"In hindsight," Ratchet told us, "we accomplished what was required. With Unicron's awakening, extreme measures needed to be taken. Enemies became allies. Allies became confidants… And with the Matrix of Leadership, the planet Earth was saved, though at immeasurable personal cost. When Optimus surrendered the Matrix. He lost more than the collective wisdom of the Primes. He lost himself."

"That doesn't follow," Arcee replied. "Optimus knew Megatron."

Bulkhead added, "They were like BFFs."

"He didn't even care about us," Bee beeped.

Ratchet said, "If Optimus did not know his own name. Perhaps it is because the title of Prime hasn't yet been granted to him."

"Huh?" Fowler asked.

"What?" Jack said.

"Say again?" Miko said.

Ratchet clarified, "With the power of the Matrix no longer within him, it would stand to reason that Optimus has reverted to his pre-Prime state. The historical archivist: Orion Pax."

"More or less a librarian," I said.

June asked, "You mean in his mind?"

Fowler yelled, "Are you telling me, Prime thinks he's some kind of librarian? And a Decepticon!"

"Yes," I answered.

"Being a Decepticon is a choice Agent Fowler," Ratchet said, "One that I have a hard time believing Optimus would make at any point in his life."

I looked down at the ground. My spark hurt. I regretted that choice.

Bulkhead asked, "So if he's riding with the cons…"

Arcee finished his sentence, "It's because Megatron's working some kind of voodoo," she said.

Ratchet corrected them, "Orion Pax may not currently be an Autobot up here," he pointed to his head, "But I must believe he never stopped being one in here," he placed his servo on his chest. "We must locate him to know for certain."

"Hold up," Fowler said, "I have a chip lodged in my behind to let Uncle Sam know when I stop for donuts. Are you telling me, you can't just track Prime?"

"Optimus's signal has not reappeared since he embarked for Earth's core. But we must get to work finding him, if we have any hope of initiating his contingency plan!"

"So," I asked the doctor, "does that mean you were tracking him by the energy signature output of his Matrix, which is now gone? Or that he is being shielded by the Nemesis and has not left yet?"

Ratchet was about to answer me when Arcee cut him off, "Contingency plan?" she asked.

"What contingency?" Bulkhead echoed.

Miko asked, "Is that even a word?"

I am done with these lesser life forms. They always halt progress.

I stood with my friends in the command center. C4rl was talking to R1ck and Bo6 about how he was one of the first vehicons to spot Optimus Prime, when the piece of Autobot scrap walked through the Ground Bridge, following our Lord Megatron into the command center. He was retelling the tale, but I wasn't really paying attention. My sight was fixed on our Lord, who stood on the bridge, and stared outside of the Nemesis's windows. In an instant, the glass on our side of the windows went dark, and data covered the pane in front of our Lord. Just like that, the main window of our bridge became a large makeshift monitor screen. Megatron stared into the screen. Soundwave controlled the makeshift monitor from his own terminal closer to us. A large box appeared in the center of the screen that coated the main window. A recording device activated, and Megatron's face appeared inside of a box-shaped frame on the monitor. The same box with our Lord's face on it appeared in the screen of every computer terminal on the warship. C4rl, R1ck, and Bo6 directed their attention to C4rl's monitor station and watched the transmission Lord Megatron was sending. I directed my attention to Megatron, and watched his back as he faced the makeshift monitor screen and spoke.

"Attention crew," his voice echoed throughout the command center, "our guest is currently in isolation to help ease his transition," our Lord paused. "But when Orion Pax emerges, he is to be shown every courtesy. And the first to address him as Optimus Prime, will have their voice box torn out." The transmission ended and the box disappeared from the screen in front of Megatron, as well as from every monitor on board our warship.

Airachnid strode up to our Lord and greeted him, "Lord Megatron," she said, "Is it wise to allow an Autobot –current, or former- full run of the premises?" Airachnid reminded me of Starscream when our former commander attempted to change the hierarchy of our cause by casting doubt on our Lord's judgment. The femme had been doing a lot of that lately.

Lord Megatron turned from the makeshift monitor to face his second in command. He barked at her, "Nothing happens aboard this ship without my knowledge." Lord Megatron glared at the femme and said in a low growl, "you would do well to remember that, Airachnid." Our Lord paused, and his tone returned to its normal authoritative state. "But, there is no need for concern," he told her. "Orion does not possess the same fight Optimus is so renowned for."

The second command asked Lord Megatron in a spiteful tone, "Then, what use is he to our cause?"

"Ahhh, rest assured," he told her. "Orion Pax will indeed earn his stripes."

Airachnid did not question her Lord's last statement. She turned from him, and strode out of the command center. The panes behind Lord Megatron returned to their clear-window state. The vehicons in the command center got back to work. Megatron stood at the helm and observed us. Our Lord was alone. He was not busy. He simply stood there. This was my chance. This was the moment I had practiced for.

I walked up to our Lord with confidence in my stride. This was no time for hesitation. Lord Megatron looked down upon me with questioning optics.

"What is it vehicon? State your business."

He was talking to me. He was actually talking to me. He didn't remember who I was, but it was still an honor to speak with our Lord.

"Lord Megatron," I addressed him, "I'm the vehicon tasked with Ghost's surveillance."

Before I could say anything more to explain my self, Lord Megatron cut me off. "Then," he questioned, "shouldn't you be watching over her?"

"She is asleep, Lord Megatron." I paused and then asked him, words leaving my vocal processor with rapid-fire speed, "What is to become of her? Should she be removed from the detention area? Is she to continue with her current training schedule? How did she preform in the field with you? She collapsed into a deep recharge before I could ask her."

Lord Megatron sighed and shook off St3ve's questions. "This is below me," Megatron said. "You are her keeper." Megatron turned to face the windows, and stared out at the sky, "I have more important matters to attend," he said.

Jack pulled out the cybertronian relic, "The keycard. So, what's it do?"

How did he get that?

Ratchet said, "It grants access to Vector Sigma: The Repository for the wisdom of the Primes."

Well no duh.

Raf asked, "Is that some sort of super computer?"

"So," Jack said, "We can just download Optimus's memories back into him? Great!"

"That's not exactly how it works," I said, "It's more like that the key will unlock memories stored away in Optimus's data core. You would just be re- downloading the Wisdom of the Primes to re-affect his spark."

Ratchet asked me, "How exactly do you know so much? It isn't like this is the first time you've known more than we expected."

"It's just knowledge, and I'm knowledgeable."

Jack asked us, "Which one's the big V? Over here? Somewhere in back?"

I sighed.

Ratchet explained, "Vector Sigma is more than a super computer, Jack. It is an ancient source of mystical power… On Cybertron."

June yelled, "Jackson Darby, you will not be travelling to another planet!"

"I'm in!"

"You're not going either Miko! Not when one of you can!"

"We have names you know," I said.

"June's right," Agent Fowler said, "Why send a boy to do a bot's job?"

"Because only a Prime can access Vector Sigma, or one chosen by a Prime."

"Actually Ratchet, it's a little more complicated than that. I mean, if that was all, then after the thirteen, no more Prime's would've been able to be chosen."

"Okay Shadow, then how exactly does it work?" He sarcastically asked. "Since you apparently know everything, why don't you enlighten us?"

I rolled my eyes at him and spoke, "Optimus was chosen by a member of the high council. No members of the high council were Primes. There was actually a rule against that, but they did have a bunch of knowledge similar to that of a Prime."

Ratchet spat, "And what does any of that have to do with our current situation?"

"My point is that there is more than one way to get into Vector Sigma. If June is really so opposed to sending Jack, then I could go. I have some idea of how to get into Vector Sigma."

"And what is your proof? Ratchet asked, "How do we know you can actually do it? That you won't just fail like the many that have done so in the past?"

I didn't immediately respond. I waited. "You don't," I said.

"Exactly, we don't!" Ratchet yelled at me, "Jack is our best shot. Optimus gave the key card to Jack. It is now imprinted with his unique bio-signature."

Miko asked, "So, you mean that Jack's like some kind of honorary Prime?"

"Let's just say Jack is the only one who can return Optimus to the Autobot we knew."

I rolled my optics at Ratchet.

June yelled, "But, why would Optimus willfully endanger a human?! A child?!"

"I'm not a child, mom."

Arcee said sassily, "Maybe Optimus believes there's more to Jack then meets the eye."

"All of which if moot," Ratchet said, "The keycard is useless to us without a means of reaching Cybertron. Which we at present do not possess."

"But the Decepticons do," I said

Miko pointed to the groundbridge, "Dude, what about that?"

Raf explained, "Miko, the groundbridge barely got them into Earth's orbit. Remember?"

"Yeah, but Ratchet built it. Can't he just turbo charge the thing?"

"It would be much easier if we used the Decepticon's space bridge instead," I restated.

"Yeah, but," Miko said. She continued to bicker with the other humans and bots. I could not take it anymore. I went back to my room. I powered down.

She had been asleep for many earth hours since St3ve had returned to his post. He knew the fleshlings' understanding of time had been passing thusly, from the amount songs he played her on one of the meatbag radio channels she enjoyed listening to. Ghost rolled over in her sleep. She hadn't moved since she had collapsed on the floor of her cell. St3ve wanted to interpret Ghost's movement as an omen that she would wake soon. Perhaps, she was already awake, he thought to himself. She might be able to hear me. No… she's not awake. She's still in recharge. She's not going to wake up any time soon. But, what if she could? I'd want her to. It's terribly lonely without her, without her voice, without her smile, without all the things that make her, her. What am I talking about? She's right there, behind those bars. She's not going anywhere… But, she might also never come back. Should I go get the doctor? I don't know… I don't know…

"I don't know," I told her. Her face was as peaceful as the moment she went into recharge. She wasn't waking up any time soon. "I don't know what to do," St3v3 admitted, "I just don't know anymore." He looked over her sleeping form, which lay behind the bars. "You shouldn't be here," St3ve said to himself, "Not in the brig. Not anymore." St3ve paused and thought to himself, If you're good enough for battle, you shouldn't have to be in the brig. It's a waste of your time. It's a waste of your talents. Steve looked back at the bars that separated them. His sight continued down to the floor where she lay. His sight retracted, and he glared at the floor near his peds. She doesn't even get a berth; he thought to himself, she doesn't even get that much. "It's getting to a point where I am starting to question myself… I'm questioning the orders I am given. Was given. I'm questioning our Lord's judgment. It's just not right," St3ve said, "this is not right." But, he thought to himself, what if Lord Megatron did free her of this place? She'd be rid of me, I mean; she would no longer require surveillance. No more intrusive supervision, no more need for a guard, she'd be free and on her own. And then… and then she'd be rid of me. She'd leave me. If she's like any other Decepticon, she would. I would no longer serve any purpose in her life. She'd go out, be the amazing outlier she is, and be well regarded for it. She'd join the high command without a problem. Once she's all-important, her life will get busy. What would keep her from forgetting a worthless vehicon like myself? I'd lose her… But, I don't want to be the one holding her back. I'm the one causing her to suffer. I'm the one keeping her in the detention level, behind those bars. I'm the one to blame. I should have told Megatron. I-I should've… St3ve gave a mental sigh. I will.

"I was fine with holding you here before," St3ve said, "But not any longer."

Ghost rolled back over in her sleep.

I didn't wake up until late noon the next day. I had forgotten to set an alarm. I did not bother to create an excuse or even to care. I was fed up. I missed familiar faces and disliked spending my time in the company of others below me that annoyed me. I walked into the foyer. Ratchet was working on the groundbridge. It beeped rapidly.

"Ratchet," Raf asked, "are you turbo charging the groundbridge?"

"Tinkering. No need to get anyone's hopes up just yet."

Agent Fowler appeared on the monitor, "Ratchet! Are you awake? This is an emergency!"

"Agent Fowler, is it Optimus?"

We all gathered around the monitor.

"It's cons. And they're busting into the same military research lab they hit two months ago."

Striker screamed, "Who cares where? Let's go kick some con aft!"

"Fool," Ratchet said, "It obviously matters where. Why else would Agent Fowler disclose to us their location?"

"All's I'm sayin'," Striker said back, "Is that I'd bash in the skulls of cons anywhere, so it doesn't matter to me if the scrapheaps are raiding some military research place from before."

"They were getting supplies for a space bridge then," Bee beeped.

"Another space bridge?" Bulkhead asked.

Arcee said, "For all we know, Optimus is riding with them."

"Then let's go get the Boss-bot," Striker said. She shut her eyes and shook her head side to side as she said, "I don't honestly know why you guys were so hesitant to that before."

Ratchet took command, "Roll out," he told us. Ratchet opened us a ground bridge. We transformed and drove through it. As soon as we exited the portal, we transformed back to our bipedal forms. We saw Knockout, Matrix, and Breakdown, Breakdown was holding the device from before.

"Drop the power source!" Bulkhead yelled.

We ran towards the group.

But wait a second; couldn't we just use their spacebridge?

"Aren't you missing someone?" Knockout bragged.

My comrades drew their blasters; I did the same with my swords. Vehicons flew into our sights. They fired at us. Bulkhead stepped in front and took a large part of their fire. He even fired back and took one of them out. Bee and Striker both fired as well and each destroyed a flier. We were on point today.

Knockout COM'd Soundwave, "Ready for that bridge!" A portal appeared and Breakdown ran through with the item. Matrix shot again for a few of our heads before she ducked and darted off into the swirling green. Knockout jested, "We'll be sure to tell the big O you said hello," before he retreated as well. Arcee transformed and accelerated towards their portal.

"Arcee!" Bulkhead called.

The femme avoided vehicon fire and drove into their portal. By the time the portal dissipated Bee and Striker had snuffed the sparks of the remaining vehicons.

Bulkhead called Ratchet, "We need a ground bridge."

The green portal grew near us and we all walked through. What a joyful sight we returned to. We weren't even five feet into our base when we were graced by Ratchet's yelling face.

"Where is Arcee?" the doctor asked us.

"Nemesis currently," I said. "Who knows where next."

"You didn't stop her?"

"We didn't have a choice," Bulkhead defended.

Ratchet glared.

Striker threw her hands in the air, "What? What is it Ratchet? What did you want from us? We terminated the cons!"

"But you lost one of your own!"

I couldn't take their bickering. I went up to the NAV system and started searching for our lost teammate. Not much longer I found her signal reappear in the Arctic. Ratchet sent a ground bridge to retrieve her. She walked back through it covered in frost, and the doctor promptly went to go help her. Too bad the whole helping her thing was just a ploy. In reality, Ratchet didn't give a d*mn about Arcee. I was starting to believe that none of the Autobots actually cared about anyone other than Optimus.

Ratchet was attending to Arcee at his medical station.

"You weren't able to determine the Decepticon's location, or if Optimus was even aboard ship?" He asked her.

"I… couldn't confirm." She said angrily.

Bulkhead yelled and powerfully smashed his fist against the table. The blow destroyed one of Ratchet's tools.

"Bulkhead—"

"What? You needed that! Only thing I need is our head honcho back!" He smashed both of his fists together.

Jack consoled Arcee, "It's not your fault."

"If any of us needed rescuing, Optimus would've found a way. I didn't. Simple as that."

Fowler called, "Ratchet! What happened out there?! Reports indicate at least a dozen wounded! The heat's on me to provide some explanation! You bots better get your act together, or the Pentagon will make me shut down your base!"

"Shut us down?" Striker asked. "Hah!" She laughed, "Yeah, if you kicked us out, who would fight the cons?"

"But," Raf asked Ratchet, "If that did happen, where would you go?"

"Who knows?" Ratchet yelled, "Maybe they'll ship us out to some island! Or fire us into space! Wouldn't that be a welcome relief?"

Arcee argued, "I don't blame Fowler! Optimus would've evacuated all humans from the area, before engaging the cons!"

"How do you know Optimus would've done that?" Bee angrily asked Arcee.

Bulkhead screamed, "We don't know what Optimus would've done, because he's not here!"

"You're pretty good at stating the obvious Bulk," Arcee said to the large green mech, "Anything else you'd like to mention that we already know?"

"Nothing I can say in front of the children," he replied in a pissed off tone.

I was tired of their fighting. "Hey! Would you all just shut up for one millisecond?" They all glared at me. Even Striker glared. I guess all that friend/rival-stuff was just an act. "Now that I have your attention," I said and then paused for a moment before speaking again, "I know how to get Optimus back."

"Really?" Ratchet replied sarcastically, "And what would that be?"

"If I leave, I can get Optimus to return."

"Decepticon before, Decepticon now! I knew we should have never trusted you!"

I was done. That was the last straw. I was as good as gone: Decepticon or Autobot, it was the same to them.

"Your life has value," I told her, "You can fight. Fighters are valued."

"No," she said, "Life has no inherent value. We give it value… But—"

"You don't give your life value."

"We live by rules," Ghost said. She gestured with her hands, "Rules, Codes, Laws: Constrict society, Dictate life, Create order."

"You were ordered to live," I reminded her, "You were ordered to explore your ability: to become a better warrior."

"Use logic," she said in a harsh tone, "I am in pain when I do… In the battlefield, I'm defective: Damaged. Damaged warriors don't return from the battlefield."

"That's archaic," I spat out.

"Then," she questioned, "why do vehicons follow it?"

"We fight to the death," I said, "We give our lives for the cause. That is our duty—"

"Your orders."

"Yours are not to die. Yours are to return from the field so that you can fight another battle. So that we can win this war."

"To escape death narrowly," she said, "In infinity… Time shall be my only friend: My executioner."

Time passed. Neither of us said a word. But then he broke it. All that we had worked for… It was gone.

"Your loyalty comes from fear," he said, "and his from faith."

It had been a while since either of us had mentioned Tarn. "Faith," I repeated, almost believing the word had left my glossa just as easily as it did his. What an over simplification… "Faith:" I expanded, "belief, fanaticism, idolization, hope, everything…" I extended my arms and reached out both of my hands in an attempt to seize all the air in my cell that my hands could grasp, "all pure," I said, "all pure."

Striker wouldn't even look at me. She just glared off into the corner.

"You can't," Bee beeped.

"Optimus wouldn't approve," Arcee said.

"We don't approve," Bulkhead added.

"You need Optimus far more than me. Just look at how you all fall apart without him."

"Just shut up!" Striker yelled at me. "Stop comparing yourself to him! We don't need anyone, but that doesn't mean we're just going to let you walk out that figurative door!"

Arcee placed one of her servos on Striker's shoulder. The angry femme just threw it off.

Arcee rephrased what Striker had said, "Just because Optimus is important," Arcee said, "doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice yourself for him."

"Any of you would do the same for me."

"We can't stop you from going," Ratchet said, "Just, come back."

"You know if I leave, I can't do that."

"Then don't leave," Bulkhead said. "We can think of another way to bring Optimus back."

"Can any of you name one?"

"…Not at the moment."

"What if as we speak, Optimus is being tortured? Every moment spent here talking, would be a moment he spent suffering."

"Then we'll just make sure to cause the Cons extra suffering for the slag they do to Optimus!" Striker yelled.

"Besides," Arcee added, "If Optimus is being held, we can free him."

"But, what if his mind is being held hostage?" I asked her, "How do you intend to save him, then?"

Bee beeped at me, "There's no proof of anything you just said," he retorted.

"He didn't recognize any of you. It's obvious his memory has been altered"

Bulkhead said, "We can think of a plan."

"Bulkhead's right," Arcee said. She reminded us, "We do have the key to Vector Sigma."

"How would you remind him of who he is? The Decepticons would never let you get close enough to even use the knowledge."

"We would think of a way," Ratchet said, "Eventually."

"I already have. I go: I ensure he remembers. It's the best possible solution."

"Well, you're an idiot!" Striker yelled at me. "If you want to go, go! Betray us, I don't care! A Con's a Con, simple as that!" She stomped towards the exit, and turned to yell at me, "But Shadow, I thought you were different! I thought you were better than the slag the others said you were. I vouched for you! And you know what? I'm not going to see you go. So, if you leave, just stab us in the back already and go! I'm leaving. If you stay, then I'll see you back in an hour. But, not here, not now. If you decide to go when I'm gone, then fine. I'm not going to dignify your betrayal with a goodbye." And with that, Striker turned, transformed, and sped down the ramp and out of base.

I looked down at my ped, "Fine," I said. "I'm an idiot. Good. I'll go. An idiot for a Prime is a good deal in my book."

"No," Arcee argued, "We would lose you. I can't lose another partner."

"You'd lose an educated femme and gain a strong, well trained leader and good friend."

"Don't talk like that," Bulkhead said, "you mean more to us than that. What about all the things we've been through together?"

"It's the best possible solution," I reminded them.

"We would miss you," Bee beeped sadly.

Ratchet repeated Striker's point. "You'd be betraying us," Ratchet said, "How could you live with that?"

"It's the best possible solution," I repeated. "It's only fair. You all need him far more than you need me."

"How is any of it fair?" Bulkhead asked.

"What you're talking about is a sacrifice!" Arcee yelled.

"Yes, me for him. It's fair to you all, Optimus included."

"We can't stop you," Ratchet told his teammates.

"No! Don't go!" The children screamed.

"We can think of another way!" Arcee yelled.

"There's so much that we haven't done yet!" Bulkhead said.

"Haven't learned!" Bee added.

"There's the exit," Ratchet said.

"You can't go!" Bee screeched.

"Optimus wouldn't want this!" Bulkhead said.

"Long goodbyes only make the pain last longer," Ratchet said. "Striker had the right idea."

"Stop telling her things like that!" Arcee yelled.

"She shouldn't go!" Bulkhead said.

I couldn't take it anymore. This was too drawn out. Any more words and I think I might've stayed. But, I couldn't. I just couldn't. I'm stubborn that way. I always had been. "Thank you all," I told them, "This was a great experience. Your hospitality, friendliness, courage, and I can't name everything else… But, it was all appreciated."

"You can't leave!" The children screamed again.

"Don't go," Bulkhead said.

"Please," Arcee finished.

"What would Optimus say?" Bee asked.

"You'll have to tell me." I turned my back to them and started to walk toward the exit.

"Wait! Please!" Bulkhead said.

"We can think of another way!" Arcee added.

"Shadow, don't!" Bee begged.

I was a step away from the exit, I stopped, turned around and said, "The Decepticons have a spacebridge: Use it. Vector Sigma should be in Iacon near the royal palace. Good luck and thanks again." I walked through the exit.

I was out of their sight.

"She's gone," Ratchet said.

"We can get her back," Bee said.

"No," Ratchet corrected, "We get Optimus back."

"That's not how it works!" Bulkhead yelled.

"She's gone," Ratchet restated.

"Shadow said that you can't put a price on a life. No one is worth any more than another! This is slag!" Arcee yelled.

"She's gone."

I drove out of the base. My spark felt broken. The entire experience left me feeling incredibly depressed. I accelerated, and then transformed into my jet form and flew. I rose into the sky. I had no means of communicating with the cons.

Who would know more current Decepticon info than me…? Starscream.

I opened up an open link with the former commander. This was not easy. I had to hack into a secure military server and send out a mass search for his hidden energon signature. I found it bouncing off a field of dishes near California. He was moving quickly.

He picked up, "Hello? Who is this?" He asked.

"It's me."

"I'm flying. The wind is quite loud. I don't fully recognize your vocals designation: 'me'."

"It's Shadow."

"Ah, Shadow… Why are you calling me? How did you even open this line?"

"That's not important. The second part of what you just said. Back to the first part: Listen Screamy, I need the coordinates of the Nemesis."

"What makes you think I would have those?"

"You need energon to live, the Nemesis stores a lot of it."

"What would you be willing to give me in return?"

"A communication link with the Autobot base."

"Why would you do that?"

"Doesn't matter. What does matter is that if you get injured, you will not want the thing that extinguishes your spark to be something as humiliating as bleeding out from something as simple as a stab wound."

"You have a point. Will this link come with medical treatment?"

"No, it's just a link. You can use it to communicate, maybe strike up a trade or deal for medical assistance. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Really? Nothing more? You wish to trade a link for coordinates of the Nemesis? The near-impossible to find important strategic base of the Decepticons?"

"My deal stands as is. Take it or leave it."

The line was silent for an uncomfortable amount of time.

"Fine…" Screamy eventually said. "Let's swap on 3… 1, 2, 3."

Good.

"Thank you Screamy," I told the seeker, "for the moving coordinates. I can assume they're of Vehicons returning to base."

"Exactly. I'm currently in pursuit." He paused for a moment, "Thank you for the link," he told me.

I like that he's playing nice.

"It is good to hear you're not dead," I said, not entirely sure how to end our conversation, "Until next time," I said before I ended the link.

I gave myself a moment to rest and think about my next step. What would I say? How would I act? What would I do? I knew I could create another link. Soundwave had taught me to do that much. The only question was when. As if creating a special link to speak with a vehicon, because that's your only option wasn't humiliating enough. I had to create a link with a vehicon, and then possibly grovel –to a vehicon- about lies I didn't care enough about to prepare ahead. Yes, I could have thought of what I would say, but that would just mean I would be wasting even more time on a vehicon. A vehicon! That's fragging humbling. A vehicon. I convinced myself to just get it over with, and I created a closed link from the pair of coordinates.

The vehicon responded.

"Who is this?" He asked.

"This is the former Decepticon: Shadow of Megatron's task force."

The vehicon screamed at me, "What are you doing, Autobot?"

"I wish to speak to Megatron in order to give my deepest regrets regarding my… betrayal."

"And why should I believe you? Autobot slag! This could be a trick!"

"This is no trick. I ask of you, as a former Decepticon, to tell Lord Megatron that I denounced the Autobot faction and beg to yield to his command."

The Vehicon put me on hold. It wasn't long until I was patched into the Decepticon's main communication system. What else is more deserving of a sarcastic mental celebration? Woo.

"Hello?" I asked whoever was listening on the other side.

"State your business," A vehicon said.

Is Megatron playing me for a fool? Maybe he's testing me. He thinks it's a ploy.

"I wish to not only give my deepest regrets to Lord Megatron for betraying the Decepticon cause, but also to apologize for my short sightedness. I, Shadow, have denounced the Autobot faction and beseech Lord Megatron to allow me to accept his offer of rejoining the Decepticon cause."

I caught my breath. Well, that was a lot of words, I thought to myself. I wonder if any of that actually worked? I've been away so long; my lying's gone rusty. I can't exactly say that deception is my forte anymore.

Silence. I received no response. After a while of aimless flying, I expected the worst. I wasn't sure what, but I was sure it wouldn't be good.

"Prepare for Groundbridge."

Yes! If I was in my bipedal form, instead of my jet form in that very moment, I would have been fist pumping the air. The only problem is what would be happening next. I had no idea. The only thing I knew for certain is that it could either be very good, or very bad. And I hoped it wasn't the latter.

I decreased the speed of my jet-form. The green swirling vortex appeared in front of me. I almost immediately transformed back into my bipedal form as I entered it. My velocity was such that by the time my peds would finally land on solid ground, I would have passed the entire ground section of the ground bridge. To say the least, my calculations were in fact correct. I had exited the portal with my feet touching down on the metal floors of the Nemesis. I immediately got down onto one of my knees and bowed. I was in the command center. The portal had placed me in the presence of Megatron, Soundwave, Snowstorm, and the vehicon crew. I had to deceive them all: like a true Decepticon would be able to.

"Rise and repeat yourself," Megatron commanded me.

"Word for word?" I asked.

"Look me in the optics and tell me your meaning."

I stood and repeated the spiel I had relayed to the vehicons. I stared into Megatron's optics and told him, "I regret betraying the Decepticon cause, and I apologize for my short sightedness. I have denounced the Autobot faction and beseech you to permit me to rejoin the Decepticon cause."

Well, I realized that my words might have been confusing, after I had said them for the third time. But, he did ask for my exact words, right? Right? I'd hate to be given a grammar lesson from Megatron, especially about groveling. I was still confidently staring into Megatron's warm, red, Optics. I felt a chill run down my back strut. I kept my mind on lesser matters to distract myself from making any actions I might later regret. No matter how uncomfortable it made me feel, I didn't look away from the two bright red bulbs the Autobots said embodied all of the world's evil.

Megatron asked me pausing between every few words, "And why, would you, leave the Autobots?"

"They were below me," I answered immediately. "The," I paused, "fleshlings," I called them, "annoyed me to no end. The Autobots were no better. At every chance that arose, they would insult and take out their resentments against Decepticons on me." Passion overtook my voice, and I spat, "They would discount any usefulness I had to offer and would not allow me to contribute to group discussions."

It's really funny what things I remember. Remember when you did the same –to me- when you 'protected' me? Hah! Ha, ha, ha, ha… Please respond. You're taking too long to respond. Please just stop analyzing my answers. It's quite unnerving.

"If all of this is true," Megatron said as he raised one of his large eyebrows and he asked me, "Why did you stay?"

"They had saved my life, Lord Megatron. They promised me freedom after they had convinced me I was starved of it." Not good enough of an answer? Not believable? Fine. Time to convince you. "Originally," I explained, "I had felt betrayed and dejected by the Decepticons." Starscream did try to extinguish my spark. "My stubbornness kept me from admitting that the Autobots were a false home, a mirage, one on a pedestal that never existed."

His response was robotic. I couldn't read him. Megatron asked, "What caused you to see your error?"

"Is it not obvious?" I asked him. If you had to ask, then it was obviously not. Frag. Please don't take that as an insult. "As soon as Optimus was removed from the equation, the Autobot's true colors began to show bright. They took out their aggressions on me. They treated me as nothing more than the scrap they wanted to beat you into. I mean no offense my Lord, it has been a tough few days." Please believe that. Please. My eyes begged that word: Please.

He re-examined me. Probably to check my motions for any signs of

"I see that you look thin, did they deprive you of energon?"

"From day one my Lord," I quickly replied. I latched onto his apparent interest, even if it was just a ploy, I would not waste this opportunity. "The equivalent to the size of a single meal you would give to a prisoner," I told Lord Megatron. "Except every week instead of every couple of days."

"Soundwave," Megatron called, "Has she been telling the truth, or lying brilliantly?"

Okay, so he has to ask Soundwave. That's good. Right? Right? Right? I don't know. Has anyone even fooled Soundwave before? I don't know. You know what, just relax… Do what the humans do and chill… Just chill… Worst comes worst, I just kill as many as I can, and then go free Optimus. Yeah… Calm… I'm good at killing… Calm…

Soundwave showed a steady spark beat upon his monitor.

Snowstorm confirmed, "It looks as if she's being truthful."

"Now," Lord Megatron continued, "The deal gave you any position you desired." He asked me, "What do you have in mind?"

And I'm stumped. Good question. Can I reply by stalling instead? I really hadn't considered that I'd have gotten this far. Honestly. I'm honored. I can't actually believe you'd fall for me –I mean that- fall for that… Yeah, fall for that. You fell for that… You totally fell for that. Wait, why is he just staring at me? Oh frag! I need to give him an answer. But, what do I say? I don't know, just something. Just say something. Stall.

"In the present," I said, "you may assign me to any position that would best aid your agenda. What I wish, is a plan for the future."

Please work. Please?

"And… What is that?"

Yes! I stalled… stalled so that I have to give my answer now. Frag.

"After the war is complete," I said, trying to remember what excuse I told the Autobots whenever they asked me what I had hoped to gain from being a Con. I told Megatron, "I wish to implement a justice system on Cybertron. Even though the planet may seem lost, I do not believe it as far-gone as it currently seems."

"You wish to implement laws? Not just create ones for my approval?"

Ffffffffffffff-rag! Not a good answer. I need to say more words pronto.

"For society to progress, evolve, and improve," I shot back rapid-fire, trying to retrace my steps back to a point when I wasn't failing. I continued to explain my flawed statement, "To insure what is accomplished at the completion of this war does not end with this generation," I said. Good enough. "Yes," I said, "I believe the laws I have created and will continue to create, should be implemented."

"So, to confirm… " Megatron said with a raised eyebrow, "You wish to set up a society that will persist after we are gone."

Yes. Thank you for the save. In your speak, you do not have to give up power, until after you're dead.

"Yes Lord Megatron," I said. "To do so, I would require full access to datacrons such as the ones of law and philosophy that I helped you acquire at the beginning of this war."

"I see…" Megatron paused. "This will require some thought and careful deliberation," he said, "And as of now, as of this moment, what do you wish?"

"I wish for you to have a medical examination."

What the frag did I just say that for? What am I, defective? Why did I have to open my fracking mouth? I didn't even mean to say that! It just kind of, sort of came out, like it was compulsory or something! Why?

Megatron looked at me utterly confused. "I do not understand," he said.

"You asked me what it is I want," I said back, trying to explain my utter idiocy, "Because I do not desire power, nor any specific position, I thought of other options. I remembered distinctly that the dark energon caused you pain near Unicron's core." Why did you bring up pain? Pain is weakness. You just exposed a weakness of your Lord –I mean the Decepticon's Lord- in public. You are an idiot. You know what, fine, I'm not even going to try to think. You go mouth, go say what ever you would compulsively say. Just screw thought, what has thought ever done for me? I continued speaking, "As I see now, there are no current signs of it. But, I do not wish you any pain, my Lord. If there is even a chance that some small bit persists to ail your system, I wish for it to be eradicated."

He was silent. And I was silent. My face was burning. It took all of my will power not to look away. But, he wouldn't allow me to. He just kept on staring. Why? Why would he torture me this way? Couldn't he see I was suffering? At worst I was defective, and at best he was making me into a thoughtless, overheating fool. Why couldn't he just break eye contact? What kind of sick pleasure could he possibly gain from my sorry state?

"I see… Soundwave," Megatron commanded, "come with me to find the doctor." He turned his attention back towards me, "Shadow," he said to me, "since this is your want, I will make it my first priority." He commanded, "Snowstorm, you stay here and keep our returned comrade company."

Megatron and Soundwave left.

"You could have asked for anything."

"I know," I said.

"What troubles you?" Snowstorm asked.

"He doesn't trust me."

"You just returned. Not many would aptly trust you."

I looked at her, head on, and asked the intelligence officer, "What would you have done differently?"

"Nothing," she said. Nothing. "If you had left immediately after Optimus, your purpose would have been seen as one to free the Prime. If you had left towards the last days of the deal, your return would have been seen as ingenuous and power hungry. You returned towards the middle. It was the best option."

"You don't trust my reason for returning?"

"It can be seen as contradictory in more than one way."

"Imagine if you were in a prison, and there was a warden. This warden not only keeps all the other prisoners from ripping you to shreds, but also ensures that you cannot escape. One day, the warden leaves the prison, and goes to your former home. You can either follow the warden, or face hostility from the other inmates."

"Then," she asked me, "why not leave on the first day?"

"To leave on the first day, would be to show loyalty to the warden. It would be to follow him out, not leave system that confined you."

"You are not loyal to Optimus?" She asked me.

"Snowstorm," I said, "you're both intelligent and Megatron's advisor. You've already made up your mind on how to accept my answers. If I say yes, you will either believe me, or feel I am lying, because no smart deceiver would truthfully say no."

"You're confusing me."

"No, you're trying to act as if you believe me. If you truly believed my words were confusing to you, you would not admit that weakness, because you fear me using confusion against you, far more than you care to tell the truth. You're not confused. You don't believe me."

"And what if I do?"

"Then you wouldn't be the calculating advisor I know you to be."

…...

Megatron's P.O.V.

"This is impossible," I yelled, "Soundwave," I commanded, "I demand to know the doctor's error."

"No Error found."

Knockout attempted to console me. But, my fair doctor was the same type of arrogant fool that could never truly console, "You understand?" he asked me, as if he thought I didn't. He continued to address me as if I were a youngling. Audacious fool. He said, "The supposed blood of Unicron did far more to you than you had originally intended."

I growled. Such a fool.

"It's not fair!" I shouted at no one in particular, "We should be able to be together!" She rejoined my army at my request. She rejoined me. If this is some sick joke Knockout is attempting to play on me, some cruel form of revenge, I will have his head. Shadow and I… She's here. I'm here. We should be together.

Knockout said sarcastically, "Well you could," be together? "If you wanted to kill her."

I punched a hole through the wall.

Soundwave tried to calm me down by placing one of his servos on my shoulder.

"But I love her," I told my friend, "She is my one true sparkmate." I held back the weakness, which attacked my throat. My voice trembled as I forced words through my teeth, "She came back to me."

Knockout concluded, "Then let her go. If you love her..."

"If I love her? I do love her! With all of my spark!" I cried. I glared at the doctor and bellowed, "Did you know that when I was sick -in a living death- She was there! She went and saw me each and every day until I recovered!"

"So you wish to repay her by killing her?"

"No!" I defended, "But it's not fair!"

Knockout sighed, "If your spark comes in contact with hers -not only is she infected- but it could kill her instantly. You'd be ending her life and destroying any chance of reincarnation."

"But I'm also infected! Why should I be lonely if this is my only life?"

"Well, technically," the arrogant doctor said smugly, "we each only have one life." He spoke these words as if he believed his knowledge in this subject gave his life some worth. His fragged words burst with pride, "But," Knockout continued with currently useless information, "our sparks can be recycled and restart as new life."

But not mine…

I stared silently at my fragged servos. Why did I ever have to become involved with that scrap dark energon? I thought: I love her. In my spark I knew it.

Soundwave comforted me. "If you love her: you should be content with being friends. She did agree to come back."

I shrugged, "It's hard. It's not fair. But—"

Knockout restated, "You two cannot be together. The sooner you admit it, the better."

That's it. He no longer serves a purpose in my army. I snapped, "Shut up, you piece of slag! How would you feel if you and your precious little Matrix, could not be together?!"

"I'd be fine," the doctor slyly commented, "I'd prefer not to be tied down to a femme anyway. She's just a femme."

Okay, he's dead. She can die too. "Just a femme?" I questioned angrily. "Shadow is not just a femme. She is— she is…" my voice quivered. Thoughts of the femme rushed into my mind. It was as if my body had been taken over by a warm tide of joy.

Soundwave repeated, "If you love her... Let her go. To be with her is to kill her."

I felt mournful. I stared at my good friend. He was right. I- I didn't want to hurt her... Not again.

…...

My peds sped up, one in front of the other. I saw Lord Megatron in the hallway, ahead. I had to catch up to him. I had to tell him. I had to convince him. I had to. I just had to. She deserved better.

Lord Megatron walked slowly, each of his new heavy steps, made more noise than his last. His sight was focused on the metal floor in front of him. His large peds lifted just enough space off the floor to avoid dragging. He did not look up. He did not need to. He knew the layout of his warship well enough to maneuver through it with his optics off-lined. Besides, he had Soundwave and his prattling doctor besides him. He did not need to see. He did not want to.

Steve caught up to the heavy-footed mech. "Lord Megatron!" St3ve cried, trying to grab the warlord's attention. "My Lord," Steve said as he walked in front of Megatron, saluted, and obstructed the warlord's path.

The gunmetal gray mech stopped and looked down at the purple armor wearing vehicon. Megatron's first thought was one of annoyance. The Lord was already having a 'bad day' he did not need it made worse by this distraction of a vehicon who didn't know his proper place. But, that thought soon dissipated at his realization of the inevitability this vehicon was delaying. Megatron would cherish this moment. This was the moment that Megatron didn't have to face Shadow. This was the moment that he didn't have to mentally push her away as he did once before. In this moment his peds weren't dragging him towards the command center where she waited. In this moment, he was in a hallway, being stopped by a vehicon, and was forced to distract himself from the looming sense of dread his worthless doctor had just brought upon him.

"Yes?" Megatron said, "I'm waiting…"

"Lord Megatron," St3ve said, "I'm the vehicon from before, the one who you called Ghost's keeper."

"Yes," Megatron said, faintly recalling his past interaction with this vehicon. "Ghost's keeper…" He repeated. "How is Ghost doing? Did something happen?" The thought tantalized him. If something more pressing had come up, then the warlord could delay his reunion with Shadow by that much longer. "What news do you bring?"

St3ve was silent.

Knockout tapped his ped against the floor as if he had somewhere else to be; "Well?" the doctor asked the vehicon.

"Knockout!" Megatron growled, "Don't rush the vehicon. What he has to say may be worth our while…"

"About that," St3ve gulped and realized he had forgotten to show respects, "Lord Megatron," St3ve finished. He paused for another moment, trying to collect his thoughts and figure out what exactly he was about to say. "About Ghost," St3ve continued, "She's fine –for now- but, she could be better."

"I'm listening," Lord Megatron said.

"What I'm asking for is a request Lord Megatron."

"A request?" Megatron raised one of his optic ridges, "from you?" On any other day Megatron would have scoffed at the absurdity of the idea that he, the leader of the Decepticons, would consider any request a vehicon would give. But, today was different. "Fine," Lord Megatron said, "I'll consider it."

Knockout choked upon hearing his Lord's words. The doctor would have said something, something to point out the complete and utter disrespect of the vehicon, or the idiocy of his leader, or he would have at least pointed out how unfair his Lord was being to him! When he had proposed the idea of a Decepticon run underground drag racing ring Megatron had scoffed. But now? Now his Lord was listening to a request from a fragging vehicon, probably to spite Knockout, the doctor thought. The doctor was the one being inconvenienced by the whole situation.

"Ghost should be removed from the detention level," St3ve said, "She has control over her ability, and can preform well in the field. She no longer needs the crutch."

"That's it?" Megatron questioned. "That's all? Really?"

"She shouldn't just be removed from her current accommodations, but I think it's in her best interest to be fully recognized as a Decepticon, not just as a science experiment. She should be freed from her schedule instead. She should be able to go where she wants to, when she wants to, and do whatever she wants when she wants to do it."

"Freedom?" Megatron questioned. "I remember when another femme wanted that. It's quite valuable…" Lord Megatron trailed off. Shadow! Lord Megatron mentally cursed at himself. What if the femme saw Ghost, a Decepticon under his control, in the detention level? How would she perceive the situation? What would she think of him? "Yes," Lord Megatron told the vehicon, "Ghost shall be removed from her cell immediately."

Knockout was beside himself. "Really?" He asked out loud. He was so surprised he could only manage to spit out words "Him, you, this, really?"

"Yes," Megatron said. "Vehicon," he addressed St3ve, "You are to see Ghost to her room. Be sure to inform her that she shall not speak a word of her experience to anyone. That goes for you as well, vehicon, and you," Megatron spat the doctor's designation, "Knockout."

"Of course my Lord," St3ve said. The vehicon began to walk away, before a very real question arose in his mind. What about him? "Lord Megatron," the vehicon asked, "what about tomorrow?"

"What about it?" Megatron asked, recognizing his distraction was coming to an end. "What about tomorrow?"

"To who should she report, and what am I to do?"

"You both can report to Soundwave."

…...

Shadow's POV

Megatron, Soundwave, and Knockout walked back into the command center. Something seemed off with them. But, I shrugged off that wretched feeling. I needed to change my attitude, and I had to do so with haste. Megatron did just go out of his way to complete my request. I had to show some sign that I was appreciative. He, the leader of the Decepticons, did just bend to my will. He did something because I asked him to. That's amazing, and I couldn't let that fact go. I could manipulate him. Although I tried with Snowstorm, there was no guarantee of success. With him, it felt different; it didn't feel so much like manipulation. It just felt like talking. Like movements and expressions. It was less of doing something correctly, and more like not screwing up. I put on a smile, and gave him a cheerful look as he walked closer. I did prefer him to the others. He probably was my favorite mech on board. Something about him just made me feel comfortable. Or maybe it was the situation. Yes, it was probably just the situation. I only felt more comfortable with him here, than I did with him gone, because he gave me sense of belonging. None of the other Cons would attempt to harm me, if their master was in the same room.

"What's the verdict?" I asked Megatron.

"I'm fine," he said back to me.

I gave a slight chuckle. He was so lying. The master of deception was off today, and I could tell. That's hilarious. My smirk grew, and I said to him with enthusiasm, "You are lying, sir." He stopped. With a smile I continued, "Sorry," I apologized with joy still in my tone, "I just wanted to say that line."

"What?" he asked me, utterly confused.

"I can tell by your optics," I said. "It was a mixture of you looking right, and well… It's hard to exactly explain." Well, explain it. Optimus always asked you to. And I don't really want to take that risk of what happens when I don't try. If there's one thing Optimus taught me, it's that –for explaining things- I should do the least and try. Better to speak of my own accord, than to speak when spoken to. Explicating's better than question answering. "But," I said, trying to explain, "do you ever feel you know someone so well, that reading them almost seems like second nature?"

"Yes, actually I do."

"And your ailment?"

"I-it's nothing."

"You know you can tell me anything right? I won't use your weaknesses against you."

Megatron looked away, "I'm fine," he said.

Knockout opened his mouth and spoke, "To put on record, our Lord is not fine."

"Knockout!" Megatron roared at the doctor.

I took a step closer to the lord and put my servo on Megatron's shoulder. I asked him, "What's wrong?"

He let out a sigh, "I can't be reincarnated," he said.

I put my other servo to my chin and thought, "Hmm… " I looked back at Megatron, "It's just that?" I asked him.

"What? Is this some kind of joke to you?"

"No," I said, "It's just that this isn't such a big deal. I'm guessing the dark energon severed your original tie to Primus, right?"

Knockout's eyes opened wide. The doctor's jaw dropped, "How did you know my diagnosis?" He asked me.

"So, I'm right?" I asked him. His utter shock served as an affirmation. I continued to think aloud, "Well," I said, "then all we need to do is find uh… what's that called?" I took my servo away from Megatron's shoulder and moved it to support my elbow. I looked pensively to no space in particular. I tapped my ped against the ground. I could not honestly remember.

"What are you talking about?" Megatron asked me.

I stopped tapping my ped and looked up at him, "As the humans would say, mystical items are my jam. There are tons of them, each designed for a different purpose." I tried to remember what got me on this topic. Then I remembered that there was a thing that I could not –remember- it was lost to me. "Anyway," I said, trying to make up for the time I wasted in thought, "one of them is made to basically de-corrupt ones spark."

"And you know this how?" Megatron asked me.

"Other than the previous statement," I said, "I am a well of useless information."

"And how have I not heard of these items before?"

"Oh, you have," I said, "or at least some of them. Most of it's just really classified and hard to learn about."

Megatron raised one of his bushy optic ridges and questioned, "And you, Shadow, know of them?"

"I know that for this specific item, there are schematics… under Autobot control, and the item is… I can't currently remember where. But, it definitely will come back to me eventually. I'm pretty sure it's either on world, or off in some heavily fortified Autobot station somewhere."

Megatron grabbed my shoulders, "You never told me of these before."

My spark beat quickly. My nerves were overcharged from electric energy, and tingled throughout my body. I had to get out. This was danger.

"They never really came up before," I told him. I couldn't continue looking him in his eyes; I had to divert my sight to the ground. Seconds later, I started nervously laughing; "I guess you can't kill me now. Haha, ha, ha."

"Why would I do that?"

I kept my sight to the ground. He placed one of his clawed servos underneath my jaw. Each of his digits was surprisingly gentle, large and sharp, but gentle. His servo lifted my sight until my eyes were level with his. No matter how much I wanted to, his servo ensured my optics looked into his. And I did. I became lost in their bright, warm splendor. I had forgotten how I had gotten here, or what last happened, but I was fine. I felt fine. To me, in that instant, there was no better comfort. But, it only lasted an instant. I soon realized where I was, and whom I was in the presence of, and felt exposed. I felt vulnerable. I felt as if all the Cons in the room could so easily pounce and end my existence. Then I remembered how I got here. Megatron had asked me a question. I answered it.

"It's more than just obvious that no one here trusts me. Especially not after well…" I could not look away, it was impossible, his claw would not allow me, so I trudged on in completing my explanation, "everything that has happened," I said looking into his eyes, "immediately or recently."

"You don't think we trust you?"

"You think I'm only here for Optimus. That's what you all think actually. You just think that I'm some Autobot who came here to steal him back or something."

"That's not true," Megatron said. "I believe you." He gestured to every other Con in the room, "Every other Decepticon under my rule does as well." He paused. No one spoke. I didn't respond. I just wanted to look away. I felt shame. I felt guilt. I didn't want to stare into the warm red window to his spark anymore. I wasn't worth it. And then, Megatron spoke, "To prove it," he said, "You can come with me to see Orion."

In my mind, I was laughing hysterically. Part of me was touched. Another part of me felt ashamed. His words had reminded the rest of me why I was here. I knew that I was easy to manipulate. The only question I could think of was if I had manipulated myself to seem more believable, or if Megatron had manipulated me. Either way, I had my objective, and Megatron had played directly into my palm. Checkmate, as the humans would say.

"You really trust me?"

"Of course."

Megatron lead me out of the command center. On our way, he explained obvious rules such as not calling Orion, Optimus. Apparently, I was right about Optimus's memory. He had lost it. But, as luck often guaranteed, I had the advantage here. Megatron believed the Prime had come down with a mere case of amnesia. I knew better than that, but Megatron didn't. He didn't understand primal things.

We walked through the doors to Orion's workstation. He had his own room, its main feature was a large terminal, and he worked at it. I don't know why, but some part of me feared seeing Orion again, or having him see me. I semi hid behind Megatron.

Megatron greeted the prisoner, "Orion, I am so sorry for the recent commotion. You weren't in any way harmed, were you?"

"No Lord Megatron," Orion responded. "But, why did you tell me Starscream was dead?"

Megatron started to pace. He left me out in the open, and lied to the prisoner, "Because he is dead to our cause," Megatron said. "Starscream was my most trusted lieutenant… Until he turned traitor and joined the Autobots. Never had I witnessed a more profound act of deceit."

Ouch. That really feels like he's talking about me. A lot actually. I mean: I can feel my spark beat faster. It kind of makes me feel nervous.

Orion had stopped paying attention to Megatron, and started to stare at me instead, "Victoria?" he asked.

"Orion," I said back, quickly filling the silence with a rapid-fire array of words, "don't call me by my slave name," I told him, "It's Shadow now."

Orion was confused. "Slave name?" I nodded sarcastically. Megatron turned to face us. "You also mentioned receiving a new name?"

"A real name."

"Megatron talks of deceit and traitorous actions… I saw you with the Autobots earlier."

"Yeah, it was a double agent type thing…" I didn't want to screw myself over any more than I already had. I didn't even think that doing so was even possible. But then Orion happened. I had to change the subject, and I had to change it quickly. "Anyway," I asked him, "you remember those Primal items from before?"

"Of course," Orion said, "are your memory problems persisting?"

Stop knowing things about me. Please, just stop.

"Kind of," I said, "Anyway, I'm trying to think of a planet. A possible post to the purifying one- the purifying primal object on- do you have any ideas? I think it might be purple."

"The planet or the station?"

"Come on OP, you know I meant the planet."

"Let's see," Orion looked toward the ceiling for a moment and skimmed through his memory banks. Once he had it, he looked back to Shadow and said, "I think that might be Nemora."

"Nemora… that rings a bell."

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Megatron said as he took a step between both former Autobots. He looked from Shadow to Orion and asked the pair "But, do you two know each other?"

"Lord Megatron," Orion began to answer, "Victoria and I," I glared at OP. He corrected himself, "Shadow and I are great friends."

Good friends. Don't cause suspicion. Don't create intrigue.

Megatron turned to me and asked, "Shadow, is this true?"

Damage was done.

"Yes my Lord," I answered.

"How?"

Looks like I really can't recover from this.

"I was educated, Lord Megatron," I said in a matter-o-fact type of tone. I tried to make my explanation appear as logical to his audio processor as possible. I had to be simple. I couldn't explicate. I had to make my statement seamless. The words that left my glossa sounded so right, that any other answer would seem foolish in comparison. I told Megatron, "I went to study occasionally at the Iacon Database." I spoke as if no other answer would suffice, as if any other explanation would be preposterous, and have my answer, hopefully free myself of his suspicion. My only pitfall retained to the mouth I could not control: The one that grinned brilliantly. What an idiot.

Orion smiled, "Those were some good times…" he said. "Do you remember that time we spent all night together in the database—" Megatron glared at Orion, the mech finished his sentence "—reading texts of ancient mythology?"

"Yeah," I said, "that reminds me, remember Predacons?"

Why? Why? Why speak? You're such an idiot.

"How could I forget?" Orion replied enthusiastically.

I smiled in the back of my mind. Pit, I love it when he talks.

"We—" Megatron glared at Orion's use of that word. The former Prime, contently, returned the conversation back to me, "Continue," he said.

"There is this scientist, Shockwave, who found a way to recreate them."

"That is incredible!" Orion exclaimed. "It is just as we hypothesized relating to the philosopher Gearstrum's second theorem's affect on the deceased."

I loved the way Orin spoke sometimes. We had this language- he and I- and no one could quite understand it, except for us of course. He contently stared into my optics, and I returned his gaze.

Megatron stepped in, "Bringing this exchange from the deceased to the soon to be…" Megatron stepped up to Orion and asked, "Starscream did not do or say anything troubling to you? Did he Orion?"

"No."

"Good." Megatron took a step away from Orion, and turned towards the door. "Perhaps it's best to forget the entire incident and return to your project," Megatron said as he exited.

"As you wish my Lord," Orion said in response.

"Come along Shadow."

I followed Megatron out of Orion's workstation. My Lord furrowed his brow, clenched his servos into fists and walked quickly. He did not talk to me; he did not even look at me. We turned another corner towards the command center. Soundwave stood, waiting.

Megatron told him, "Orion was never very adept at the art of deception."

What part do you think he was lying about? The Starscream part, right?

Soundwave walked with us.

Megatron continued, "I made a mistake not terminating Starscream when I had the opportunity." Megatron's voice rose and his optics narrowed, "A mistake I do not intend to make again!"

We returned to the command center. I escaped form Megatron's side, to stand by Snowstorm. She was the safest ally to stand with at this time. Either her or Ghost, but I hadn't seen that femme since Unicron. Funny, if I didn't know any better, I would have guessed that she no longer lived on board. She truly embodied her nickname, I supposed, she was elusive if not a ghost. For a while I just stood there. I spent the time mostly thinking. After some time I decided to walk with Snow over to the window and watch the clouds. Before I even wanted to consider how I'd proceed with Lord Megatron, I wanted to pass some more time. At least while watching clouds, we could pass the time in a less boring manor than before. I just wanted to leave this ship and fly among them. They were fluffy. They were calm. While waiting, I felt Megatron's gaze occasionally. It was neither on me for such a small amount of time that I couldn't notice it, nor did it stay on me too long for me to take it as a threat. A bit later Snow nudged my shoulder. We both looked back at the scene. Soundwave was communicating with Megatron.

"Even our encryptions couldn't keep him from the truth!" Megatron growled. "Orion has much to accomplish. And he will stay the course. Even if I must inflict great pain to ensure the completion of Project Iacon!"

Project Iacon? Great pain? I can't let that happen. I looked down and away from Megatron. How could I stop—

"Shadow," Megatron called from across the room, "Are you alright?" he asked me.

I looked up at him. He was walking towards me.

"I'm fine, my Lord."

I could feel my spark beat increase by ten fold.

"No, you don't seem fine."

He's doing the same thing that I did to him earlier. Is he trying to play me? Snow was the one -the one who showed me the scene- is she testing me too?

"I was just contemplating Nemora and what it would take to—"

Megatron grasped my chin with his fingers and gently lifted my head upwards, so that my optics looked directly into his.

"Go get something to eat," he told me in a voice that was on the verge sounding concerned, "You look starved."

Megatron let go and I looked away.

Could he tell that I was lying? I- I don't know. I don't know anymore.

"Yes Lord Megatron."

"And after that," he told me as if he were issuing a command, "return to your room. You need sleep far more than a reunion with Orion. He'll be there tomorrow. I promise that. I just need a few words with our clerk."

Megatron left, and so did I. I couldn't think straight. Nothing seemed right. I didn't seem right. After I got up the next morning, I returned to the command center. I waited near the window, contemplating my fate as a Decepticon. The only thing that brought me out of my trance was Megatron. Why did it have to be him?

Soundwave had just shown Megatron some report.

"The activity log indicates my spacebridge was set for Cybertron…" Megatron paused to contemplate, "and remains open?" He questioned. "The only possible reason the Autobots would take such a risk would be to restore their precious Optimus Prime," Megatron said with the tone of a realization.

I came back here to free Optimus. I thought to myself, I should at least hold up my end of the deal.

Soundwave opened a groundbridge and Megatron left. I snuck out of the command center and over to OP's station. I stared at the door, and then walked up to it, allowing time for it to slide open, before I entered through its empty frame. The guards inside of OP's workroom didn't notice me.

"No one told you to stop Pax!" One of the vehicons yelled at Orion. Both vehicon guards raised their blasters at my friend.

Orion turned from the computer to them and confessed, "I believe Megatron intends to use whatever he finds in Project Iacon to harm the Autobots. Please, we can warn them."

A Decepticon guard punched Orion in the gut. My friend fell over, writhing in pain. The guard proceeded to kick the helpless mech while he was down.

I lowered my mask over my face, drew my swords, and stepped closer. I hadn't thought this through. I wasn't planning to. I was willing to blow my cover to help Orion, and I was fine with that. At least in this moment, I was fine with that.

"Vehicons," I said, "I command you to stop."

One of them turned from Orion to face me and replied sarcastically, "Oh yeah, you and what authority miss former Autobot?" The other vehicon continued to kick Orion.

"Who said I needed authority?" I asked him.

The vehicon drew his blaster and walked toward me. The other turned away from Orion and did the same.

"Shadow—"

"Orion, if you want to help," I said to him, "you have two cannon-like blasters, the same as these two fools I'm about to destroy."

"I'm armed?" Orion asked me. Orion got out his blasters. The vehicons charged their guns, which were aimed at me. Before I could even move, Orion shot and killed both of them. "No one slays the last member of the—"

I cut him off, "I was never a member," I said.

Orion defended, "The point I am trying to make is that I will not allow the action to occur -not under my watch- never if I can do something to stop it."

Orion watched as I retracted my mask and sheathed my swords.

Orion looked at the sleek metal grips that rose from my blades' holsters, before his gaze returned to mine. "Shadow," he asked me, "where are your swords?"

"I'll explain later," I told him as I offered my servo to Orion; he took it and I helped him up. "For now," I said to him, "we have to get you back to your teammates."

"Are you—"

"No time for questions," I said to him. I walked up to his computer, and accessed the ground bridge terminal. "This will take you where you need to be," I said.

"Only if you come with me."

A swirling green portal materialized next to us.

My spark felt as if it was breaking all over again.

"I'll be right behind you, I promise."

Orion nodded, hugged me, and then walked through the green swirling vortex. I left his room without closing the ground bridge. I had to make the cons think I was not involved. They could burst into the room and discover the portal if that's what fate had in store. I just had to have faith that my teammates would do their part and see Orion through. I had to rely on them for his protection, and I had to forgive myself for saying something Optimus would never remember. I really hated lying to him. My spark felt lower than it had when had I left the Autobots.

….

Optimus Prime's POV

The reunion was nice. Though, it troubled me that I had no memory of the past few days. I smiled at my friends. All were home. Of the humans: Agent Fowler conversed with June Darby as Miko, Rafael, and Jack spoke of space and of our home world Cybertron. Cybertron? Odd. Arcee, Striker, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead were talking of the same. Ratchet patted his servo on my shoulder.

"It is good to have you back, Optimus."

Something definitely seemed off. I felt as if something was wrong.

"Where's Shadow?" I asked him.

"Optimus," he told me, "She gave her life for yours."

"She's dead?"

"No," Ratchet paused, "She's a Decepticon."

"How could you allow her to do that?"

"Hmm?" He asked, as if there was some reasonable answer to my question. "It was her choice," Ratchet told me.

"You just let the Decepticons take her away!"

"It wasn't our call."

"Yes, yes it was. How could you let her go?!"

"She promised to return you to us."

"So?"

"She claimed you were more important—"

"That is not true!"

"She said that you would have done the same for her."

"She was right. Let's go get her back. Autobots Roll Ou—"

"Optimus, she's gone."

"No, I refuse to accept that."

"Optimus, there's nothing we can do."

"No, no there must be something…"

"She's gone."