Smokescreen's p.o.v

I slowly woke up from my recharge and got up groggily. I ran a servo over my faceplate and noticed that I was on my berth in my berthroom.

'That's strange, I thought I was supposed to be at Eve-' my thoughts were brought to a halt when I remembered that Eve wasn't here..........she was still kidnapped.

I groaned and wished I hadn't woken up. I rather stay in recharge than have to wake up and face this nightmare of a reality.

Until now we've found no trace of MECH agents or cons. No calls or messages have been made either. So far, there hasn't been a ransom or anything so either they just kidnapped Miko and Eve to torture us or because they......they....

I shook my helm and smacked myself. No, don't think like that. I have to stay positive; Eve would want me to do that. She'd want me to do my best.

She's counting on me.

And I'm going to get her back....even if it kills me.

Meanwhile back on the Nemesis......

Third person's p.o.v

Evelyn covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a yawn. She looked over and saw her cousin was still sleeping on the floor.

Miko slept on her side, with her hands tucked under her head to make a more or less tolerable pillow.

They had decided that staying up 24/7 waiting anxiously and keeping their bodies tensed up wouldn't do them any good. They needed to rest, getting tired or worse; sleep deprived wouldn't do any good. They had to keep their minds and bodies sharp and to do that, they needed rest.

Once again, they were glad they had each other. This way, one of them could get some sleep while the other stayed awake and kept watch. They would each stay up for an hour or two then switch.

Right now, Evelyn didn't know what time it was. Was it morning, afternoon, dawn, evening or night? Where were they even? Were they still hovering over Jasper or were they flying over Timbuktu? Were they even on Earth?

Evelyn once again gazed at her phone that was by the table. So far, Knockout had been too busy with his paint job and double-checking his equipment to toy with it.

If she could get him to slip-up and activate the app, or even better, get him to give back her phone then they could call for help. But Knockout was honestly smart; he wasn't stupid he might see straight through it.

Maybe she'll have a better shot with Breakdown.

She was snapped out of her planning when she heard a yawn. Turning around, she saw Miko was slowly waking up.

"Morning to you too.....or maybe its afternoon or evening, I honestly don't know." Evelyn said.

"Yeah. So, what'd I miss?" Miko asked.

"Nothing and I'm not sure if that's a good thing." Evelyn said.

They've both waited and waited, mentally preparing themselves for the torture the cons might put them through in some sort of interrogation to gain information on the Autobots but so far....they haven't done anything.

It was as though Miko and Evelyn weren't even there. The vehicons that passed by barely even glanced at them. The only cons who seemed to even bother were Knockout and Breakdown.

Said two cons were of course, still standing guard over them.

Was this all a trick? A trap? Some psychological tactic to get them to put their guard down? Or were they simply going to keep ignoring them and starve them to death?

Just then, the doors opened and another Decepticon walked into the room. Evelyn looked at the newcomer and blinked.

Unlike Starscream, or Screamer aka Stilettos as she had dubbed him, this new Decepticon didn't swagger around all stuck-up. He walked in a matter that was dignified and at the same time, reserved as though he didn't want to let others know about his presence.

Then Evelyn realized that this was another one of the cons she had seen in the throne room, the one that seemed to blend into the background of the ship.

Then again, considering his black plating and glowing purple accents, he may as well could if he wanted to.

Unlike Megatron, Knockout and Breakdown, his bodybuild wasn't as bulky or big. It was slender and seemed more angular, unlike Starscream's that seemed lanky, scrawny and pathetic, his bodybuild seemed sleek and agile in comparison.

He had stifle-jointed pedes and his servos were long and flat, like wings. He also has a black visor covering his face and his digits were sharp yet thin.

In Evelyn's opinion, he looked like the Decepticon's version of the Slenderman.

"Who's dark and mysterious over there?" Evelyn asked Miko.

"Soundwave, he's the cons' communication specialist. The guy never talks, ever!" Miko said.

"The silent but deadly type?" Evelyn asked.

"That pretty much sums it up." Miko replied.

"I'd be careful now, you always have to watch out for the quiet ones." Knockout said though this time, he seemed to say it with a hint of seriousness in his normally sassy narcissist tone.

"Soundwave, what can I do for you?" Knockout asked.

Soundwave pointed towards Evelyn and Miko and played a recording of Megatron's order.

:Bring the Autobots' pets to me.: Soundwave said.

Knockout nodded and gestured for Breakdown to come with him. They walked over to the cage.

"Make this easy for both of us and don't try any tricks." Knockout said.

"No promises." Miko and Evelyn said.

"Look, I get that we're not buddies. But trust me; Soundwave is one bot you don't wanna cross." Breakdown said.

The two girls were taken out but instead of being put into jars, a pair of tentacles reached out for them.

"Bloody heck!" Evelyn cried out in surprise and kicked the tentacle away. She turned around and saw that it was from Soundwave. "A little warning wouldn't have hurt, you know?" she said.

"This is like the Kraken." Miko said. "You know what? I think I'll go with the jar."

Soundwave ignored them and they were wrapped up in his tentacles anyway. He made sure to keep one of their arms pinned to their side.

"Wow....didn't know you...cared." Evelyn grunted as she was wrapped up.

"Didn't take you for a hugger." Miko grunted.

Soundwave realized he was holding them too tightly and he recalls how human bodies can be a bit fragile. So, he loosened up just the tiniest bit.

"Thanks." Evelyn mumbled even though he was the enemy.

Soundwave gave the tiniest of nods in acknowledgement.

With the two human girls in servo.....or tentacles, Soundwave walked out of the med-bay.

As soon as the doors closed, Breakdown glanced at Knockout. "That guy creeps me out." He admitted.

"Like I said, always watch out for the quiet ones." Knockout said. "And Primus help those two if they do something stupid that pisses him off."

Miko and Evelyn kept quiet as they were taken. Evelyn also noted that the vehicons strode away from Soundwave and left a clear path for him to take. They seemed to avoid him like the plague.

Evelyn won't admit it but Soundwave's silence was unnerving. Luckily her cousin decided to break it.

"Why'd it have to be the quiet one?" she said. "If it was Screamer at least we could've annoyed him!"

"I know right?" Evelyn said. "So Soundwave, what do you personally think of Screamer or Stilettos as I have dubbed him?"

Soundwave simply turned his visor face towards her and played another recording, one of Starscream's.

:All hail Lord Starscream.: he said then gave her a small shake of his helm.

"I take it he isn't exactly popular, is he?" Evelyn said.

Soundwave didn't say anything and simply continued to walk.

"Where are you taking us?" Miko asked.

:Bring the Autobots' pets to me.: he repeated.

"Ok, why? What does Lord Buckethead want with us this time?" Evelyn asked.

:You'll see.: his visor displayed the message. Then he tightened his grip on Evelyn a bit. :Manners. Respect.: his visor said this time.

"Considering the way he's been treating us, can you blame me for being a tad bit rude?" Evelyn said.

"Spider, six o'clock." Miko said as she spotted Airachnid walking towards them.

"Oh, so Lord Megatron has already asked for the human pets, cute." She purred as she walked over to them. Soundwave took his tentacles back a bit.

Then he walked pass her.

"You should at least greet a lady." Airachnid called after her but Soundwave ignored her.

Soundwave also noted that Miko's body suddenly relaxed, he hadn't realized just how tense she was before.

'First I meet a mad scientist, then a sadist spider, then an evil gladiator dictator and now a Slenderman robot. What next? A ghost?' Evelyn thought.

They stopped in front of the doors Miko and Evelyn had not seen yesterday. It seemed more high-tech and advanced. The two girls looked at each other and nodded their heads in reassurance.

The doors slid open and the girls were brought into what they could only guess to be, the communication centre.

There were dozens of station lined with buttons and levers and switches with three to four holo-screens being projected from each one.

And standing there, in front and the middle of it all was Megatron. He was standing in front of the biggest station with the biggest screen and the most complex controls.

A pit formed in their stomachs and they glanced at each other, faces only to see an almost mirror expression of worry and fear on each other.

"You've brought them." Megatron said.

Soundwave dumped Miko and Evelyn back into the specimens jars in response.

"Not these again!" Miko groaned.

"What do you want with us? Spill it!" Evelyn demanded as she slammed her fist against the glass.

"I want nothing from you two." Megatron stated. "Merely your presence."

"For what?" Miko asked though the both of them had an inkling of what it might be and were hoping they were wrong.

"A little chat with your Autobot friends." Megatron said.

"You're going to put out a ransom!" Evelyn and Miko said at the same time.

"Clever girls." Megatron said. "Now as you fleshies say, smile for the camera." He mocked as Soundwave turned on the communications.

Meanwhile back at the Autobot's base.....

Ratchet looked up from where he was fixing a tool that Bulkhead accidentally destroyed yet again, only to see Smokescreen pacing.

Ratchet sighed. Smokescreen has been pacing for hours. If anything, the rookie has been distracted and very anxious. He went on double patrol and even worked extra hours for training. And now, he's pacing.

He's been doing it since Bumblebee and Arcee left to pick up Raf and Jack. He had seen how hurt Smokescreen looked to see them drive off to pick up their human partners while he didn't have to.

Bulkhead was only handling this slightly better. He did his usual routine but like Smokescreen he was anxious and distracted. He tripped over three times and smashed three of Ratchet's tools already, and it was barely the afternoon! Bulkhead was out on patrol at the moment, Ratchet had no doubt it was to try to keep his mind off all this more than anything.

"Kid, at the rate you're going, you're going to leave a hole in the floor." Ratchet said.

"Uh huh." Smokescreen said distractedly as he kept pacing while chewing on the tip of one of his digits nervously.

"Smokescreen pacing and worrying isn't going to bring them back." Ratchet said.

"Well sitting around and doing nothing isn't going to bring Eve and Miko back either." Smokescreen shot back. Then he realized what he did. "Sorry, didn't mean to snap at you like that." He apologized.

"It's alright, kid." Ratchet said. Since Evelyn and Miko's kidnapping, Smokescreen has been even more restless than usual. Back then, he was hyper not restless, not anxious. There was a big difference.

Smokescreen was also more agitated now and he even almost snapped at Optimus once. But he didn't mean it; he was just worried and frustrated like the rest of them.

Ratchet has seen other Autobots back during the war on Cybertron act the same way. Some of them would close in on themselves, some would lock themselves away, some would go on more missions to release all the pent up anger while some would lash out at others.

Smokescreen gripped the sides of his helm in frustration. "What the frag do they want with them?!" he asked in frustration.

That had become the million dollar question. Until now, they still didn't know what had happened to the girls or what the Decepticons wanted with them.

"I wish I knew Smokescreen....I wish I knew." Ratchet replied solemnly. He's always found Miko to be the most annoying out of all their human allies but now, he'd give anything to have her back here and be able to hear her annoying endless chattering.

He even missed Evelyn who would simply read a book or play her flute or guitar or chat away with either one of them. She was admittedly, more tolerable and Primus he'll admit that he enjoys her company. She always manages to bring a bit of light wherever she goes.

They turned around and saw Arcee and Bumblebee return with Jack and Raf. Jack and Raf got out of their guardians and looked at the two Autobots.

"Is it true? Have Miko and Evelyn really been....." Jack asked and let it hang in the air.

"Yes Jack, I'm afraid it's true." Ratchet said grimly.

"But what would the cons want with them?" Raf asked.

"Do you think we'd be this panicky if we knew the answer to that?" Smokescreen said.

"Unfortunately we do not know of Miko and Eve's current status." Optimus said as he entered the room. "The Decepticons haven't contacted us to make any demands either."

"Y-you don't think the cons...." Raf said as his eyes widened and he imagined the worse.

Bumblebee beeped in denial and began to comfort the worried small boy.

"Highly unlikely, they would not have gone through all the trouble to take them alive otherwise." Optimus said.

There was a 'beep' from the console and Ratchet went over to check it out. He looked at it and his optics widened. "By the AllSpark." He said and began to type away. "Optimus, look! It's a call from.....from the Decepticons!" Ratchet said in shock.

All the bots turned their full attention towards the computers while Jack and Raf leaned over the railing from above the rec-centre to get a good look as well.

Ratchet accepted the call and Megatron's face appeared.

"Megatron." Optimus said.

"Optimus, long time no see." Megatron said with fake friendliness.

"Quit the scrap, where's Eve and Miko?!" Smokescreen demanded.

Megatron tutted. "Such impatience." He said.

"Oh I'll show you just how patient I-" a servo was firmly placed on Smokescreen's shoulder. He turned around and saw it was Bumblebee who gave him a small shake of his helm.

:Don't, he wants to rile you up on purpose. Don't give him the satisfaction.: Bumblebee beeped/said.

"What do you want, Megatron?" Optimus asked.

"Straight to the point, as usual Optimus. As you are already aware, we have your two human pets with us." Megatron said and stepped aside to reveal Miko and Evelyn trapped inside the specimens jars.

"Eve!/Miko!" Smokescreen and Bulkhead cried out. Relief filled their circuits, the two girls looked unharmed. For now at least.

Team Prime, Jack and Raf looked at their captured human allies. They were relieved to see no obvious injuries. Miko and Evelyn were a bit ruffled up from the scuffles they no doubt went through but otherwise unharmed.

"Um......I'd say good day but I have no idea where we are or what time it is." Evelyn said with a strained smile.

Once again, Ratchet admired how she could still joke around and remain positive in these kind of situations.

"Yo, how's the tailpipe kicking going?" Miko asked.

"Silence!" Megatron hissed at them. When Megatron turned back to the screen, Miko and Evelyn stuck their tongues out at him and gave him the middle finger much to Arcee's amusement.

"I have no interest in your human pets. So, I am willing to make a trade." Megatron said.

'He's making a ransom.' Optimus realized. "What kind of trade?"

"Your Omega Keys and relics in exchange for them." Megatron said.

"How can we have your word that you will keep your end of the deal?" Optimus asked. He knew from experience that Megatron's words were never to be taken lightly. The Decepticon leader will no doubt try to find a loophole of sorts and twist the deal.

"Let me put it this way." Megatron said evenly and walked towards the jars. Team Prime watched him warily as he stopped behind Evelyn's jar.

Bumblebee saw Smokescreen's fist clench so hard, the brace on his right servo was creaking a bit from the strain.

"If you don't bring me the Omega keys and relics...." he scooped Evelyn out and held her in his fist not too gently. Evelyn hissed and gritted her teeth as she felt her bones protest against the pressure. No, she wouldn't scream, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"You can say goodbye to your friend." Megatron finished.

"Eve!" Smokescreen cried in alarm.

"Let her go you slagger!" Miko demanded as she slammed her fists against the glass. Small tears gathered at the corner of her eyes, she hated that she was so helpless and useless.

"Don't give them the keys! You can never trust a con!" Miko shouted. "It's a trap!"

"Don't do it! We'll be fine, don't give them the keys!" Evelyn shouted out and hissed as the pressure increased.

"Silence, humans!" Megatron ordered.

"Enough!" Optimus said. His voice barely rose, still remaining calm and even but enough to get Megatron to stop.

Megatron dumped Evelyn back into the jar. Evelyn released a breath of relief at the absence of the devastating pressure on her bones. She patted herself down and thank god, she was still in one piece. Any harder and she'd probably have a cracked rib....make that ribs.

"Very well, we will give up the Omega Keys and relics. Where will this trade take place?" Optimus asked.

Ratchet looked over at him in shock as did the others. Was he serious?

"You have 24 hours. Here are the designated coordinates. Only three of you may come. See you then." Megatron said before the call ended.

Seconds later, coordinates were received.

As soon as the call ended, Smokescreen couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Primus damn it!" he yelled and slammed his fist against the wall, leaving a deep dent. His breath came out in rough gasps and his entire body trembled in rage.

Then Arcee surged forward and pushed him against the wall. "Smokescreen, get a hold of yourself!" she said. "You think I don't know what it's like to see a partner harmed? To see them getting hurt and be helpless to do anything?"

Smokescreen looked at her and saw the pure agony and grief in her optics.

"It hurts, I know. Hurts more than any punch the cons could throw at you. But trust me, raging out, losing your cool and seeking revenge isn't going to change anything." Arcee said firmly.

"Right now, we need to keep our emotions in check. Letting our anger get the best of us won't solve anything." Optimus added.

"Trust me kid, you're not the only one.....who wants to pound Buckethead's bucket to kingdom come." Bulkhead said as he too trembled in barely restrained rage.

Smokescreen listened and he seemed to calm down a bit. He didn't shake that bad and his breathing went back to normal. Arcee took her servos away from his shoulders.

He just stood there, shoulders and wings drooped and his helm low in shame, frustration and grief.

"I'm going out for a drive. I need some air." He said stiffly without any of his usual cheerfulness. "You know how to find me." He walked off without sparing a glance back to see if they even bothered to listen.

They watched him go in worry, Optimus was worried that he may sneak off to go look for Megatron on his own. A glance at Ratchet and Arcee told him that they were worried about the same thing.

"I'll be in the training room." Bulkhead said before trudging off too.

Optimus looked at Bumblebee who was looking at his two best friends/ brother figures walk off sadly, big baby blue optics filled with worry.

:I'll go make sure Smokes doesn't do anything rash.: he said before going off to look for Smokescreen.

**************************************************

'Am I really fit to be a guardian?' Smokescreen asked himself for the umpteenth time. He was currently driving on the roads. He just kept going and going without a clear destination in mind. Smokescreen was about to blast some music in an attempt to shut it out but...as he scrolled through the list of songs, he was just reminded of Evelyn again, the same girl who sent him said songs.

After a while, he went off road. He was so deep in thought, he almost drove off a cliff. Smokescreen transformed back and realized he was back in the same spot where he'd come to chat with Evelyn. 

He smiled slightly as he remembered how they had gotten to know each other all those days ago, how he'd open up about his past and vice versa, how she'd showed him her angelic flute playing, how they'd try to teach each other about their differing customs.

He had only known her for a while, but she already held a special place in his spark.

Smokescreen walked over and sat down at the edge, the same spot where he'd sat when he first came here with Evelyn.

'Except this time, I'm here alone.' He thought sadly. Why had he brought himself here? Was his mind really that set on mocking him?

Smokescreen brought his knees up and hugged them to his chest and stared out at horizon where he could tell the sun would no doubt set soon. Tears sprang to his optics as the memory of him admiring the view with Evelyn came back to haunt him. At the same time, he held onto that memory in a death grip.

He opened up the compartment on his chest and took out the two keychains Evelyn gave him. It looked so small in his servo. Yet, it was now the most precious things he's ever had.

It was also the only things that kept him grounded.

'Some guardian I turned out to be.' He thought bitterly. 'Am I cursed or something? Am I really fit to be a guardian?'

He knew the first one sounded ridiculous but he thought back to how Evelyn had nearly gotten killed by cons. First it was the rescue mission she pulled with the other humans at the mine, then it was the energon scouting mission turned relic hunt, then he had been helpless to defend her against that perv of a teacher, then it was the kidnapping and now this.

'Maybe I am just a rookie....a screw-up.' Smokescreen thought bitterly as tears began to drip down again. Smokescreen furiously wiped them away. Wasn't it bad enough that he'd already lost his cool back at base?

He heard a small car horn and sure enough, a familiar yellow and black Urbana 500 pulled up behind him. The all too familiar sound of transforming came to his audio receptors.

Smokescreen wiped his tears away and turned around to see Bumblebee standing there uncertainly, his optics filled with worry.

:Do you...want to be left alone?: Bumblebee asked.

Smokescreen shook his helm. "No." He croaked out. "If anything, I think I could use the company."

Bumblebee walked forwards and sat beside him....on the same spot Evelyn once sat. Smokescreen wanted to tell Bumblebee to sit somewhere else but couldn't find it in himself to have to leave that spot empty again.

:Did I ever tell you about the time I nearly lost Raf to Megatron and Unicron? In one day?: Bumblebee asked.

"You did?" Smokescreen asked in surprise.

Bumblebee nodded solemnly and he told Smokescreen about how he'd been taking Raf to play with Raf's remote controlled car before he was suddenly called on a mission. Before Bumblebee could drop Raf off, Megatron flew pass them and got hit by a blast from Megatron's cannon.

Bumblebee had gotten out unscathed but Raf...Raf got gravely injured. It was so bad, Bumblebee almost lost him.

Smokescreen could only imagine how terrified and guilty Bumblebee must've felt back then.

Bumblebee almost even went off on his own to hunt down Megatron and had to be restrained from tearing him apart right then and there.

Smokescreen could relate to that.

After that, he had to watch helplessly as Ratchet and Miss Darby desperately try to save Raf. Luckily, Ratchet found a way to save Raf-an energon transfusion. Bumblebee had of course, volunteered and thankfully, Raf was saved.

But fate never makes things easy. After Raf recovered, Miss Darby tried to take him away from the bots, permanently.

Smokescreen was shocked. He knew Miss Darby was overprotective but he never thought she'd go that far.

The eruption of the Dark Energon caused a series of global disasters to occur, so Bumblebee went off to find Miss Darby and Raf before they got killed by something other than cons.

He found them in the nick of time and just barely managed to save them from a tornado.

:And that's about it.: Bumblebee finished. It was the first time Bumblebee had ever.....'spoken' for so long.

Smokescreen just looked at his friend in silence for a while. He could only imagine what Bumblebee could've felt like back then. If anything, it was exactly the same way he was feeling right now.

:You aren't alone in this, Smokes. None of this is your fault. You don't have to take all the blame and you don't have to deal with this yourself. We'll help you. Me, Bulk, Cee, Optimus, Ratchet, everyone.: Bumblebee reassured him as he placed a servo on his shoulder.

Smokescreen took a deep breath and looked at Bumblebee with renewed determination and resolve. "You're right, Bee. We will. Now let's get back to base and think of a plan to kick Buckethead's bucket."