“We are nearing the signal.” Ultra Magnus informed Mirage, who was staring at the large variety of weapons. Prying his optics from the weapons, he made his way next to the piloting Ultra Magnus. Looking through the visor, he saw the familiar motorcycle and human.

“Arcee and Jack.” He nodded, flying over their heads and landing in front of them. Arcee transformed and raised her guns. Ultra Magnus went to personally greet them, while Mirage watched through the visor. Arcee’s words ran through Mirage’s processor. “We shouldn’t have trusted him so blindly.” Mirage looked down, ashamed. If any of them don’t trust Mirage, it’s Arcee. Mirage saw Arcee stand straight, arms at her side. Jack looked as if he snarled something, Arcee quickly correcting him. Mirage tore his optics from the sight, looking down at the scanner. His eyes went wide. Two Autobot signals, three life forms, were flickering, meaning they’re under attack. Mirage quickly ran towards the opening, watching the shocked expression of Arcee and Jack as they saw him. Ultra Magnus turned towards him.

“Two Autobots are under attack.” He quickly informed. Ultra Magnus rushed inside, Arcee  and Jack following. Ultra Magnus rushed towards the console unit and quickly pulled away. Mirage grabbed onto the passenger’s seat as the ship accelerated, irritating Mirage to murderous intent. He wanted to murder the ship.

“You take the weapons.” Ultra Magnus told Mirage. He nodded and sat in the passenger seat, hands steady on the weapon blasters. As they neared the scene, Mirage spotted blue ashes, from it rising a winged beast. Mirage started shooting at it, before Ultra Magnus flew over towards the two Autobots. He lowered the hatch, so that they could grab hold. They were quickly lifted inside once they were secure, the predacon blasting fire at the ship. Ultra Magnus quickly accelerated and flew from the scene. Mirage turned his helm to see the two Autobots. Bulkhead and an unfamiliar face. Bulkhead had Miko is his clutches.

“Hey.” Jack greeted.

“Jack!” Miko gasped.

“Arcee!” Bulkhead sighed in relief before attacking her in a hug, Miko doing the same with Jack.

“Thanks for the save.” The unfamiliar said.

“Actually, thank  the commander.” Arcee said, turning towards Ultra Magnus.

“Soldiers.” He greeted, still steering the ship. Mirage had not yet moved from the seat.

“You…” The unfamiliar said, almost threatening.

“Ultra Magnus. It’s an honour.” Bulkhead gasped.  

“It’s an honour, sir.” He corrected. Mirage threw a look, which he noticed, before standing up.  

“Mirage!” Miko screeched, running over to him and tackling his foot. He raised an optical ridge before bending down and picking her up in his servo.

“Good day, Miko.” He greeted.

“Where were you?! We were all so worried!” She yelled. He reverted his optics from her to the ground. He bend down and placed her down before straightening again. 

“I made a mistake. I was selfish, and uncertain. But, I now know of my mistake.” He said, raising his helm.

“I now know where I belong.” He said, looking over his shoulder at Ultra Magnus.

“If you are referring to me, know that I don’t tolerate ship murders.”  Mirage rolled his optics, holding in a chuckle.

“Autobot, I mean.” Mirage said, looking forward again. Arcee and Bulkhead stared at him with wide optics. Mirage moved his sight towards the unfamiliar. He stepped toward him.

“My designation is Mirage. May I ask for yours?” The unfamiliar scoffed.

“Wheeljack.” Mirage nodded in acknowledgement.

“Now, care to tell us what’s nipping at out tailpipes?” Arcee asked Wheeljack, walking over to a monitor which showed a model of the beast.

“We think it’s a robot dragon.” Miko declared.

“Or a Cybertronian reptile.” Jack said.

“Wait, is that thing still on our afts?” Mirage questioned. Suddenly, the ship turned.

“Brace yourselves.” Ultra Magnus warned, Bulkhead grabbing Miko and Jack as the ship shook. Mirage fell to the deck, grabbing hold of the monitor.

“I’m going to murder this ship, I’m going to murder this ship…” He kept on mumbling. The ship kept flying and tumbling about as they tried to miss the beast’s attacks. Ultra Magnus used the weapons and fired at the beast which was now in front of them. Suddenly, though the clouds it appeared I front of them. It fired, hitting one of the rockets. The beast flew forward and landed on the ceiling of the ship. It screeched through the visor. Ultra Magnus tilted the ship forward and flew into a canyon. There, he managed to throw the beast off and burry it in rocks. Finally, they flew away, unharmed. Except for the poor ship, who had to take Mirage’s insults. Mirage raised to his peds and went to sit in the passenger seat.

“There’s only two signals left.” He mumbled. Ultra Magnus nodded.

“We’re heading towards them now. Not long after, they reached their destination. Setting the ship down, Mirage saw Bumblebee, Ratchet and Raf. What happened to Optimus and Smokescreen? They all went down the hatchet.

“Raf!” Miko gasped, running towards him and tackling him in a hug.

“You’re alive.” Ratchet said in relief. Bulkhead, Arcee and Wheeljack moved out of the way to reveal Ultra Magnus and Mirage.

“Ultra Magnus…” Ratchet said in disbelief.

“Doctor.” Ultra Magnus greeted. The Autobots circled around Bumblebee, talking about his new paintjob. Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus and Ratchet were talking about the comlink and GroundBridge. Mirage stood off to the side.

“The GroundBridge is fully operational.” Ratchet informed.

“That would have come in handy when robo-dragon was trying to eat us for breakfast.” Miko said, Raf and Jack trying to get her to shut up. Mirage neared the scene.

“The insidious population of this planet, do they all display the same disregard for authority?” Ultra Magnus questioned.

“Not all. Just Miko.” Mirage said, kicking her slightly with his ped.

“Hey!” Suddenly, a black jet appeared. Ultra Magnus tried to shoot, but he Autobots held him back. Mirage watched with confusion. The jet parked and two humans climbed out. The femme attacked Jack in a hug, while the mech talked with the Autobots about their numbers.

“The only signals Ultra Magnus was able to isolate are standing right here.” Arcee told him.

“Maybe his scanner’s faulty.” Wheeljack said.

“So the kid’s unaccounted for.” Bulkhead said sadly.

“Smokescreen bridged out unaccompanied. Only Optimus knows where. And Optimus, remained behind. To destroy the GroundBridge…to insure that everyone else… made it to safety.” Ratchet said.

“I watched the base go down. No one, or thing, walked out that base alive.” The human mech said. Mirage closed his optics, remembering  Optimus’s words. “Mirage, I believe you have hidden potential under your hood. May it be for Autobot or Decepticon cause, you can only decide that; just as you can decide if you wish to leave, or come with us to save Cybertron. But know, nuisance you are not.” Mirage punched the ship, startled looks thrown at him. Everyone expected Ultra Magnus to yell at Mirage for causing a dent, but he merely stared at his old partner in hidden pity. But Optimus, how can you say I’m not a nuisance! If I’d gone with you, if I’d not been selfish to try and go alone, maybe none of this would’ve happened! Maybe we could have prevented it! But then again… He thought, looking back at Ultra Magnus. I would have never met him. I would have never got my starting point. I would have never known about my mechanical skills. I can duplicate the IIT to our advantage. His optics grew wide in anger as he punched the ship once again. But what would it be a use of if you’re not here! Who will lead us?! Suddenly, a comforting hand was placed on his shoulder. Mirage turned to see Ultra Magnus.

“You’re overthinking again.” He informed. Mirage blinked in surprise before turning his head from him.  Easy for you to say. You just arrived and already have everyone’s respect. Ultra Magnus stepped away from him, addressing everyone.

“We must do everything in our power to ensure Megatron’s downfall. But we need to be smart about it.”

“Wow, who put shoulder pads in command?” Wheeljack asked.

“Temporarily command.” Jack said.

“Ultra Magnus is the only logical choice. He was trained by Optimus, and served as his commanding officer throughout the war for Cybertron.” Ratchet explained.

“Now, unless there is any further objection. Soldier, please follow me.” He said, entering his ship.

“Aye aye, captain.” Wheeljack groaned. Mirage didn’t enter the ship, instead he rested himself against one of the ship’s peds. Ratchet gave him a look which asked ‘aren’t you going to follow?’ He shook his head.

“I’m not really a soldier, so it would be meaningless to retrieve one of Ultra Magnus’s weapons.” He explained.

“What do you mean by ‘you’re not really a soldier’?” Ratchet questioned.

“Ultra Magnus… He knew me. He knew me before the war. We were partners.” Mirage said.

“That explains the familiarity… But if you’re not a soldier, then what are you?”

“A mechanic, believe it or not.” Mirage said, huffing slightly before his face fell. “But something happened during the war. I don’t know what, but it caused me to get these.” Mirage demonstrated by revealing his canyons.

“Self defence?” Ratchet questioned. Mirage’s eyes widened slightly at the new possibility.

“Could be. I was apparently a weapon builder, so maybe I had to be armed for in case of an attack.” Mirage wondered. Ratchet nodded. Not long after, the others exited Ultra Magnus’s ship. They all made their way into the Havenger, an abandoned Decepticon ship which was their temporal base. However, Ultra Magnus stopped once he stood next to Mirage.

“I have a mission for you.”