Optimus didn't think he had ever cried this much. Even when Megatronus betrayed him, even when he lost Alpha Trion. War had done a number on him, but it had never been this personal. His spark was being ripped from his chest.

The first deadline was approaching quickly. Every day, Optimus prayed that a signal would pop up, that one of the sites they searched would be the one. His prayers were never answered. Every single attempt was met with failure.

Five days before the first deadline, Optimus caved. He had paced in his quarters for hours prior, deciding if he was really going through with this. He just had to buy more time to find Ratchet.

Bitter with defeat, Optimus called together a group to return to Earth and begin gathering dark energon. The volcano where he had battled Megatron, just before Unicron's awakening, was teeming with the dark substance, and he was certain there would be enough there. It was decided that they would keep this discrete, the new habitants wouldn't know that tons of dark energon were being transported to Cybertron to be processed.

Ultra Magnus led the expedition, gathering the strongest they could that could handle the exposure. They took shifts harvesting it and sending it home, where Optimus personally assisted with processing and counting.

It took two days of hard work, and every mech involved spent the night in the infirmary, where Knock Out tended to them. The heavy exposure had caused dizziness and nausea, and they couldn't stay on their pedes for long. Optimus visited them and thanked them for their service profusely.

Optimus had to be drugged to sleep every night. Rest was impossible. He would pace and cry for hours on end in the privacy of his quarters on the Nemesis, drowning in his hopelessness.

Every morning, the datapad would light up with videos and images and voice recordings. They hadn't tortured Ratchet since the failed rescue mission, but had made sure to let the threat linger in the air. Optimus received many pictures of Ratchet, bound tight, with a blade to his throat. The seekers liked to pose with him. They would wrap chains around his neck, force him to beg for mercy, threaten to burn him again. Every morning, Optimus would grow sick and purge his tanks. They weren't hurting Ratchet, outside of striking him whenever he fought back, but they were horribly mistreating him. They were scaring him.

Optimus hadn't been able to speak to him. He missed hearing him laugh and seeing him smile. He had taken to flicking through pictures of him every morning before he left his quarters, it motivated him for the day.

Three days before the deadline, Bumblebee called a meeting.

Optimus was the last to join them at the table. The scout had a look of stress. "We have a problem." He looked at the Prime, round optics whirling. "Megatron's signal has popped up again, and hasn't disappeared. He's closer than before." Everyone exchanged looks of surprise. "The dark energon. . . He must have felt it's presence. There's a lot of it here now, it has to have attracted him. He's probably here to investigate."

"Frag!" Wheeljack cursed.

"That's a problem." Arcee sighed. "We can't have him near the city."

"I'm sure he doesn't want to be found. He could easily be warded off, if we send a group to scare him away." Kickback offered, turning to Optimus. "We ought to chase him off, right?"

Optimus' processor was racing. "If he is involved with Rumble. . ." He began slowly.

"I highly doubt it." Knock Out said skeptically.

"But if he is," Bulkhead was anxiously tapping the table.

"We can get all the information we need to save Ratchet from him." Wheeljack smirked a little. "Cortical psychic patch is still on board. All we need to do is catch him."

"Even if he isn't involved, he probably knows something useful." Bumblebee nodded in agreement. "He may have even seen something while he's been out scavenging. A ship passing by, unusual activity. . ." He watched Optimus, waiting for his decision.

The Prime felt a flicker of hope, deep in his chest. "Taking Megatron into custody may be our best hope for finding Ratchet." He looked around at the lot of them. "We will aim to capture him, without doing harm. He won't want to come easily. Sedation may be required."

"If Knocks can provide me with tranquilizers, I have a gun that can fire them." Kickback offered, nodding to Knock Out.

"Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Ultra Magnus will join us. The rest of you will remain to watch over the city." Optimus rose from his seat. His spark was pounding. "Knock Out, prepare a cell for interrogation."

Ultra Magnus drove them to Megatron's location, quiet and grim as Optimus spoke to the team. "He may attempt to flee. We'll have to gain his attention and keep it, long enough for Kickback to get an accurate shot." He turned to the Insecticon, thinking for a moment. "Bumblebee, I'd like you to be the one to fire. Megatron may become angry upon seeing you. If you are the one to shoot, he won't see you until it's too late."

"Does he hate Bee?" Kickback asked, handing the gun over to the scout.

"Bee's the one that terminated him, before Unicron brought him back." Bulkhead answered dryly.

"We're here." Ultra Magnus called.

The ship landed, and Optimus' battle mask slid on. He hadn't seen Megatron for some time, and wondered if Megatron would immediately try to run. The platform hissed to life, lowering, delivering the team onto the surface, Bumblebee tucked behind Kickback and Bulkhead.

They were in a vast mess of wreckage of crumbled buildings, and Optimus thought for a moment that they had missed their target. Ultra Magnus murmured to him, "He's here, he's hiding."

Optimus stepped off the platform, remaining unarmed. He walked calmly, taking a few strides forward before stopping. "Megatron, I would like to speak to you."

A tall, spiked figure emerged from behind a wall of rubble. Red, gleaming optics met Optimus', and they watched one another. The monster of a mech sent a chill down the Prime's backstrut; he hadn't seen him for some time. Even now, the warlord had a thrilling presence about him. "Be swift, Prime." Megatron warned in a low voice. "I am wary of capture, as it seems you brought an entire team just to 'talk.'"

"You've been closing in on our city." Optimus heard the shifting of plating, of Bumblebee getting into position.

"And you've been harvesting dark energon. Has the high and mighty Prime had a change of morals?" The warlord sneered, squaring his large shoulders.

Optimus bristled at the implication. "I have my reasons. As I'm certain you did." He frowned. "Though, I aim for restoration, as opposed to destruction." Bumblebee was sneaking forward.

"And you've begun working with Insecticons, I see." Megatron's gaze found Kickback. "You've always attracted blind followers."

The Insecticon huffed, puffing out his chest. "Funny, we see it differently."

"Tell me, Insecticon, has Optimus come to execute me?" Smirking and flashing pointed denta, Megatron chuckled. "He'll have to be much wiser than this, if he desires to catch me with my guard down."

"I have no desire to terminate you, Megatron." The Prime said evenly. "I only wish to talk."

"And what do you want to talk about, Prime?"

"Let's start with where Ratchet is being hidden." Bulkhead hissed, taking a threatening step forward.

There was a flicker of confusion in Megatron's optics. "What are-"

Bumblebee stepped aside and fired. The dart struck Megatron's thigh, and he jolted in surprise, swatting it off with a snarl. He wound back a step, his fusion cannon activating with a loud whirr. "Strike him down until it kicks in!" Bumblebee shouted, ducking to the side as a blast narrowly missed him. Optimus surged forward, tackling the furious gladiator in a swift attempt to disarm him. Megatron howled in fury, claws raking across Optimus' plating, scrabbling for a good hold. Energon ran down the Prime's arm as he struggled to pin Megatron, gasping in pain.

"Don't fight," he breathed, trapping the fusion cannon against the ground. Megatron's talons sliced into his lower torso, and he cried out. "We need your help. Don't resist." He hissed as he strained against the intense struggling.

"I'll rip your spark out," the warlord barked, but his movements were slowing down. He fought hard, thrashing against Optimus, managing to writhe and kick him back, only to be slammed down harder by Bulkhead and Ultra Magnus.

Optimus stood up, wincing. Energon was dripping off of him, deep gauges along his armor. Megatron spat curses at him as he thrashed against the two large mechs, slowly weakening in their hold. "We got him." Kickback appeared at his side. "Only a few more moments, now."

"Knock Out gave us one strong sedative." Bumblebee observed.

"He's one strong mech." Bulkhead grunted as Megatron braced against him.

Megatron finally fell limp, shifting weakly in the forced stasis. Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead cuffed his wrists, and carefully dragged him towards the ship. Optimus was silent on the trip back.

Megatron came to in an all too familiar environment. He almost laughed at the irony. Here he was, in a cell of his own warship, in the dimly lit greyness where he had tortured so many. He was seated in a chair, wrists cuffed to the arms tightly. A table was in front of him, and an empty chair across from him. So it was an interrogation. He wondered if they would torture him.

"I'm awake, let's get started, then. I don't enjoy being kept waiting." He announced loudly, glancing at the camera in the corner of the cell. A joyless smile crossed his scarred lips as the door opened, and Optimus strode in.

There was something different about him. His shoulders sagged, and he didn't walk with the same collected power he usually had. His optics were faded with exhaustion. Megatron wondered what it was that broke his enemy.

"You look horrible." He sneered.

Optimus said nothing as he sat down at the table, setting a datapad down. The chair creaked under his weight. He tiredly activated the datapad, optics skimming over a long bulleted list, before he finally looked up at Megatron. "I am going to ask for your honesty and cooperation." He said softly.

Megatron quirked an optic ridge. "Explain why I am here, Prime."

"This is your opportunity to willingly tell me where Ratchet is." Optimus' voice was firm and had a sense of threat to it. He searched Megatron's face, frowning.

"Did you lose your little lapdog?" Scoffing, the warlord leaned forward to hiss in a mocking tone. "I warned you to keep him on a leash."

The Prime didn't react. "Do not feign ignorance, Megatron."

"You asked for my honesty, Prime. I am giving it to you. I have no idea where your pet ran off to." Megatron flashed his pointed denta, optics flashing. He found himself caught off guard when Optimus looked away for a moment, optics whirling in sadness. There was a moment of tense silence. "What happened?" Curiously, Megatron asked.

Optimus leaned back in his chair, venting slowly. He debated telling the warlord the truth. "Ratchet has been kidnapped by a band of rogue Decepticons." He admitted blandly.

The warlord made an unreadable noise. "Why would anyone do that?"

The Prime's optics met his. "Ratchet is sparked." Optimus watched his reaction closely. Megatron's features pulled in an expression of surprise, and a curious look. "Mine." Optimus answered the unspoken question.

Megatron chuckled darkly, shaking his helm. "Your pet is being held for a ransom, and you think I have something to do with it."

"Or that you may know something."

"Even if I did know where he's been taken, what makes you think I would help you?" Sneering viciously, Megatron leaned back in the chair, tapping his claws.

Optimus clasped his servos. "As you know, the cortical psychic patch is on this warship. I will get the information somehow, but how I receive it is in your control." He threatened slowly. "I want you to tell me what you know about the mechs involved, and where they may be hiding." He pushed the datapad across the table, into Megatron's view.

Megatron leaned forward, optics darting back and forth as he skimmed it. A laugh escaped him. "Your lapdog was taken by Rumble? How pathetic." He smirked at Optimus. "And you've already failed a rescue attempt. . . So sad."

"Tell me what you know." Optimus pushed. "And if you have seen anything. You must tell me everything."

"Why should I help you? Why is it my problem that you carelessly threw your weight around?" The warlord rolled his optics dramatically. "The fact of the matter is, you put a sparkling in your whore medic, without considering the target you'd be putting on his head. And now you want to throw the blame onto me, because that was so easy to do during the war. But times have changed, haven't they? You can't blame me anymore, you did this to Ratchet all on your own." His optics flashed with satisfaction as Optimus cringed.

"You are not at all involved?"

"I have no interest in revenge, Prime." He shook his helm. "This may surprise you, but I am above terminating a sparkling. Even one that belongs to the likes of you." He spat the last word with hatred.

Optimus gritted his denta. "Do you know anything that can assist us in finding him?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I have no desire to help you?" Megatron was growing visibly frustrated.

"Do you?"

"Optimus!"

The Prime's com rang, and he turned away for a moment. "Yes?"

"Bribe him. He's got to know something. He wouldn't be pushing your buttons if he didn't." Bumblebee's voice was excited.

Optimus frowned deeply. This interrogation wasn't going well. He sighed slowly. "Megatron, can you help?" As the warlord went to speak, he clarified: "I am not asking if you will or not. I want to know if you can."

Megatron seemed to ponder the question. "Suppose I can. What is in it for me?" He smirked slowly. Optimus felt sick.

"What do you want?"

Leaning forward to reread the datapad, Megatron thought for a moment. "This isn't an easy task, Prime. From the looks of it, they know how to cover their tracks. If I am to help you, I will need access to all your resources. I will not find your mate while locked in a cell. Grant me freedom to roam on my ship." He spoke carefully. "I want access to my quarters." That made sense. He had lost everything when Bumblebee terminated him. Regaining that would make a difference to a scavenger.

"Your room was left untouched." Optimus nodded. "Anything else?"

"Obviously, Optimus." Megatron snapped. "I want unlimited access to the city's energon supply." Optimus silently wondered how hard it was, scavenging for energon with little access to processors. "When this is done, I want to leave with a supply of my own. You certainly have the energon to spare. And you will be letting me leave, when it's all over," his fiery optics narrowed, "Or I'll rip out your mate's spark myself."

Optimus felt a shiver coming on. Did he want to involve this mech, when he had no problem turning around and hurting Ratchet himself? "There is an issue of trust, Megatron." He said sternly. "I am hesitant to grant you free rein of my city."

"And I am hesitant to walk into your web of lies," the warlord hissed. "How do I know that you'll ever let me free? That you don't plan on imprisoning me forever?"

"There is much on the line. If it means that Ratchet is returned safely, I am more than willing to release you." Optimus gestured calmly. "You have my word."

Megatron scoffed at that, shaking his helm. "Thank Primus for that." He muttered sarcastically.

"If I am to trust you to freely roam the city, then you are to trust that I will make good on our deal." Optimus offered. "Are we in agreement?"

"I get free reign, access to resources, and a supply to live off of when I leave." When Optimus nodded, Megatron grinned slowly. "Well, Prime, let's find your lost pet."

The Prime bristled, and he responded sharply, "Do not speak about him that way anymore. You cannot see him as an object. Megatron, he is my mate, and I will not allow you to treat him this way, not anymore." He inhaled deeply. "He and my sparkling are not to be disrespected while you are here."

"Finally standing up for him, are we?" Megatron chuckled softly. "You've grown a spine, Optimus. Untie me."

The table was tense and silent. Megatron's towering presence was overwhelming, even while he was seated beside Kickback and Optimus. Everyone's optics were locked on Optimus. He could feel judgment. Several of those present had argued against Megatron's terms, and were horrified that Optimus was playing to his demands. But he couldn't find a reason to care. He'd do anything to save his mate.

Bumblebee had been the most understanding. Despite everything he held against the cruel warlord, he had been the most civil, and very willing to cooperate. "You're the only one among us who knows these mechs." He pointed to images of Rumble, and the pair of seekers. Datapads were scattered across the table. "What can you tell us about them?"

Megatron tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I have a hard time believing Rumble put this together." He stared at the small mech's file with disdain. "Even at his best, he's no leader. Never in my life have I heard him say something remotely intelligent. And the seekers. . . Skywarp and Thundercracker are strong Decepticons, but both of them are followers."

"What are you saying?"

"I believe that someone else is pulling the strings. They have a leader that is running this operation, one that you haven't seen." Megatron laid it out simply. "Those three can't be doing this alone."

"How does that help us?" Arcee snapped.

Red optics locked on her, but Megatron didn't retort. "I have access to potential hideaways. Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker worked together for some time. There are seeker bases scattered over Cybertron, and by accessing Starscream's logs, we can begin searching those. If we find out whoever is running this, accessing their file could unveil potential hideaways as well. Everything comes down to who these Decepticons associated with early on." He broke the searing contact with Arcee to look at Optimus.

Optimus was relieved that he was here. Already, his presence was paying off. "Thank you. Your intel is helpful." He murmured gratefully.

"I need an exact timeline of everything that has happened." The warlord ignored his thanks.

"Something that isn't on there is the fact that my building was sabotaged." Bulkhead piped up bitterly. "Someone blew the foundation the day that Ratchet was taken."

That seemed to spark Megatron's interest. "A distraction of sorts." He nodded slowly.

"You think they are connected?" Kickback looked at him, visor flashing sadly.

"Assurance that Optimus would be kept away from home." Wheeljack sighed, long and slow. "But wait. . . How did they know Optimus wouldn't be home, but Ratchet would?" He looked up thoughtfully.

Megatron went silent as a few ideas were aimlessly pitched.

"They are damn lucky that Ratchet wasn't called to the scene to help." Arcee pointed out. "Perhaps they had been spying, and memorized their schedules?"

"They knew that we wouldn't bring a sparked mech into that environment." Bumblebee was fidgeting in his chair, thinking hard. "They would've had to be watching for a long time. . . And how would they have gotten a grenade into the work site without being seen? There are hundreds of 'bots here, someone would've caught them in the act."

Megatron's optics were on Optimus now. "I need to speak with you. Privately." He said firmly.

The Prime hid his surprise, nodding and rising from his seat. "We will return shortly." He dismissed himself, and Megatron followed him into the hall. "What is it?" He asked quietly.

Megatron seemed hesitant, a grim seriousness on his scarred face. "Optimus, this is something you aren't going to want to hear, but. . ." He glanced around briefly. "They have a mech on the inside."

Optimus narrowed his optics. "How do you-"

"Think about it. Whoever took Ratchet knew your schedule. How else would they have known when to strike? They knew you wouldn't be home, and they knew to create a distraction to keep you away. Bumblebee is right, none of the three we know of could've sabotaged the worksite without being seen. Whoever destroyed the building got in without suspicion." His tone held a sense of excitement to it. "Furthermore, when you attempted a rescue, they knew you were coming. They were able to evacuate fast. Someone had to have told them."

Optimus' processor was reeling.

"Someone has betrayed you, Prime."

Inhaling deeply, Optimus nodded. "That would make sense, but I don't have an idea of who it may be. It can't be anyone in that room, I know and trust all of them. Most of them were members of Team Prime. Furthermore, none of them should have our schedules memorized, it changes constantly." He thought for a moment. "We will ask each one of them who they have told about the situation. It could be a friend that they confided in. Knock Out told Arcee in the medbay, someone may have overheard. Wheeljack could've let something slip while having high grade."

"In any case, there's a mole, and we need to find them." Megatron crossed his arms, searching Optimus' optics. "Discreetly. If they feel in danger, Ratchet is lost."

"We won't tell them, for now. We will create a list of names of those who know about the situation, and go from there." Optimus felt a sting of betrayal. Someone he had welcomed into the city was here to hurt him and his mate. "Thank you for your assistance."

"Commanding Starscream for all the time that I did taught me well. I will find that mole." The warlord brushed past him and slipped back into the room.

Optimus rubbed his optics, sighing. "I'm going to find you, Old Friend." He murmured, more to himself than anyone.

There was a spark of hope.