I looked at the gathered group as we stood at one of the entrances to the underground tunnels. "I don't need to tell you that this mission is primarily recon. If we meet any Decepticon patrols instructions are to retreat. Bumblebee you and Cliffjumper will take point. Once we leave Autobot controlled sectors you will alternate cloaking to stay as concealed as possible. Our access to Teltrann has been spotty and we cannot trust the information explicitly. Hound you will stay with me as I cover our rear. We will be keeping to the sublevels for the entire trip so be alert at all times. Are there any questions?"

Bumblebee's hand shot up, "Can I take point first?"

"Work that out between you and Cliffjumper, he has more experience being behind enemy lines."

"This isn't my first time on a mission,…sir." He added seeming to realize he was being disrespectful.

"I am well aware. Which is why I chose you to come along. Now, if there are no more questions we need to be going."

The sublevels within Iacon proper where still well lit and free of rubble. This changed drastically once we left Autobot controlled areas. We met two of our own patrols which I noted for commendation later. It was good to see everyone was taking their duty seriously. Soon we had to slow down. Some of the corridors were choked with fallen debris and collapsed substrate. After the third time we'd had to backtrack Cliffjumper dropped back next to me.

"Are we sure we know where we are going?"

"Yes. Most of these cave-ins are fairly recent and I've noted each on the map."

"We are heading deeper underground."

"It can't be helped right now, Cliffjumper."

We continued on in relative silence for the next several joor. The further we went the closer the walls seemed to hem us in, pressing down from all sides. The oppressive darkness was not relieved by switching to ultraviolet or infrared sensors. We were all soon forced to take our altmodes and skim over the broken and pocked surface. In some places the floor was gone altogether, nothing to be seen below but infinite blackness that seemed like a live thing.

"This is creepy." Bumblebee's voice echoed making it seem as though he was both behind and in front.

"Quiet." I consulted the map again. We were on the outskirts of Kaon and had yet to come upon a Decepticon patrol. This, while fortunate, put me on high alert. It could be that we were deeper than they normally went, or they had sensors set up to monitor these tunnels. "Sensor sweep."

"Again?"

"It's clean."

That didn't make sense. Why would they leave such an obvious infiltration route unguarded? Unless Megatron was so certain that no Autobot would dare come this far. Sometimes it paid to be underestimated.

"Next junction we head up a level. Bumblebee, cloak and take point, Cliffjumper, back him up."

Hound and I hunkered down the corridor until we got the all clear from both scouts. Joining them I looked over the map again. Highlighting a junction up two levels I pointed to it. This is where we are to meet our contact."

"We have a Decepticon spy?"

I nodded. "For his safety, only I will be meeting him. The fewer that know his identity the better. The rest of you will maintain lookout positions."

"Are you sure that is safe Prowl?" Hound's concern was clear in his voice.

"No. It could easily be a trap, but it's a risk I am willing to take if his information proves sound. He's never failed us before."

Once we neared the rendezvous point, I had the others hide in various alcoves with orders to stay put until I gave the all clear. I continued forward on foot, picking my way through the dusty, litter strewn corridor. The smell was better here, the air clearing of the corrosive rust stench that pervaded the lower corridors. One servo along the wall, I crept forward, mindful of any corroded spots in the floor. Fanning out my doorwings I stopped and held myself still, taking in as much information as I could with every sensor I had. Someone was approaching from the ramp that lead down to my current level. Only one though. Kneeling down I waited. Soon he was within sensor range, then optic range.

"I know you are there. Come out."

I stepped away from the wall and the shadow I'd been hiding in. "Counterpunch . . ."

"They would send you." He scoffed, the Decepticon colors and insignia throwing me slightly. He shook himself and transformed. It was always odd to see a double changer do that. Within moments the Autobot Punch stood before me. "You are in deep slag Autobot."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He shook his head and handed me a small data slice. "Get this to Optimus any way you can. I've got a chance to get a new posting and I won't be available again for a long time so we are going to have to come up with another way for me to get you information."

I nodded slowly, thinking. "I will come up with something that won't endanger you."

There was a whir of servos and Counterpunch stood before me once more. "I hate to do this to you and your team Prowl, but you tripped sensors earlier. I was sent to inspect it."

"Oh, but we did regular sensor sweeps."

He shook his head. "These are new ones Shockwave designed. Your sensors won't pick them up. That data I gave you gives you more details."

"Yes, but that won't help us now will it?"

"No. I am sorry Prowl. I will give you a two breem head start to get your team and get out of here, but no promises. My team is not far behind."

Spark sinking I ducked my head and turned to leave. "I understand."

"Prowl, if we catch up, fight back hard. I am under orders to take captives to Shockwave and since it looks like I might get a post as his body guard . . ."

"It would look good to have captured us."

His smile was soft and tinged with regret. "Get going."

I went. As quickly as the terrain would allow. I reached Bumblebee first.

"Take this and whatever happens get it to Optimus."

"Yeah sure but Prowl-"

"No time, there is a patrol headed this way."

"Scrap!"

We found the other two and continued our retreat.

"Prowl, why don't you let me and Bumblebee set up an ambush for them? They'd never know what hit them." Cliffjumper ran along side me.

"No, they've known we were here for some time now and allowed us further in to cut off our escape route."

"How do you know?"

"Because it is what I would do."

As I had expected the way we had come was blocked. Taking a side tunnel I sent the scouts and Hound ahead, keeping an eye on the rear. I had the disturbing feeling that we were being forced in the way they wanted us to go. The next blocked corridor confirmed it. Having the others step back I blasted the rubble until the two smaller scouts could get through. While they finished widening the hole so Hound and I could get through I had Hound create a hologram of the rubble pile. It might at least throw them off our trail. Crawling through the small tunnel was nerve wracking. It didn't help that I couldn't seem to get my door wings close enough to my frame to prevent them from getting caught on debris.

I'd just made it through when there was an explosion. Shrapnel pelted me, my audials ringing. They must have been closer than I realized. Scrambling to my feet I glanced back to see Hounds holo still in place. That wasn't good. They'd see through it now.

"Prowl!"

Hound was running back toward me. I waved him off. "Keep going! I can hold them for a moment."

He thankfully didn't question me. Blaster bolts sizzled past me. Five of them coming fast. I took aim at the lead, he went down with a crash that echoed through the corridor. Someone was yelling instructions, but with the damage to my audials I couldn't make it out. I went to transform and had to stop halfway through pain flaring through my sensor net. I hadn't realized I was that close to the explosion. Taking my first look at myself, I shuttered my optics for a moment. The stinging pain I'd been feeling since the explosion suddenly made sense. Shrapnel was embedded in my mesh. Transforming was out of the question. More blaster fire heated the air around me. Backing down the corridor, I pulled out my pistol and shot the floor with acid pellets. If anything it might slow them down and give us enough time to get away. Not wasting any more time, I turned and nearly ran straight into a large Decepticon.

This wasn't happening. I'd planned so carefully. Even with the new sensors, how had they got behind us so fast? It didn't make sense. Unless they'd known we were there far longer than Counterpunch had let on.

Bumblebee are you and Cliffjumper clear?

Yessir! Hound too.

Get that data to Prime!

Prowl, where are you?

In the few kliks the message took me I'd dodged the first swing and landed a hit of my own. If I could just get passed him-brilliant white light engulfed me and everything faded.

Beeping woke me. The smell of antiseptic and the light tang of medical grade energon reached me. Medical bay. I didn't bother to online my optics. It felt like too much effort at the moment. I couldn't remember what had happened or how I'd once again ended up in the medical bay. A nagging at the back of my processor had me working harder to wake fully.

"Ratchet?"

A soft hum and heavy tread that vibrated the whole berth had me quickly onlining my optics. They met a single red one.

"Awake I see. Good."

Shockwave. I would have shuddered if I could, but I was securely strapped to the table. And it was a table not a berth. I forced myself to vent slowly, letting my processor catch up with the information before it decided to glitch on me. At least the rest of the team had made it out. All evidence pointed to that conclusion. I turned my head slowly, taking in the room. It was a lab, but nothing like Ratchet's. Chains and various lines hung from the ceiling. To my left was an unoccupied table. A large hand grabbed my chin forcing my head back before I could see any more of the room.

"Stay still."

"Shockwave, sir, do you still need me or shall I leave you to your work?"

"You may go. Your assistance in this matter has been noted. Tell Megatron that I am not to be disturbed."

"Yes sir."

I caught a glimpse of Counterpunch as he walked by, he didn't look at me. I looked back up at Shockwave. There was no way to discern what he was thinking in that single unblinking optic. He let go of me long enough to grab something.

"You are Autobot designated Prowl?"

"Yes."

He turned back to me, the single unblinking optic regarding me for a long moment. "It is unsual for Prime to allow one of his inner cadre so deep into our territory."

"A calculated risk."

"On his part . . . Or yours?"

I knew I was frowning, an unwelcome sliver of fear worming its way through my processor. He knew nothing.

"I take it that you had some pressing objective or you wouldn't have taken the risk at all." He bent out of sight for a moment, something clicking into place before reappearing with a length of cable. "But, I do not expect you to tell me of your own volition."

He shoved my head to the side and there was a clamping sensation on the back of my helm. Did he think he could access any information with an uplink? He was insane. I knew from reports that he'd been experimenting with some sort of a psychic patch but it was still unproven and by all accounts extremely detrimental to all mech's involved. I was left staring at the far wall, unable to move my head as he continued doing whatever it was he was doing. Each clang and click of metal on metal making me jerk in anticipation. The pain was so abrupt I couldn't stop the yell.