"The bridge isn't working," Ratchet announced once everyone important (not Megatron) was present. "The minerals on this planet and the leftovers from other projects simply aren't enough."

Megatronus nodded. "Which is why we need to commandeer the Autobot spacebridge."

"To strip it for parts?" Arcee asked.

"No, to get parts from Cybertron," Knockout corrected. "Of course, it is a wasteland, but we have a better chance building from matter there than we do with our Earth materials."

"Sorry I couldn't be of more help," Agent Fowler spoke from the monitor. "But the things you guys ask for is beyond my planet's limits."

"You've done more than enough," Optimus assured him.

Temptest cracked her knuckles. "When are we going?"

Airachnid frowned. "Wouldn't we have to find it first?"

"No need," Temptest huffed. "Soundwave is the one who built it, the Autobots just stole it. We know exactly where it is. It's just under heavy surveillance."

"We'll still have the element of surprise," Megatronus informed them. "We just need to secure it before the Autobots get there, if someone isn't there already."

Optimus nodded. "I believe we have the manpower to hold them off long enough for Ratchet, Soundwave, and Knockout to find what they need."

"I'll go with them," Airachnid volunteered. "I would be more useful watching the skies for them than fighting close combat in a cave."

"Your burrowing ability would make you an asset underground as well," Megatronus gestured to the tunnels around them. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Airachnid nodded.

Temptest scowled. "I thought you quit."

The spider-femme frowned. "I'm back."

Optimus turned to them. "We need a group to stay near the entrance and alert us when the Autobots show up. Everyone else will stay with the spacebridge to assit the others. Finally, one bot will need to stay with the groundbridge."

"Airachnid would have done it," Megatronus looked around, "but Temptest can do it instead."

Temptest immediately objected. "I'm a combatant!"

"We need someone to watch the bridge."

"Have Bumblebee do it!" Temptest demanded. "He's a grounder and less helpful."

"Bumblebee is our fastest asset. Optimus alt. mode is required to transport materials. Megatronus is our best combatant. Arcee's fighting skills are suited to the target environment. Everyone else with be on Cybertron." Soundwave stated. "Your fighting style causes too much damage in an enclosed space and would result in the reduction of structural integrity within the confines. You are best suited to man the bridge."

Temptest's face burned with embarrassment. What he was saying is that she is basically useless. Ugh. If Airachnid had just stayed here, she could have helped on the Cybertron Team. She crossed her arms and looked away in silent defeat.

"Now that that's settled," Megatronus pointed to the screen. "We have several target areas to raid on Cybertron. You'll need to be here, here, and here. These places are likely to be the most preserved from bombs and technologically advanced. The only problem is that before our ship blew up, we received quite a few movement reports. Scraplets, maybe, or Autobot sentries."

"I'll keep an optic out," Airachnid assured him.

"Good," Megatronus nodded. "Because we're leaving tonight."

▪️◾◼⬛◼◾▪️

Temptest was bored. Anxious, a little worried, fully aware that the future of the good Autobots laid at stake, and yet, she was still bored. The group comms had kept her company for the first part of the mission as the others relayed orders and reports between the three teams, but now everyone was quiet.

They were waiting for the Autobots to arrive. Temptest clenched her fist and leaned back in her chair grumpily. She should have been out there to fight the Autobots. Structural integrity be damned.

Of course everyone there was more useful than her, not to mention the target on her back. Temptest had a sneaking suspicion Soundwave neglected a chunk of his reasoning for leaving her here. Sure, she might have crushed everyone after ramming her alt. mode into a wall, but a few stray blasts from fusion cannon cohld do the same. They didn't want her there because she'd been kidnapped from Optimus again.

Temptest wasn't sure why exactly. Maybe they didn't trust her. Not only had she nearly let Megatron crush the matrix of leadership recently, but she'd just come back from getting kidnapped. Twice.

Even when he wasn't around, the wretched false Prime was screwing with her life. Nobody trusted her, wanted her help in the field, or respected her roles. Nobody needed Ratchet to go to Cybertron. He's just a dinky old medic. Soundwave and Knockout could manage just fine without him.

Temptest grumbled as she moved around in the chair, trying to get comfortable or dispel her growing irritation. Either way, she wasn't happy and her aft ached. Fragging stupid logic.

"This base seems rather empty," Megatron mused from behind her.

Oh, and him.

This guy was annoying beyond belief. The moment their groundbridge closed, Megatron teleported into the room with the sole purpose of ticking her off. Not only was he the most insensitive aft to ever open his intake, but Megatron managed to repeatedly baited her into a conversation before breaking her arguments down like playing card pyramids.

She was trying to give him the silent treatment, but—

"Would you stop tapping on my chair!" Temptest barked at him suddenly. "You fragging piece of slag! Get out! I'm busy!"

Megatron, unbothered, continued to drum his digits along the top of her chair. He leaned closer and smiled at her. He was testing her. That much was clear, but did he have to be so fragging smug about it!?

Temptest grabbed his servo and wrenched him off. "I am so tried of your scrap. Tap my chair again and I'll cut off your digits."

"You want to engage in combat while your team is depending on you to bridge them back?" Megatron questioned. "I didn't realize you valued your pride more than your loyalty."

"I didn't say that!" Temptest growled. "I— shut up!"

She turned around with finality and crossed her arms, praying to Primus that he'd have the decency to listen to her.

Instead, she felt a tap land on the top of her helm, then three more, and soon Megatron was casually drumming his digits on the top of his helm. He started whistling. It was almost the same noise coming out of her audio receivers as steam blew out of the holes in her helm.

"What a great bonding experience," Megatron told her calmly. "I'm sure after this, you and I will be great friends."

"After this, I might stab him a few times," Temptest thought bitterly.

Megatron stepped away, offering her just a moment of relief before he started messing with their computer. He turned it on and opened a file.

"Get out!' Temptest jumped up and yanked at his arm. "You aren't allowed to read those."

He didn't budge and instead started reading out loud. "Miko Nakadai's only living family member, Kat Nakadai, lives in Hamamatsu, Japan across from Murakushi Hall. Her contact inform—"

Temptest tried to bash his helm in with her blaster, but the warlord sidestepped. He yawned and walked over to her chair before sitting down.

"I think I'll take a nap now," Megatron decided. "Maybe I'll hold your pet's family hostage when I'm done."

"You son of a—"

"The Autobots are here!" Megatronus informed the others through their connecter comm channel. "Gather at the entrance. We cannot let them inside!"

Temptest activated her comm. "Do you need backup?"

"We haven't even started fighting," Megatronus chastised. "Be patient and wait."

Temptest pursed her lips and said nothing more as they continued to speak to each other. It did not take long before everyone quieted again, busy fighting Autobots, no doubt.

"Oh how cute!" Megatron was suddenly holding her helm in his servos and pulling her off balance as he walked sideways. "You have little sharpening rocks embedded in your shoulders!"

"Let go!" Temptest screeched.

"Do you sharpen your claws or your sword with these?"

Temptest clawed at his face, but the world tilted and suddenly she was hanging upside. Megatron had her ankles in his servos and shook her a little. She hissed and dung her claws into the wedges between the armour plates around his knees.

"I dropped someone's optic earlier. Can you see it from there?" Megatron questioned.

"FRAG YOU!" Temptest transformed her servo into a knife and—was yeeted across the room.

Quickly, Temptest scrambled to get off the floor and rip Megatron's helm off, but the warlord was now calmly typing on their computer again.

"Oooh, look at that," Megatron grinned at the screen. "Mission Report from Airachnid to Megatron on September 22st, labeled Project Overwatch. Temptest in relapse—"

Temptest shoved Megatron back into the chair and grabbed her blaster off the desk before pointing at him with a snarl. "You have zero chances left before I shoot the slag off your spark. Don't move a pit-forsaken muscle or I swear to Primus—"

"Megatronus to Temptest! We are in need of a groundbridge!"

She gave him one-half of a glare before turning around, swiping away the files Megatron opened, and then activating the groundbridge. Her team and the new Autobots came flying through, literally and metaphorically.

"Shut it down!" Knockout screamed.

Temptest quickly pressed the exterminate button, sending the vortex snapping shut right after a small sphere came flying through.

And blew up.