Ratchet let out a relieved sigh when both Optimus and Thunderburst walked through the ground bridge.

"Oh, thank primus. It really was her, and not a trap set by the cons."

Thunderburst smiled. "Good to see you too, Ratchet."

Miko rushed up to her. "Thunder!!" she shrieked. Thunderburst winced at Miko's volume. She did not miss that part of Miko, but she did miss her human friend. "You're back!"

Thunderburst smiled down at the human girl, and nodded. "I am back. Hopefully for good." She didn't say why she hoped it was for good. She didn't say that she hoped that Megatron would end this war. And thankfully, no one seemed to notice that she was holding back information that might be useful to them. Because she knew that if they found out she was the warlord's sparkmate, then things might not be the same with the Autobots.

"How did you escape?" Jack asked, tilting his head up at the tall Autobot (by his standards).

Thunderburst frowned, and looked away from him, staring at the rock wall. Images and conversations floated through her mind, ending with the last thing that she had mouthed to him. The three words clattered through her brain, and she felt her spark speeding up. She hoped he had been able to make out what she had last silently said.

"I didn't", she finally said simply. "He let me go."

Sounds of surprise came from all around, but Thunderburst barely noticed. Instead she focused on a simple beeping on the computer that hadn't been there moments before. She walked forward, and pressed a few buttons. The other Autobots went silent, and Thunderburst read aloud what was now on the screen.

"Optimus, I trust that Thunderburst has now returned to your base", she read, optics scanning the screen. "And if she has, I hope that she knows that I feel the same way she does."

Thunderburst's spark pounded in her chest, knowing exactly what he was referring to. She tried to ignore the curious stares from the other Autobots, and focus on the rest of the message. "As such, I would like to have a meeting to discuss the end of the war. You pick the spot, and who will be there. If you would like me to come alone, so be it."

"Who's it from?" Arcee asked suspiciously. Ratchet scoffed.

"Who else could it be from?" he snarled. "Megatron. Probably a sick trap, trying to get us off his guard."

"It's not", Thunderburst said, her optics focused on one line in the entire sentence. She took a deep breath, and turned to face the others. "He's telling the truth."

The Autobots all shared a glance before looking to their leader. Optimus was watching his sister with interest. "Thunderburst, what happened whilst you were aboard Megatron's warship."

The femme sighed softly, and hugged her arms to herself. "It started off as you'd expect. They'd torture me for information every day. The first month was like that. But then Megatron changed tactics. He tried to be sweet and kind to me, even gave me my own room. After he deactivated my comms and weapons first, of course, so that'll need to be reversed, Ratchet." Thunderburst glanced at the medic, who nodded, probably taking a mental note of it.

"I wasn't allowed to leave my room unless I was accompanied by either Megatron or two vehicons. I befriended the vehicons easily. You met them actually, Optimus, during your time aboard the warship. Back when you thought you were still Orion Pax."

A look of surprise crossed Optimus' face, as well as the others. Thunderburst frowned in confusion. "Why are you all surprised? Didn't Optimus tell you that Megatron tried to use me to get Optimus to decode the Iacon Database?"

"I do not remember anything from my time aboard the warship, Thunderburst", he said. "So any information you have would be useful."

Thunderburst's eyes widened and her mouth made an 'o'. She spoke quietly, almost to herself, but everyone still heard her. "So you don't remember..." she trailed off, and stared at Optimus. Nervous energy radiated off of her.

"Don't remember what?" Arcee demanded. Thunderburst froze, before she sighed softly.

"It was going to come out one or another", she muttered. "Please, I beg of you, don't let this change your opinion of me as I can't control this, but... Megatron is my sparkmate. I blurted it out when Optimus was on board."

It was so quiet it the base, it made Thunderburst antsy. She didn't know what they were thinking, even Optimus was eerily absent from their sibling bond. She stared at him, sending a silent hopeful message. The Autobot leader returned her gaze, his optics thoughtful. Finally, he broke the silence.

"We will meet with Megatron", he finally said. "And we will see what exactly it is that he wishes to do about the end of the war."

The Autobots were silent, and slowly dispersed, soon leaving just Optimus, Thunderburst, and Ratchet. The femme shifted awkwardly, and looked down at the ground, hugging her arm to her side.

"I understand if you're unhappy about this whole sparkmate thing", she mumbled. "He is your sworn enemy after all."

Optimus rested a servo on his sister's shoulder. "I am not unhappy about it. Surprised, yes, but unhappy, no. After all, he was my brother and friend before he was my enemy. Perhaps you have shown him that he can be that again."

Thunderburst looked up at him, and smiled. "I hope that he has returned back to the mech that you once knew. Though it will be hard for everyone to adjust to the war being over."

Optimus sighed. "I hope as much as you do that Megatronus has returned. However, we cannot be sure until we meet with him. Ratchet, respond back to the message, and have Megatron meet us in a secluded area at midday. Tell him to come alone."

Ratchet immediately got to work. Thunderburst smiled up at her big brother, but he had a serious look on his face, and he seemed to be deep in thought. The femme sighed softly, and wandered off, heading back to her quarters. They hadn't been touched in the few months she was gone, leaving a slight layer of dust all over her belongings.

She sighed softly. Soon, they would be ending the war. Soon, she would be able to see her sparkmate again. Soon, maybe she would actually say those three words out loud instead of mouthing them.

Her spark fluttered as she remembered his words in the message. 'I feel the same way that she does.' Megatron felt the same way. He knew what she silently conveyed. Joy filled the femme's spark, and she twirled around in her room, a grin crossing her cheeks.

Soon, Megatron would end this war, and Autobots and Decepticons would live in peace.