Before you read I'd like to apologize, this was probably not my best chapter I've written but you guys get to endure it anyway because the author sucks :'>

***

Jack and Raf patiently sat in the waiting room next to Miko's host parents. The two were studying Jack and Raf rather seriously, and June, with Agent Fowler's help, came to the rescue in explaining a valid excuse as to why Miko was in such damage, and with a bit of work, made it look as if Jack suffered injuries to further make the excuse believable. Currently his arm was in a cast and sling, though it wasn't needed, and his ankle was wrapped, which was needed. The cut on his cheek from the beginning of their adventure helped, and with a bit of makeup (which he itched to rub off), made it look as if a large bruise had appeared on his cheek. He had been told they had both been in a car crash, and said he was too "traumatized" to talk about it, which Jack thought wasn't exactly wrong. The room was silent, save for an elderly man holding his grandson in his lap and quietly whispering things to him.

Eventually a doctor walked in, making everyone's heads look up as they anxiously waited for any news about their loved ones. When the doctor looked toward Miko's host parents, most of the heads ducked back down. A few words were exchanged, ones which Jack and Raf couldn't hear, and soon they left. Raf moved to follow, but Jack stopped him.

"It's family only right now," he muttered. Raf hesitated before nodding, and sat down again. They'd be able to see her later.

*
Meanwhile, both the normal Autobots and shattered glass Decepticons were wondering how much of a "later" they had. They were quietly thinking up ways of how their evil doppelgängers could use their shared power to conquer both worlds.

"Soundwave will meet up with Ratchet, they'll make up some weapon of mass distraction, and-well, the rest is probably self-explanatory." Breakdown shrugged.

"This isn't getting us anywhere," Arcee muttered in annoyance.

"Arcee-"

"We've been sitting here for an hour and we're no better off than when we started!"

"Fair point," Knockout muttered from the other side. "It's hard to know what will happen until it does."

"I don't like sitting around and waiting for them to make the first move though," Starscream replied, to which Bee nodded in agreement. He had driven back at Raf's request, saying hospital visits usually took a while and he'd call when he needed him.

"It makes me feel like a resting fowl," Bulkhead muttered.

"I thought it was 'perched waterfowl'," Breakdown replied.

"What's the difference?" Bulkhead replied.

"Is this seriously the time to be debating this?" Airachnid replied.

"Sitting duck," Megatron couldn't keep himself from correcting them, a servo pinching an imaginary nose.

"Not you too," Ratchet replied, bringing a servo to his faceplate in exasperation. Optimus and Soundwave merely watched in amusement.

"But seriously," Starscream replied. "Let's just try and think of something when we actually have some idea of what their plan is."

Ratchet nodded once, and Soundwave cut the feed before he could again.

"Well that was literally pointless." Arcee exclaimed bitterly. "I'm going on a drive."

With a swift transformation and a rev of her engine, she was gone, leaving the others to silently agree. They were trying to grasp for anything and pulling up nothing.

**

Megatron had found himself increasingly disliking Optimus as time grew on and their meetings increased over-screen. Optimus seemed to enjoy humiliating him and didn't seem bothered by any "dirt" Megatron had on him in return. He tried to not let it get to him, he had to be "professional"about this after all, especially in front of his fellow Decepticons.

Even though it was suggested by Optimus to Arcee that he'd be visiting the Nemesis, it was actually Megatron who visited the Ark first, per Optimus' request. Megatron had brought Starscream with him, allowing him to be the guinea pig when traveling through the GroundBridge when Soundwave had opened it for them, the purple hue it gave off instead of its normal green unsettling the seeker. He walked through without an incident though, shivers running down his spine as he caught sight of Optimus Prime, with Ratchet nearby on a console and Arcee scowling in a corner. She already used ten troopers for target practice, and now she was bored and had nothing else to do. Optimus had been keeping a much more watchful optic on her recently too, so she couldn't exactly plan much on his demise or take long extensive trips outside of the Ark. She was counting the arrival of Megatron to distract him, and when she saw Starscream, she could practically smell his traitorous scent. Maybe if they worked together, they could both take down their leaders and-

Don't get ahead of yourself, Arcee, the femme reminded herself. Be smart. You only have one chance. Don't rely on anyone else for your success.

Megatron walked in, holding himself confidently and with an air of authority, though Optimus' superseded his own in this dimension.

"Optimus Prime," Megatron nodded once.

"Megatron," Optimus replied, giving him a curt nod in return. He glanced over at the seeker, who tried to look as confident as Megatron had, though Optimus could see through him.

"You brought him?" he asked skeptically. Starscream looked ready to protest but actually decided to think and kept his mouth shut.

"Someone had to test the GroundBridge," Megatron replied casually. Optimus gave him an amused look.

"Well, I suppose he could become acquainted with Arcee."

"We've met," Arcee and Starscream replied at the same time, glaring at each other. Optimus seemed to enjoy this.

"So you have. Megatron, with me."

Megatron followed obediently, leaving Arcee with Starscream and Ratchet. The three remained in a long awkward silence for a few minutes before Arcee cleared her throat.

"Shall we, then?" she asked, gesturing to the opposite hall. Starscream raised an optic ridge. What was she doing?

"What?"

"Well I'd rather not be sitting here pointlessly, and if I left you here alone Ratchet would probably want to use you as some experiment or something," she replied nonchalantly. Starscream glanced over at Ratchet, who was glaring at Arcee, who was smirking as she looked back at Starscream.

"Since I'd rather not do that," Starscream replied, sending a wary glance to Ratchet before walking over to Arcee. "I'll join you."

"Wise choice," she mumbled before leaving the room, an even more uneasy Starscream in tow.

"I want to talk with you anyway."

***
*inhuman nervous laughter as author finishes another scrappy horribly-written sad excuse of a chapter update*

So hi, guys...

No don't worry the book isn't over and I'm not just typing random words on here hoping they'll make sense to draw out the book as long as possible

(Actually the latter feels about right...THOUGH THERE IS A METHOD TO MY MADNESS)

But no these chapters aren't pointless, is what I should probably say.

You know those diagrams you get in English class where you have the opening, the conflict, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution?

Pfft well my diagram is more like conflict-rising action-tense-moment-falling action-boring-chapters-rising action-again-to-bring-to-climax.

Yup.

Hey I tried to throw in some good ol' humor n' comic relief but eh.

I still have a lot of homework to do...haha...

Thanks for reading, though. I was looking back on this book and realized HOW MUCH I SUCK AT UPDATING THIS THING when I look back on chapter three(?) and see I mentioned something about Black Friday from LAST YEAR. :'>

And a New Years resolution I had was to finish this book

It seemed reasonable but NOOO my updates had to take MONTHS AT A TIME-

Okay wow I am really tired and for some reason I feel really salty.

I'm sorry

Goodbye :'>