A/N: Talk about a busy day.


I would like to draw a mental image for you.

A mysterious black Seeker of new design with no face and no markings other than the brand of a bounty hunter, is standing alone in the Communications and Control Room of the main Decepticon base.

How long do you think this will stay secret?

I'll tell you. 3 breems. Now, the cycle that followed that, I was unaware of what words were being spoken in muffled and hushed voices around the fortress. No, I wasn't scanning. I'm kicking myself in the aft for it right now. Anyway, maybe it was nostalgia or maybe it was that need to partake in self torture of which I cannot cure myself that made me agree to be "shown" to the mess deck by Rumble, either way here I am.

His optics looked magnificent by the way.

It was difficult, acting as if I had no idea where anything was. I found myself walking towards that chair that I'm so familiar with. I stopped myself mid stride and stood by the window instead, looking out as if I found the empty city around it incredibly intriguing.

Word travels fast in 8 breems.

I hear the doors slide open behind me but I don't turn. I have no need to. I know who it is. Okay, the real reason I didn't turn was because I did know who it was but I was too nervous to face them. I feel my anger boiling inside of me. I'm not ready for this. I should have just turned the mission down. Dammit! I'm a glutton for punishment.

I open my mind up and sense curiosity. There's a huge surprise. Thats all I'm getting as I turn to face them. Again, if I had breath, I would be holding it. I'm sure that under my shield my face looks as stressed as any face can be. A metacycle has passed since the last time I faced these three. No, I'm not over it. Put yourself in my shoes. Would you be? I know I had it coming but still... I mean, come on. See how you'd feel after you were basically beaten to death, put on display and abandoned by the very one who brought your aft into existence. I guarantee you'd be as angry as I am.

So...For the first time in over a meta cycle, I'm standing about 2 arms distance from my former wing mates. I take solace in the fact that they have no clue as to who or what the hell I am. But truthfully I'm not focusing on any of them. I can't. I'm holding onto my composure by a thin string right now. So I focus on the floor at their feet. I'm thankful for my face shield, they can't see or follow my gaze.

A pack of mecha-wolves. That's the only way to explain what they remind me of. Starscream taking up the Alpha male position and the inseparable team of Thundercracker and Skywarp standing off to both of his sides, all three sizing up the newest Seeker in town.

Haha glitches, your out of date. I chuckle silently to myself. This silent joy makes me feel pretty damned good for a moment.

Not a single word has been spoken between us. For which I am very grateful.

"A bounty hunter?" Damn. Silence is broken by mouth almighty himself, Starscrem. I may seem calm and composed on the outside but inside I'm frozen in place. I can't move, can't...

"Do you speak?" Ah, that tone of sarcasm that most of his words are tainted with. I can't speak is what I was going to say. I can't explain what's going on in my head either. It's a jumbled mess of emotions that I'm trying desperately to block. I still can't look at him. If I do, I know all hell is going to break loose. I focus on the exit behind them. If I can only get out of here without saying anything...

The door opens behind them and Soundwave walks in. Never in my life can I recall the last time I was so grateful to see that scheming bastard. Saved by all of the emotion and personality being sucked out of the room with each step he takes forward, right now, I'm grateful to see him. I calmly walk past Screamer, T.C. and Warp to join up with Soundwave. I want to run the hell out of there but that obviously isn't an option right now.

I get my payment as we walk down the passageway towards the main entrance. We don't use money anymore. Money is useless on a planet that has no government. I receive free passage. Sounds like nothing but believe me. It has value in this war.

I may seem odd that I can deal with Soundwave so easily but have such difficulties with facing Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp. Let me just say that I was never a fan of Soundwave to begin with. I have "beef" with him as well but I always have. Then again, I had a similar relationship with Skywarp. Both of them are pretty high up on my 'Cons to kill' list. But Starscream, he's in a category all his own. Thundercracker, unfortunately, is guilty by association. I will have my revenge on Soundwave. The only problem with him is that it'll take a lot of brainstorming, strategy and planning. Skywarp... well he's a case of just finding him out on his own one day. As if that'll ever happen.

Walking away, I hear a simple, "That was strange." Coming from the mess deck. That simple sentance is enough to bring a smile to my shielded face.

As soon as I leave that main entrance and take to the skies, I know I'm home free. This is when I would exhale if I could. It's a long flight back. I need a rest and some quiet time.


"So how'd it go?"

As soon as I got back, I planted my aft in a chair and haven't moved an centimeter since. I can't think. I'm leaning my head back on the chair backing and I've been staring at the ceiling for cycles on end. Right now, I see Arcee's upside down face blocking my view of the ceiling. She's standing above me and looking down. I've had a busy day and my processors are working overtime, this view is very odd.

I sigh in response.

"That good or that bad?" She walks over to my right and takes a seat in the chair next to mine, waiting patiently for my answer.

"Both." I sit up and face her managing a very weak, "I wasn't ready 'Cee."

"I didn't think you were either. What happened?" She's a good friend. It seems like from the very beginning this is the way we were. I knew I could trust her. Even as strangers there was something about the femme that I knew I could trust. She hasn't failed me yet. I'd be lost without her.

"Swindle was easy enough and kind of entertaining. I enjoyed watching him squirm." I add a light chuckle as I recall him squirming like a little sparkling after I had restrained him, "I had to deal directly with Soundwave. That was uncomfortable enough. Then I had to come back and sort of hang out in the fortress..." Primus, even the thought gives me the creeps.

"You saw them didn't you?"

I hesitate a little longer than necessary then drop my head back against the chair again and mutter a cynical sounding, "Uh huh."

She doesn't answer. We sit in silence for a moment. Lucky for me, she understands how hard it was for me to have been in that room earlier. I feel that I can be myself around Arcee. Thats a relief. Arcee is really my first femme friend. I've been surrounded by mechs my entire life so it's really nice to have a femme friend for once.

When I speak again, my voice sounds strained and hoarse. It breaks as I say, "I can't look at them. Any of them."

"I don't expect you to be able to, 'E."

"Will this ever get easier?" It feels like it never will.

"I don't know." She reaches out and puts her hand over mine in a caring manner which means so much to me. I rest my head on the arm of the chair and wheeze out a "I don't know if I can do this. My heart says destroy, my mind says not too. I'm in a unique position that I don't think I'm cut out for."

"Yes, you out of any one I know, are cut out for it. You just need time."

She's right. I do need time. Time to sort out how I feel. I need time to focus.


The Cygo Plain is a long flat expanse of nothing that used to be Vos. The early days before the war, during the end of the Golden Age, we sort of took care of this city. Actually Tarn took care of it by leveling it to the ground with a volley of missiles for which, in return, that city received 5 very lethal atomic weapons which reduced it to a smooth surface which is still hot today. I was created here in Vos. This was where the earliest days of my life took shape. This is also where I committed my first crime under the direction of Starscream. I come here because no one else ever does.

I also came here to think. Old habits die hard. I still wander off when I need to concentrate.

I kick at the rubble beneath my feet and pace back and forth thinking, I hate him. I hate them. How long will I have to pretend, win their trust only to use it against them? until my processors hurt.

"You still care too much, Enigma." Arcee has told me over and over again. I keep hearing her say that in my mind. It's time I try to clear my mind.

I close my optics and lean back, spreading my arms towards the sky. I can feel the soft breeze across my wings and the silence around me seems to seep into my armor. Stillness. Absolute stillness. It is here, upon the scar that was my home once, that I feel at peace again.

I only get a few minutes of this personal vacation time before I have to head back. I enjoy it while it lasts.


Now, I am technically an independent. I shouldn't fight for a specific side or ideal but no one ever said that self preservation wasn't reason enough to do so. Ironically enough, after my reflective break out on the plain, I find my calm mood shattered by a Seeker in need of entertainment.

Sunstorm. I owe this son of a glitch a missile up his tail pipe. Plus, I want my sword back. Apparently, his Commander neglected to tell him that messing with bounty hunters is a no-no. Not that I would really expect Starscream to give a damn.

The yellow and orange colored jet is following me and I'm not enjoying it. Hmmm... this gives me a chance to do something I've been itching to do since returning to good old Cybertron, I go full throttle. I, know that old yellow belly won't be able to keep up, but that arrogant core programming I have makes me want to showboat a little bit. I pull up into a straight climb and still accelerate. Damn, Alpha Trion did a great job on my upgrades.

I check my sensors, yep Sunstorm is back there he's not gaining so I pull a false stall and free fall. This probably wasn't the best idea being as it was one of my signature moves before. I change it up a bit and level out low, hugging the terrain instead of tumbling into a landing. I dodge left and right trying to loose him. It's not until I brake hard and drop down that he finally flies past. I use the few seconds I just gained performing that maneuver to land and transform. I wait patiently on the ground for his return.

Sunstorm circles back in my direction. I don't take my optics off of him for a moment. No sooner does he land, he circles around me, sizing me up for the fight that I know he is just aching for. What can I say? I'm a twisted glitch. I'll give him a fight if he wants one. What I wasn't expecting was for him to challenge me at a hand's distance.

"So you're the new one eh?" He asks with a cocky tone that I will forever swear is part of a Seeker's core programming.

I say nothing. I know I can take Sunstorm on and win. He was my primary wing mate after all, I doubt he's changed any of his tactics in my absence. I also know that if I waste him, I will open up a world of hurt for myself. I have no choice but to open up communication with this dumb aft.

"Yes." I try to answer in an equally cocky tone but this monotone voice sort of kills the effect. Oh well, that was good enough communication for me.

"Nice. Lets see what you can do on the ground." I don't believe this slag. They never change. Always challenging someone, trying to be on top, never giving up. Well, the least I can do is incapacitate him. Phht... who am I kidding. The most I can do is incapacitate him.

I give him credit, he catches me off guard by lunging without preparation and knocking me down, the fragger. I break free and back up, gun ready. He lunges again but meets the business end of my foot in his side. He falls down and I make my move to pounce on his chest. I've got him down and not in the best position. I hit him hard in the temple and watch his optics flicker. Damn, I'm faster overall, not just in the air. I wrap one hand around his throat and the other arm is busy aiming a gun at his forehead. All I say to him in that cold monotone voice is, "Make a choice. Live or die."

He struggles, moving to strike me but I move my gun down to his chest just below where the spark casing is and fire close range. He made a choice but I'll let him live. I'm trying this compassion thing out. So far, I can't complain too much. I pull out energy bands and tie him up. A prone prisoner is a good prisoner... or victim. It all depends on your outlook. wink

This time, I decide to fly back. I strap the bands to my weapons bay hooks and carry him back to the safety of his own base. I think being angry works for me when I'm coming into contact with Decepticons. I seem to have just the right enough amount of strength or energy to do what I need to.

When we arrive at the base, I drop him with a rather unceremonious thud on the platform leading up to their main entry way. I open up a communications channel with Soundwave because I know he's on the other side of that camera. He always is.

"Missing something?" Are the only words I say over the comms link.

The doors open but I don't move.

"No. Give this message to Starscream." I look down at the lump that is Sunstorm at my feet, before continuing. "Put a leash on your mechs or the next one that follows me and attacks comes back in pieces."

I cut the bands rather roughly and take them back, walking away while shaking my head in disgust, I take to the skies. If they want to start this, I'm ready.

Or at least I hope I am.