Emergency!

Wheelie ran into the hideout shrieking. "OPTIMUS!" he shrieked as he ran, "Optimus! We have a problem!"

Optimus sighed and turned to the small Autobot.
"What's the emergency then Wheelie?"

Wheelie ran right up to Optimus and panted. "Bumblebee has been caught by the Decepticons! They've said that they're gonna kill him unless we give them the Matrix of Leadership."

Optimus looked at Wheelie, then looked at the ground sadly.
"The Matrix of Leadership is our greatest advantage in this war. We cannot trade it with the Decepticons." Optimus thought for a moment. "The Decepticons wouldn't dare harm Bumblebee. He's their greatest bargaining piece. Without him they will have no way of getting us to do what they want. They can't harm him. Until we find a way of freeing Bumblebee without giving the Decepticons what they want, Bumblebee will have to look after himself."

Wheelie looked up at Optimus, shocked. "What, so we're just gonna let him die?!"

Optimus looked at the small Autobot angrily.
"What do you suggest?!" he demanded. "That we go into the Decepticon base and get ourselves killed trying to save him? Or we give the Decepticons the Matrix and let them just bring all their dead back to life or find some kind of other tragic use for it? Is that what you want?"

Wheelie stumbled back in shock and even a little fear. "No, of course not!" he said quickly, "I was just saying!"

Optimus sighed and turned away from the small Autobot. He left the base and leaned against one of the larger trees outside. He didn't want to leave Bumblebee to fend for himself like this, but he really had no other choice.

ooc: I was listening to 'Bumblebee Captured' on the first score as I wrote this. Awesomeness!

Wheelie watched Optimus leave the base, thinking about what he had said. He still wasn't sure if the boss had really been right to say that.

Optimus watched the other Autobots inside the base. Their movements were uncomfortable ones, uncertain. Clearly they didn't agree with his decision not to save Bumblebee. He shook his head and looked at the sky. If they were going to have any help here, it would come from up there. The problem was, there was nobody left up there to help them.

Wheelie went out to Optimus uncertainly. "What should we do?" he asked him as he approached.

Optimus glanced at the small Autobot as he approached, not moving from his position.
"There's nothing we can do." he replied. "We just have to be patient and wait."

Wheelie glared at his leader. "But can Bumblebee really look after himself out there? I mean, he got himself captured!"

"Bumblebee can look after himself. He's been caught before." he hesitated for a moment. "The Decepticons, at this moment, as much as I hate to admit it, are not a threat. If we want to survive, we have to take out El'Duga and Janeira first, and then go back to scrapping with the Decepticons later."

"I'm not so sure...." Wheelie said uncertainly.

Wheelie looked up at Optimus, surveying his face closely. "All right." he sighed. "If you think it's right."

Optimus watched the small Autobot curiously. He'd changed his mind way too fast. He'd have to keep an eye on that one. He sighed and nodded. "All right. Get out of here."

Wheelie nodded and scurried back into the base, going straight over to Ratchet. "We have to save Bumblebee!" he told the medic quietly.

Optimus watched Wheelie go into the base, not moving.

Wheelie watched as Ratchet nodded in agreement. "You're right." the medic said, "I don't agree with Optimus' decision either. But where is he?"
"We have to find him." Wheelie said.

"Wheelie, Sideswipe." Optimus called, waiting for the two Autobots to come out to him.

Wheelie jumped as his name was called and ran outside to Optimus with Sideswipe. "What is it?" He asked his leader quickly, sure he had been found out, "What's wrong?"

Optimus frowned.
"You have a guilty conscience, Wheelie." He sighed, "Please, just trust me. There's nothing you can do for Bumblebee. Don't try going after him." He turned so that he was facing the two Autobots properly. "This isn't about that. I need you two to go scouting for me. Be back by tonight with your reports. Go."

Wheelie nodded and scurried off after Sideswipe.