ratchet's computers start going off.

"We have another problem." Ratchet starts typing away. 

"What's happening Ratchet?" Hot Rod asks, running over to him. Everyone else following. 

"We have cons at a possible energon site." Ratchet barely answers. 

"We should go. Optimus would want us to try and get energon." Arcee suggests. 

"I'll go with you. That way Ratchet can stay here and man the ground bridge." Shelby grabs her suit out of her back pocket. 

"It might not be best if you go." Hot Rod says worriedly. 

"You and Arcee will need the help." She points out. 

"If it gets us away from Starscream and his banging, I don't care, let's go." Arcee groans as the banging continues. 

Shelby presses the button on her suit, and it wraps around her. "Let's do this." She says arming her weapon. 

"Just be careful." Ratchet says to Shelby. She doesn't answer, only nodding towards him. "I will send the others once they get back."

He opens the groundbridge. The kids stay up top, watching as the three go through the portal. This time Jack is holding Miko, making sure she won't go through. Arcee and Hot Rod transform. Hot Rod opens the door for Shelby, and she jumps in. They race through the bridge, hoping to get some Energon on the other side.