There was a smile on Palladium's lips, not a smile Ratchet could read, which was a little unsettling; he didn't know why, but the smile seemed... sinister. That wasn't something he liked. But, Ratchet said nothing as Palladium carried him down the halls of the warship, to an unknown destination on Ratchet's part. He couldn't help but feel confused, he woke up in a room, sitting in a chair, with Megatron, Palladium and another mech he didn't know. As if anything's more unsettling than that.

"Your quiet," Palladium observed, his gaze dropping to met Ratchet's.

The medic shrugged. "I'm just... confused." He stared up at him.

"I'll explain." The 'Con replied simply, as they turned a corner and into a berthroom. "But... how are you?"

"Fine," Ratchet answered quietly, his gaze lowering, and an empty look in his optics. "I'm fine."

Palladium set him down on the berth gently, the smile on his lips growing. "Well, that's good..."

"Explain," Ratchet requested. "Please?" He looked up at the 'Con with hopeful optics; Palladium sighed.

"You were captured by Autobots for a while, and kept in stasis." He began. "We managed to rescue you and bring you home. We also managed to capture the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. Megatron wants to punish him for taking you from us." Palladium trailed his digits down Ratchet's cheek. "And now I have you back."

Ratchet blushed a bit. "But why don't I remember anything?"

"That phsycotic Prime probably messed with your head..." Palladium growled. "But I guess..." His tone lightened. "Now that I have my precious mate back, I can stop my lust for revenge..." He wrapped his servos around Ratchet's hips and waist, pulling their frames together.

"I guess so..." Ratchet gave a slight smile.

Palladium smirked at him before kissing him fiercely, servos taking firm hold of his frame. The medic wrapped his servos around Palladium's neck, slowly melting into it. But... something wasn't right. The 'Con's lips seemed stranger to Ratchet's, seemed unfamiliar.

I'm bonded to this mech, Ratchet thought. Why is he such a stranger to me now?

Palladium's servos began to travel down lower, and the kiss intensified. The 'Con's lips left Ratchet's and began to fiercely bite at his neck and jawline.

"Nn... Palladium..." Ratchet whined as the bites began to leave marks. "Th-That hurts..." He gasped as Palladium drew energon, as his sharp denta grazed the medic's neck cabling. "Palladium please be gentle!"

"I don't do 'gentle'," Palladium growled into his 'mate's' neck. "Your mine, Sweetspark. At last, your mine..." His servos began to unclasp Ratchet's chestplate armor.

"Palladium, stop." Ratchet pushed his servos off and shifted away.

The 'Con sent him an unamused look.

Ratchet sighed. "Palladium, all of this is real confusing... as you said, I just woke from stasis and from being a captive. I've lost many of my memories, and... I need time to completely comprehend everything before..." He looked away. "I don't think I'm ready right now, Palladium."

"Hn." Palladium sighed heavily. "Fine." Ratchet winced slightly at the 'Con's harsh tone.

"Palladium-" The medic began, but stopped when Palladium stood and headed to the door.

"I have to go," He muttered.

Ratchet watched him leave, his gaze dropping to the floor. He was somewhat relieved. Whatever the Prime did to him, it made Palladium a total stranger to him.

I want to know what he did to me, Ratchet decided. I want to know why the mech I bonded with is so... dangerous feeling.

He stood up and left the room, glancing up and down the halls. No sign of Palladium... Ratchet bit his bottom lip. He traveled down the halls, until he met a vehicon guard.

"Hello?" He asked. The soldier looked at him. "Can you... show me where the brig is?"

The vehicon gave a small nod, turned, and began to lead the way down the dark corridor, without a word. Ratchet silently followed, scanning the hallway while doing so, taking in it's appearance. Dark, gloomy, intimidating, frightening. Just like the rest of the ship. After a few twists and turns, the vehicon stopped at a guarded door, and gestured to the two guards to open it.

As they did, the vehicon looked at Ratchet, and pointed down a new, darker, scarier hall, on either side were barred doors lined up, indicating different cells. "Down there," the vehicon said grimly. "Try not to step too close to the cell doors. Some prisoners aren't too friendly."

"A-Alright." Ratchet nodded nervously, slowly stepping into the brig. The doors slammed shut behind him. What an afthat.

He slowly traveled down the corridor, sending nervous glances into the cells on either side of him. First couple were empty, but as he past the third, his gaze met that of a mech's.

The mech had a dark, fluid paintjob, with decorative gems to compliment it, a long, tattered cape that nipped at his heels as he walked, and one miscolored optic. He wore a huge smile, showing sharp denta; it wasn't a comforting smile. It was menacing, dangerous, creepy... it was a 'I'll happily sell your intestines to Unicorn for a soul', type of smile, one that only a phsycopath would use.

Ratchet stopped in his tracks and stared into the mech's optics for a moment, breath catching as he took in the rather intimidating features of the strange mech. The mech winked his good optic.

Creepy. Ratchet tore his gaze away and continued on hurriedly, putting some distance between him and the terrifying mech. As he passed a few more cells, containing prisoners on the unfriendly side, he stopped at one that held the tall red and blue mech Ratchet was searching for.

"U-Um.. Hello?" He asked quietly; the Prime was sitting on a berth in the corner, staring at the wall. His gaze immediately shifted to Ratchet.

"Ratchet," he breathed softly, sounding relieved, slowly standing up. "Are you well?"

Ratchet tilted his helm a little. What regard to him would the Prime have? "Why?"

"I've been worried." Optimus replied, as he approached the cell door, and stood before the medic, the only thing separating them a set of bars. "I didn't want you to be harmed."

"But your an Autobot," Ratchet pointed out obliviously. "Why would you care about a Decepticon? One you held captive, none the less."

Optimus gave a weak smile. "Ratchet, your not a Decepticon." He pointed to Ratchet's inner shoulder plating, where the Autobot insignia was printed neatly. "You've been an Autobot as long as the war has existed."

"That's impossible," the medic shook his helm disbelievingly. "I've even on Palladium's side the entire time, because we're bonded."

A growl escaped Optimus's lips. "No, you are not bonded to that mech, and you never will be. I'd never allow such a thing to fall upon my mate." He leaned forward a bit. "You are not what Palladium's led you to believe. Your an Autobot, a member of Team Prime, and your my mate... you carried my sparkling... do you remember?"

"Sparkling!?" Ratchet sent him a baffled look. "I've never carried a sparkling in my life! And if I did, it would be Palladium's, not the enemy's!"

Optimus sighed. "Ratchet, I need to get you out of here, by any means necessary. I hope you can forgive me." Ratchet raised an optic ridge.

"What do you inten-" The medic stopped as the Prime's servo transformed into a blaster, which was clicked into activation and was aimed in between his optics. Ratchet froze, staring at the blaster nervously.

"Open the cell door," Optimus commanded softly, his tone gentle. He'd never hurt Ratchet, but in order to escape, the medic would have to believe differently.

Ratchet stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do. "D-Don't..."

"Open the door." Optimus repeated, a little firmer. Ratchet stiffly obeyed.

The Prime stepped out of the cell, and closer to Ratchet, who stared up at him fearfully. His gaze softened.

"Ratchet, I promise I won't hurt you," he said gently. "I just need to get you to safety."

Ratchet whimpered, his gaze drifting to the blaster, which was no longer aimed on him.

"Hey! Prime, you stupid son of a glitch! What do you think you're doing!?" The voice of Palladium suddenly boomed through the corridor.

Optimus pulled Ratchet close and aimed his blaster to him.

"Stay back," he threatened, making Ratchet squeak in fear.

Palladium hissed in anger, but stopped, staring at the two bots with pure fury.

"I'll rip out your spark," he snarled. "Let him go."

Optimus narrowed his optics. "Get into the cell and he won't be harmed." He ordered, clicking his cannon into gear as if to prove his point. "Now."

The 'Con glared at him. "Ooh, you didn't. When I'm done with you-"

"GET INTO THE CELL!" The Prime suddenly barked, his own gaze rewritten with fury. "DO IT OR HE'LL BE HARMED, DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"

Ratchet gave a quiet whimper at his captor's outburst.

"Mark my words," Palladium hissed as he slowly stepped into the cell. Optimus closed it and locked it.

The moment Palladium was secured, he released Ratchet, who desperately scrambled away from him.

"Y-You..." He whimpered, backing away. Optimus sent him a sympathetic look.

"Ratchet I'd never hurt you, and I regret having to do this." Optimus stepped up to him. "But I'm getting you out of here."

Okiedokie so there's a reference to something in this chapter... see if you can find it. Whoever gets it can have a callout.

Hint: It's from another collab fanfic written by Blaze

Blaze, you can't say the answer!