Speed the Collapse
By SMYGO4EVA

Smokescreen was pacing back and forth, his servos shaking as he chewed on his lip plate.

What were these thoughts coming to his head? He now feared Team Prime didn't really accept him or trust him…or even care about him. They'd just used him didn't they?

Arcee sure despised him, Ratchet saw him as an inconvenience, and Bulk and Bee probably could care less about him.

And Optimus….

Optimus Prime only saw him as a charity case, a burden to be taught a harsh lesson, and only to use for yet another strategy.

No no no, they really cared! They were his friends, his family!

…Right?

He didn't get to see them since they abandoned the base…but, they were separated as part of the plan!

It was understandable…wasn't it?

It was all a part of his strategy…

It was a part of the strategy that Optimus had all along, to reunite at a rendezvous point soon enough when the base was lost to the Decepticons.

It was only a matter of time before he would hear them on his comlink.

But when?

When?

When will the others arrive? It felt like far too long since he saw them, since he saw Optimus….

The new recruit closed his optics tightly and shook his head, the battle for the Autobot base continuing in his head.

They cared, they didn't.

They used him, they didn't.

"Maybe Megatron was right…" He whispered and leaned his head against the rock wall behind him.