Last One Standing

Ch. 5: Sneaking AROUND The Corner, Not PAST The Corner

Time: 0545 Hours

Location: Main Base

Days missing: 8

The monitor of the main computer started to flash, Ratchet, being the only one up, opened the main file, an imbedded message for him.

'Imbedded data enclosed, 2355 hours, 07 April 2014. Sender data retrieved: Dreadlock Requested destination reached, awaiting response from Cybertronian(s) requested: Ratchet; Prime, Starlight Ryanna. Message enclosed:

I have enclosed important contents from your missing leader, specifically for Ryanna. His request immediate delivery. Please meet at coordinates enclosed. Bring Ryanna with you, so I know it's not a trap. - Dreadlock.'

"Now, what in the name of the AllSpark...?" Ratchet muttered under his breath.

"Ratchet?" Ryanna asked, walking out from her area, wrapped in a blanket and rubbing her eye under the glasses. "What are you doing up? It's almost 6 am."

"We have somewhere to go. I want you to put some shoes on while I go get Bee."

"What?"

"I'll explain later, get to it."

Ryanna nodded and speed-walked to get her boots.

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The green and blue portal opened in front of Dreadlock, and Bumblebee and Ratchet walked out, with Rya in his hand. "Okay, we're here." Ratchet said. "You got Rya up, wish me luck getting her to go back to sleep."

Dreadlock nodded, and took out a small vial with glowing blue Energon in it. "Optimus requested that I brought Ryanna her injection." Ratchet stared at him for a second. "How do we know it's not a vial of infectious Energon?" He asked. "I don't know, but I'm not lying." Ratchet took the vial in his other hand and looked at it. From the naked optic, there was no sign of any poison or the Cybonic Plague. "You come back to base with us." He said after a minute. "Why?" "You came, I really don't trust you." He held up the vial. "This is the only thing standing in your way right now." Dreadlock nodded, and followed him through, Bee watching him closely from behind. When he entered, Ratchet was already standing in front of the computer, testing the Energon. "I want you to realize that since you're inside our base, no one can trace you back to your location." "I understand, sir." His modesty made Ryanna a little bit confused.

The computer beeped and opened a profile. "By the AllSpark..." Ratchet exclaimed. "What? Who is it?" Ryanna asked. "It is Optimus' Energon." He turned and looked at Dreadlock. "Does Megatron know you're here, Dreadlock?" "No, sir." "Ratchet, no Con would do that." Ryanna said, brushing her bangs back from in front of the rectangle frames on her face. "You're right." Ratchet looked at him, "Dreadlock, is this your way of asking to change sides?" "It was a favor from your leader, Ratchet." "No Decepticon would do that for a Prime. You are changing, Dreadlock, you just don't see it." Dreadlock stared blankly at him. "Dreadlock, you're becoming an Autobot." Ryanna said. "It's obvious. A true Decepticon wouldn't do that for the sake of a Prime, or me." "All you have to do is say the words, and you're in."

Wheels in Dreadlock's head started to turn at those sentences, debating over whether he should say the words, or try to kill everyone in the room. It's a really hard decision any bot has to make nowadays. But speaking with Optimus for the past few days has been setting something on his helm. There was only one obvious answer.

"I want to be an Autobot."