Player and Puppets

Chapter 1. Shadow Falls

AN: Coming terms to what has happen in the past. This is the aftermath of Prowl being connected to Devastator. Plus whole nastier stuff that is coming about

Prowl look at the stars once again. How long he had been working maintain order on Cybertron? Over four million Earth years, he done things that are questionable and leaves feeling tainted. When did things started to go wrong? The loss of his former partner weighed heavily on his spark, Chromedome. They worked together and were at one time friends. Iacon was taken over by Starscream and his friends no longer trust him. Perhaps they did trust him. Prowl shook the confusing thought out it doesn't matter if his Friends no longer trust him. Prowl no longer trust himself.

Bumblebee…" Spoke Prowl looking at the yellow mech.

"Prowl." Spoke Bumblebee looking at the files and not his security officer. "We will fix things."

Prowl remain silent at the yellow mech. "Your burden enough."

"Prowl." Spoke Bumblebee looking at his Security Officer.

Several mechs look warily at Prowl and Bumblebee expecting something but this new to them and not even predictable. Dirge look troubled by the tension between the two Autobots and Prowl glance at the Decepticon in cool assessment. Like Starscream he left the Decepticons but for different reasons he is too sick of war whereas the Air Commander did it for power. Swindle and Blurr remained in Iacon to keep an eye on things.

"Prowl." Spoke Dirge

"What is it?" Ask Prowl coldly.

"You are not thinking about what happen in Iacon recently." Spoke Dirge dour tone.

Prowl blue optics stop cold and look at Dirge in a new light. "What do you mean?"

"The hollow feeling…." Spoke the Decepticon sadly. "and you have it. Bombshell reminds you of it. Bee doesn't know what it is like the hollow and empty feeling is like and he is lucky for that. Some of the Cons' have it too and until now I realize the same goes for the Bots'."

Prowl hated the Decepticons it made life easier. The last thing he ever wanted is to have a Decepticon understand the feeling. Prowl face remained impassive even though what in his Spark is not.

"I made a list of those who lost to the feeling." Spoke Dirge softly. "One of them is an Autobot named Nightbeat. "

"It seems you have the same feeling." Spoke Prowl logically.

"No." Spoke Dirge evenly. "I lost a good pal of mind to it. Yeah he is still online but he is not the same."

"Who is he?" Ask Prowl intrigue to know more what the Decepticon knows.

"Spinister." Answer Dirge as he took off.

Ironhide look at Prowl in concern. Dirge might be on to something the Red mech thought. Bumblebee has a lot on his plate and Prowl had some personal concerns he wanted to talk about. Something eating at Prowl many mechs sees him as completely logical and unemotional similar to what Shockwave is. Prowl has emotions but they are buried deeply control most of the time.

"What is wrong pal?" Ask Ironhide calmly.

Prowl look at Ironhide cool assessing manner for a moment.

"You can trust me." Spoke Ironhide

"I feel things I don't understand." Spoke Prowl finally.

"Devastator kind of things?" Ask Ironhide looking at the security mech. "Yeah the whole thing you went through must have unburied some stuff. "

"I suppose." Spoke Prowl in defensive tone. Logic always been more productive than emotions and it was preferred. The Constructicons brought with them unbridled emotions when Prowl merged, and it shake his control over well everything. So now separated Prowl found that the same control he had for emotions was gone. In truth the aspect of emotions did not phase Prowl and the violence nature and the illogic of it shook him. "It could be called a Devastator kind of things."

"Who knows what else the Cons' did to you?" Ask Ironhide in a sigh. "The fact is Prowl we forgot that not some logic machine filled eh al…al whatever you call it. "

"I find my situation will compromise the safety of the group." Spoke Prowl coldly "So it is logical for me to leave."

"You mean run." Spoke Ironhide looking sternly at Prowl.

Prowl glared at Ironhide for the first time. "What is the logical course of action, Ironhide?"

"First thing I would say Prowl." Smirk Ironhide looking at security chief. "Screw logic it is not helping ya compartmentalize things." Prowl look at him intensely. "Is it the fact that you believe you killed Wheeljack."

"Bombshell used me to kill my closest comrade." Spoke Prowl slowly processing it. "I logically say I am not responsible but there is annoying but."

"You feel guilty." Spoke Ironhide in a sigh. "Prowl, I am not going to lie to you. We all feel guilty. Bombshell, may had made you pull tha trigger but we never suspected he had you enthralled that length of time. "

"This is going help me how?" Ask Prowl folding his arms

"Prowl?" Spoke Bumblebee walking over to him.

"Yes." Spoke Prowl feeling unwanted emotions again.

"Prowl….," spoke Bumblebee looking at larger Mech for a moment. "I lost myself in planning and I am sorry for not listening to you. You are not a burden."

"Why start now Bumblebee?" Ask Prowl coolly. "It is not like you listen before. I through talking, Ironhide, I have data to process now."

Ironhide merely nodded as Prowl walked off.

"It ain't an easy road for him, Bee." Spoke Ironhide looking at the Yellow mech. "Somethin bugging Prowl and ain't Devastator or Iacon."

Bumblebee looks at Ironhide for moment. "I will be there if he needs someone to talk to."

"It ain't about talking…." Spoke Ironhide wisely. "Prowl is willing to talk it is matter of trust. I think Prowl pretty much ruled you out, Bee."

"I am his friend." Spoke Bumblebee looking hurt at Ironhide.

"Prowl been hurt, Bee." Spoke Ironhide looking at the yellow mech. "It is more of a question who does Prowl feel comfortable with."

Memories flooded the processor unit in Prowl mind. It was memories that were suppressed and nearly forgotten. Prowl didn't want Dirge to be right about the feeling. When did he had this feeling as Prowl allow Processor to take him back.

A cell it was at the Institute. Prowl waited for his captors to arrive they gave him plenty Energon cubes during his stay. Orion Pax wanted the Clinic to be investigated his partner Tumbler were doing so but they were caught. Prowl was separated from his partner the inkling of what is going happen played in circuits of the Enforcer. His tormentor gave himself a horrible nickname of Mindwipe.

"Ah you didn't take the Energon?" Spoke Mindwipe as he entered the cell.

"It is lace with drugs 99.99999% of probability." Spoke Prowl coolly.

"That is correct." Spoke MIndwipe impressed. "I see now why my Superiors want you as their agent and Orion Pax's."

"I will not work for them." Spoke Prowl firmly.

` "Ah but you will it is not a matter of choice." Spoke Mindwipe calm tone. Prowl look up and caught in his mesmoric gaze. "Prowl…."

"Yes." Spoke Prowl in monotone

"Use the Energon." Spoke Mindwipe

Prowl took the Energon to his lips began drink it. The drugs did what they are supposed in slowing his thinking process and lowering his will for the next phase.

Prowl frown a bit it is feedback loop but from where. The clinic a chill of dread and fear went down his spine of the servos unit. Emotions again why is he having them and about this strange memory. Chromedome is long gone but something happen to them.

"Man you look like slag." Spoke Jazz looking at his superior officer.

"Huh…" Spoke Prowl looking at Jazz in surprise.

"Yeah I am off Shift." Spoke Jazz in mirthless grin. "Blurr's place sure hoppin. Are you feeling okay Prowl?"

"I feel too much lately, Jazz." Answer Prowl shaking the feedback loop off.

"Eh that is a problem for you." Nodded Jazz in concern.

"I need you get some old conspiracy files for me." Spoke Prowl looking at the saboteur

"That nonsense…" Snorted Jazz "I mean there enough under Starscream government."

"Starscream is in charge?" Ask Prowl

"That must been one powerful feedback loop?" Spoke Jazz in disgust. "I mean whatever that memory is wasn't the warm touchy feely kind."

"The files, Jazz." Spoke Prowl evenly. "Will be located in ,Redalert's locker or storage room."

"Very well that will be easy." Spoke Jazz looking at his superior officer. "I doubt Starscream will be on look out of those files, since he paranoid jet." Giving the report Blurr had on the Neutrals. "I will see if there anything left."

Prowl in truth had not thought about Starscream in a long time. He knew Jazz well enough to know that Saboteur will look at the files before giving them to Prowl. Part him knew that the effort is pointless and illogical since Jazz does not know what he is looking for. Bombshell dig up some things that are even nastier than he could dream of.

Jazz look at Ironhide in perplex look as he headed back to the Iacon.