Mazikeen groaned as she sat up,
"Where am I? What happened?"
She opened her eyes and gasped. She was on the ground in a valley, similar to the one that Phoenix always shows to calm her down.
"Mazikeen?"
Mazikeen turned around and gasped when she saw Barricade in his holo-form, no alt-mode in sight,
"CADE!"
"SQUISHY!"
They ran towards each other but bumped into an invisible wall. They flew back and groaned. Barricade immediately got up and walked over to the barrier,
"Squishy!"
Mazikeen held up her hand and touched the wall,
"Cade,"
Barricade's eyes teared up with Energon slowly leaking down his cheek,
"Where are you? What happened? I felt your pain."
Mazikeen felt her own tears come down her face,
"I was hit by an Energon blast without Phoenix on. I'm in a different Universe...I don't know why,"
Barricade frowned,
"I should have been there for you. Squishy, we have been looking for you for a month. Please come home. Please be careful. Are you still in pain?"
Mazikeen sighed and looked at him,
"I feel better right now. Cade, I want to come home. I miss you guys...but I can't come home. I don't know why."
Barricade sighed and pulled his shirt collar down,
"The mark changed. Did mine?"
Mazikeen's eyes widened at the new mark,
"N-No. It's the same,"
Barricade sighed and looked at her,
"Ratchet said it's the mark of the Herald of Primus, whatever that means. Maybe it's a key...I just want you home,"
Mazikeen sighed,
"I want to come home too...but they need me right now,"
"WE NEED YOU TOO!"
Mazikeen looked down and sighed,
"I need you too...But...in this universe, Megatron is still alive. He has an army. The Autobots here need something. That must be why the AllSpark sent me here,"
Barricade frowned,
"Please be more careful. Please don't die. I can't lose you,"
Mazikeen smiled sadly at him,
"I know, Cade. I'll be careful,"
"You know, Jazz has been beating himself up. When I'm awake, all Ratchet does is mutter about what to do with him,"
Mazikeen sighed and sat down against the barrier,
"Tell him that I'm sorry for leaving again. I'm sorry, Cade, that I scared you. If no one believes that you talked to me...tell them that I ran into the Dorito-shaped Decepticon. They know that's what I call Starscream. Then just give Jazz a penny. He shouldn't beat himself up just cuz I got myself trapped somewhere,"
"Maze,"
"Yeah?"
"We will find you,"
Mazikeen chuckled,
"I have faith that you will,"
Barricade nodded,
"We will keep trying to figure out this marking scrap. But maybe you can figure it out quicker. You were always the smartest one,"
Mazikeen laughed,
"Just because you are buttering me up does not mean I'll get there sooner,"
Barricade chuckled sadly,
"I know. But one can hope, right? That's the first thing you ever taught me,"
Mazikeen smiled and nodded,
"Have hope, Cade. I'll come home soon,"
"Well, I need it to be sooner, everything is dead over here,"
"How are my godchildren?"
Barricade chuckled,
"I think they suspect something is wrong. They haven't been crying that much anymore. Bluestreak is trying to keep them together cuz Aura is devastated. She misses you a lot. We all do,"
"I know you do. I miss you guys so much too. I can't feel any of you,"
Barricade frowned,
"Yeah...it's as if-"
"Something is blocking the bonds,"
Barricade nodded,
"Maybe it's because you are in a different Universe,"
Mazikeen sighed and shrugged,
"I guess...but Cade?"
"Yeah?"
"I've done this before,"
Barricade's eyes widened,
"What?!"
Mazikeen nodded,
"Yeah...Four times...I met an Autobot, his name is Wheeljack...I met him four times, and each time, I teleported to him somehow."
"B-But...then why are the bonds blocked now?"
"I-I don't know...something is wrong,"
Barricade nodded,
"Don't worry, we will figure it out together,"
Mazikeen smiled at him,
"I wish you were here,"
"I wish I was too,"