CrusaderTransformer1: (Comes in with a shield and grins somewhat frightenedly at the audience) I know that it took me a long time to update and I apologize for that, but you have to please forgive me.....(Audience boos and throws rotten vegetables, along with blunt objects and sharp pointy things!) Okay! Okay! I'll admit that I goofed! Optimus, please do the disclaimer before somebody maims me!

Optimus: This young lady does not own the Transformers or the company that made us. She does however own my wife, Domino, her buddy Blackjacket, and Debra, so please don't use them without her permission.

CrusaderTransformer1: Thanks Optimus, enjoy this nice big chappie guys! (Runs away before the audience can throw more objects)

And it was my buddy Blackjacket who had done it, as I found myself sitting on the ground with a crying Blackjacket holding me tight around my waist like he planned on never letting me go. I held him back while tears once again as more came and transformed. One decided to make himself known by yelling at me.

"What the blazes did you think you were doing?!" Someone yelled and I looked up from Blackjacket to see a very mad Ratchet, "Everyone was worried about you! The Dinobots are all crying because they think their big sister left them, and Wheeljack can't calm them down for nothing!................"

I had only met Ratchet on several occasions, but let me tell you, he can scare the slag out of anybody with one of his angry looks. I've heard many times that he throws stuff at people when he's extremely mad at them and I actually saw him do this when the twins Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were around. I scrammed the minute I saw flying objects hit the twins as they ran from the infirmary, afraid that he was going to come after me next after he got done with those two.

I would probably have been running and screaming all the way back to Autobot City if it hadn't been for Blackjacket, who tightened his grip around me and hid his face against my waist. Blackjacket doesn't like a mad Ratchet any more than I do, and we've both sworn to keep away from him when he's mad.

Don't get me wrong, Ratchet is an awesome bot and he's really nice, but I really, really, really don't want to be anywhere near him if he starts to get this way.

I couldn't help but shrink back as Ratchet continued to scream at me, the volume of his voice getting louder and louder.

"HAVE YOU ANY IDEA HOW UPSET SOME OF US ARE?!" Ratchet screamed, making me wish that I could fall into the nearest crack in the ground and escape from him, "ELITA-1 IS ESPECIALLY UPSET AND EDGE-CUTTER IS OUT THERE LOOKING FOR YOU RIGHT..........."

"That's enough, Ratchet." Optimus cut him off suddenly, and Hot Rod had just handed him his mask, which he snapped on as he talked, "Domino is fine and she's also very sorry for what she did. She'll spend a week in the brig for running off, and I don't want to hear any any more about this, understood?"

I would have moaned loudly at the mention of the thought of spending a week in the brig if it hadn't just gotten Ratchet to stop screaming at me and he was making my spark pulse so hard that it was hurting me as it was.

Speaking of Ratchet, he seemed to accept Optimus' decision, but he gave me a death glare that promised a slow painful death if I did something like this ever again, and I was glad to know that I wouldn't have any reason to run away again as he left. Blackjacket raised his head from my waist and looked around before he let go, getting up and then helping me up. I started to walk to Optimus, to thank him for saving me from Ratchet, but Blackjacket grabbed my arm before I could take a step and as I looked at him, I was suddenly in a headlock.

"This is for running away and worrying me." Blackjacket said in a serious/silly tone and dread began to fill me as I heard this from his mouth, "SUPER-ROBO-NOOGIE!"

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" I yelled and struggled in vain as he started rubbing his knuckles against my helmet so hard that sparks flew and my head hurt very badly, like someone was scraping my head with a rake, "OPTIMUS! HELP!"

Sorry Domy, you're on your own. Optimus said through our mental bond as he was laughing, You're being punished after all.

ISN'T THE BRIG TORTURE ENOUGH?! My mind screamed at him as tears began to run down from the pain of my head.

Optimus let Blackjacket super-robo-noogie me for twenty agonizing minutes before he ordered my buddy to let me go and we headed back to Autobot City, both Optimus and Blackjacket were trying to push me off the road as we headed home. Soon Ratchet, Hot Rod, and the other two joined in the game and I found myself speeding towards Autobot City with everyone chasing me while trying to shove me off the road. We finally made it to Autobot City, but not before I was shoved off the road about ten times in a row and then as I transformed to go inside, I was suddenly attacked by the Dinobots. I apologized to them as they held me in place while Wheeljack came up and told me that he had told them that they could punish me for making them worry. As he finished, all the Dinbots together said that they forgave me and before I could say anything else, they gave me a...........wedgie.

You think Autobots can't get wedgies? You're dead wrong and I'm not going to describe how they did it, so please don't ask.

I was nearly sqawking in pain as they finally let me down and ran off laughing their tails off as I was hopping around from the very uncomfortable position I was in with Optimus standing nearby, shaking his head at Wheeljack, who just shrugged as I tried to recover.

I finally recovered and apologized to all the Autobots in Autobot City while Optimus followed me, luckily I managed to get through the city without any more mischevious punishment from anybody. I finally found Elita-1 and Edge-cutter in the command center a while after I had apologized to everyone else and the first thing that Elita-1 did when she saw me was rush at me while I froze in place as a reaction and she hugged me. As she hugged me, her HUGE Life-Mate came over and hugged us both in his rather strong arms.

Edge-cutter was so tall that he dwarfed both Optimus and Ultra Magnus, which is saying something because both Autobots are very tall even for Autobot size. He was a very nice-looking mech with green eyes and he was mostly orange with yellow dashed here and there. But what got your attention the most about him was that his vehicle mode was obviously a monster truck, and the only reason I know that is because he had two huge tires on both shoulders while the other two were on his hips.

After I was released, I apologized to both of them and Elita-1 said that she forgave me.

"But if you EVER do that to Optimus again....." Elita-1 started as she pulled me closer that we were face-to-face, merely an inch apart as she gave me one of the fiercest glares I had ever seen, "I'm going to personally rearrange your face."

"I'll let you." I replied honestly, feeling bad once again for what I had done.

"I'm sorry to leave so soon, but we're needed back on Cybertron." Elita-1 said as she released me, leaving me to shiver about the glare she had given me.

"We just came to tell you about us." Edge-cutter said to us, his voice amazingly soft and kind for someone of his size, making me look up at him in surprise.

He grinned down at me, seeming as though he was used to looks like that all the time because of his voice and I grinned back up at him, liking him immediately and sorry that he couldn't stick around so that I could get to know him.

As Elita-1 and Edge-cutter left, the pink fembot blew Optimus a kiss and I just smiled as I hugged his arm as we watched them leave. I could feel a tinge of sadness from Optimus as we watched Elita-1, Edgecutter, and the Female Autobots leave, but I didn't mind about his affection towards her anymore and I just hugged his arm a little tighter.

*I wish I had the right to tell you it'll be okay.* I said to him mentally as he looked down at me, *But I don't, and I hope to make that up to you.*

*I'm sure we'll think of something.* Optimus replied as he turned and brought me close to him, cuddling me.

I was completely at peace as Optimus held me in his arms, and he brought me closer still as I got the feeling that others were watching us. I turned my head and Arcee, Hot Rod, Blackjacket, and Kup were watching from the door while smiling.

"Optimus, we've got company." I said while still looking at them and I felt Optimus look at them.

"Is there something you need?" Optimus asked all four of them as I also turned my head to look at them.

"No..........it's just........" Kup started, looking at loss for words.

"It's nice to see you two made up." Blackjacket said and seeing him near Arcee gave me an evil idea.

"Hey Arcee!" I said excitedly, pulling away from Optimus, but holding onto his arms.

"Yes?" Arcee inquired politely, but looked a little taken back by my sudden change.

"BLACKJACKET LOVES YOU!" I blurted out and Blackjacket's mouth hung open in horror as Arcee stared at me in surprise and shock.

"DOMINO!" He yelled, his face going from yellow to red as Arcee looked at him.

"GOT YOU BACK!" I replied laughing.

The look of sadness and betrayal on Blackjacket's face made me stop laughing immediately as he turned and walked away, which made me feel terrible until I saw Arcee following after him and then I grinned as I looked back at Optimus.

"It just might work out." Optimus told me and I nodded in agreement.

"And best of all, I got him back." I said jokingly, but inside I was hoping with all my spark that Arcee would feel the same way and then my buddy would also get a Life Mate.

"Come on lad." I heard Kup say and I looked to see the old Autobot pulling Hot Rod away.

"But they might kiss, Kup!" Hot Rod protested, looking at Optimus and I as he was nearly out of sight.

Mischeviousness rose in me as I looked up at Optimus to ask if he would kiss me for Hot Rod, only he was one step ahead of me as he was leaning down to me with his mask in his hand and then we kissed passionately as Optimus held me tight, giving Hot Rod something to see.

"Oh man! Now I want a Life-Mate!" Hot Rod then complained as he finally allowed Kup to lead him away.

*You just can't please some people!* I groaned in my mind and then concentrated on kissing my husband.

As we kissed, Optimus started to slid his hands down my back in a caressing way and I didn't really pay any attention to this until he suddenly gripped an area that was below my back with both of his hands.

I gasped as I pulled away from our kiss to look up at him and I was startled to see that his blue optics were looking at me in a way that I had seen many times from my now deceased ex-boyfriend. But strangely enough, it was welcome from him as my own desires started to rise as I felt him pull my hips towards his and Optimus nuzzled his way down my neck, where he planted small kisses.

"Optimus?" I said, my voice shaking as I was almost overpowered by the new emotions running through me.

"Hm?" Was his only reply as he continued to kiss my neck.

"Do you want to go to our chamber?" I asked before I gave a kiss to his powerful-looking neck.

Optimus suddenly scooped me up into his arms as a reply and carrying me off, walking to our chamber as if he was in no hurry as I kissed his neck and chest.

The next morning....

I was on top of the world as I awoke smiling the next morning, remembering how wonderful last night had been and how good I was feeling that morning as my Life-Mate lay beside me with his arm around me.

*Morning.* I heard Optimus say mentally as I stretched.

*Good morning.* I replied and then asked, *What time is it?*

*It's not time to get up just yet.* Optimus said and then pulled me closer to him, *You can snuggle with me for a little bit longer.*

*Sounds like a plan.* I said mentally with a smile as I snuggled up to him, *I could use all the snuggling I can get before I have to go to the brig.*

Optimus didn't say anything for that moment and I just shut off my optics while enjoying the snuggle until something came into my mind, making me reactivate my optics.

"You know......it's strange." I said out loud, not sure whether I was talking to Optimus or myself as I stared into nowhere.

"What is?" Optimus asked as he looked down at me.

"It's strange.............that I thank my ex." I replied, my own features frowning at my words.

Optimus was silent for a moment as I looked up at him and into his optics.

"I thank him, because if he hadn't been so terrible to me." I said as I snuggled closer to Optimus, "I would have never met you.....and I would have never been as happy as I am with you.

Optimus just gave me the warmest smile and I smiled back at him before I laid my head onto his chest.

"And it's strange that I almost wish he was still alive." I said and shut off my optics, "I would either thank him or rub it in his face."

Optimus suddenly sighed in a strange sad way, making me activate my optics and look up at him. He then suddenly sat up, taking me with him as he continued to hold onto me and then pulled me into his lap.

"Domy........" Optimus started, and I gave him my full attention as he looked down at me with something like regret running through his gorgeous optics.

"What's the matter, babe?" I asked, feeling concern rising in my chest.

Optimus looked down at me while he was suddenly quiet and I had a slight feeling of deja-vu as the silence was almost deafening as my husband didn't speak anymore for a moment.

"There's something I should have told you." Optimus told me, regret now flowing through his voice.

I didn't look away from his optics as I mentally prepared myself for the bad news I felt was coming.

"Your ex-boyfriend.............." Optimus said, and I stared at him in confusion before he added, "Is still alive."

As you can imagine, that bit of news made me freeze in horror and shock for a moment.

"But.............b-but....." I stammered, suddenly staring at Optimus' chest as my mind tried to comphrend this information.

My ex? Alive? But it wasn't possible!

"Optimus that can't be true." I whispered, the horror of that night started to revive itself in me as I recalled what happened and then I almost screamed in my husband's face, "I heard the crush of his bones! And I saw his blood! How can he be alive?!"

Optimus endured my hysteria patiently as he took me by the shoulders and drew me close to him so that our faces were merely a inch apart as his optics stared seriously into mine.

"Our sources told me that Soundwave used a device of his to keep your ex alive." Optimus told me, quiet but as serious as I've ever known him to be, "And then he took him and turned him into a Decepticon, just like we turned you and Blackjacket into Autobots. But instead of giving him his own body, Soundwave gave your ex one of his fallen comrades' bodies, an insane Decepticon by the name of Runabout. I don't know if your ex knows about your transformation or not."

The name Runabout made me shiver as I remembered what I had read about the Decepticons at the beginning of learning of how to be an Autobot and if there was a prize for insanity, Runabout would probably win that over and over. And now that my ex had his body, I don't know if this made him worse or not, he had been pretty bad before this had happened.

Here's what I read about him in the datapad.....

Name: Runabout

Allegience: Decepticon

Regular Quote: "A pretty car makes an even prettier explosion."

Profile: Runabout likes to watch things blow up: the bigger the explosion, the more he enjoys it. If he's not busy hunting Autobots, he'll pass his free time by using parked cars for target practice or igniting fuel pumps at a gas station. A good-sized fireball never fails to bring a mischievous smile to his face. Seemingly driven by an unending supply of evil energy, he avoids even the briefest lulls in activity as if he's terrified that boredom might fatally infect him. As a Battlecharger, Runabout gets more than enough opportunity to stay busy, but he worries about what he'll do with himself after he finishes blowing up all the Autobots, cars, and gas stations on Earth. He calculates at the rate he's going, he'll have to find a new sport within two years.

Abilities: In car mode, Runabout has a maximum speed of 185mph and a range of 550 miles. He can transform to robot mode in .4 seconds. He uses a particle beam rifle that shoots a high-energy beam of neutrons with devastating results.

Weaknesses: (Though he'll never admit to having any): Runabout's attention turns to beautiful cars like a young man's turns to beautiful women. In Runabout's case though, the more beautiful the car, the more he craves to destroy it. This often distracts him from his true mission and leaves him vulnerable to attack.

After I had read that, I swore that if I ever saw this guy, I would stay as far away from him as possible, and it seemed to me that now I had a even bigger reason to stay away or just fight him and pay him back for all the pain he had dealt to me over the time he had held me prisioner.

While I was trying to decide whether to just play it safe or fight the Ex from Hades (as one of my fellow authoresses puts it) and kick his sorry aft, Optimus kissed my cheek.

"I would rather have you stay in Autobot City and be safe, but it's your decision." Optimus told me as I looked at him, "You've become a strong fighter and your firing skills are excellent."

"Glad you noticed." I joked, but inside I was so unsure.

Optimus was about to playfully answer when the buzzer on his alarm clock went off, making both of us look at it while groaning out loud.

"I have to go." Optimus told me as he started to get up, but I had a different idea.

I suddenly wrapped both arms around him and pulled him back down onto the bed, making him grunt in surprise, and he lay on his back, I quickly straddled his hips while holding his arms down by the wrists. Optimus just looked up at me and didn't even try to fight me off, which he could have easily done.

"You've got time for a little fun, don't you?" I asked as I leaned down to his face.

His optics started to get that look again as he slightly growled up at me, making me smile.

"Don't tempt me, you little minx." He growled playfully.

"Minx? I thought I was your honey buns." I replied smartly, releasing one of his wrists to trace one of his white markings on his chest.

Optimus then moved so fast so that I don't really know what happened, but the next thing I knew, the tables had turned and Optimus was the one looking down at me now as I giggled.

"As much as I'd love to, and believe me when I say that." Optimus said as I tried to lean up for a kiss, but couldn't quite reach him, "I still have to leave."

He then gave me a kiss before getting off me and I just lay there watching him as he snapped on his face-mask.

"We'll have as much fun as you want when I come back." Optimus told me as he turned around, "And I should be back within two weeks at the most."

"Until then, I'll TRY to be good." I said as I stood up, "And I'll also be pining for your company."

"If we could, we'd talk every night by our mental bond." Optimus said, making me look at him in surprise again, "But unfortunately, I don't think even THAT can't go over the distance where I'll be going."

I thought about it for a moment and then just shrugged at him.

"We can still try." I told him as I walked over and hugged him, "I'll come with you and watch you take off."

"Fine with me." Optimus replied and we walked out the door together.

As we walked down, we were greeted by Autobots and the Dinobots even said hi as they walked past us, probably heading towards the ship themselves. I was a little tense on the way to the ship because I thought for sure that somone would give me grief about what happened and as I arrived with Optimus, I was amazed that no one had even given me a dirty look.

"What's the matter?" Optimus asked as I was looking around in confusion.

"I thought for sure that SOMEBODY would be giving me grief right about now." I said and then suddenly I found myself in a headlock, *Why does this seem familiar?*

"What's kicking, Domy?" I heard Jazz ask as I was suddenly given a light noogie, much to my relief.

"I'm just here to see Optimus off." I replied as I started to struggle, "Leggo Jazz!"

"No!" Jazz replied as he started giving me a harder noogie.

I was about to groan and suddenly grinned evilly instead as I remembered Blackjacket telling me about one of Jazz's weakness that his friends the Twin Terrors Sunstreaker and Sunswipe had found out sometime ago and so I began to tickle his sides as fast as my fingers could move.

"Wha...........hey!" Jazz protested as he tried to squirm away from my fingers while trying to hold me at the same time.

"MWUAHAHAHAHAHA!" I replied as I started to tickle faster.

"That ain't fair! C'mon little lady, stop it!" Jazz said and he finally just let me go while running off.

"Oh no you don't!" I cackled as I straightened up and started to chase him, but I was stopped by Optimus's arm which was suddenly in my way, "Awwww......hubby! I was going to get him back!"

Optimus raised an eye-ridge as I called him 'hubby', but he pulled me into a tight hug and then I realized that he was about to leave.

"Take care up there, will ya?" I asked as I hugged him back as tight as I could.

"I will. You behave down here." Optimus replied as he kissed my head.

"No promises." I murmured as I laid my cheek on his chest and listened to his spark, "I love you."

"I love you too." Optimus replied as he then took off his mask and gave me a long kiss before he pulled away to walk to the ship.

I stood where I was and watching my husband enter the ship by means of a ramp while he had several others trailing behind him, all holding a box or exquipment of some kind as they followed their leader into the ship.

*The Autobot leader, my husband.* I thought with some awe building up as I thought of how incredibly fortunate I was to have Optimus, *How many girls can actually say that they have somebody like Optimus as a spouse?*

*And how many guys can say that they have a wonderful fembot like Domino for a wife?* I heard Optimus ask me and I looked up to see him with his mask on and looking at me from the ship's door as it was closing.

I blushed as I smiled and waved at him as it was closing and Optimus waved before it closed completely, hiding him from sight and my spark ached as I started to miss him already.

*Don't be sad, Domy.* Optimus said mentally as the ship's engines started and I started to back away, knowing the heat would get intense very soon, *I'll be back before you know it.*

*Says you, hubby.* I replied playfully as the ship started to rise for take-off and I had to back up more before I just decided to turn around and run out of there to a safer distance.

*See you later, BEHAVE.* Optimus told me sternly as I turned around and watched from the distance.

*For your sake, no one else's.* I replied honestly as the ship flew off and at the speed it was going, I knew it was going to be gone soon and therefore, didn't even attempt to run outside or run to the bridge that overlooked the opening that the ship had just flew through.

I let out a sigh as my lovesick spark ached at the absence of Optimus Prime and to make matters worse, I remembered I had to go the brig..............for a week.

"Joy." I muttered to myself as I turned around to leave, only to see Ratchet coming my way, "Oh slag."

I just stood there as Ratchet came up, looking somewhat irritated and Ratchet in any sort of bad mood can be hazardous to your health, especially when you're aware of his dangerous habit of throwing things when he was mad.

"Domino, it's time to go the brig NOW." Ratchet told me, glaring at me as he came closer and stopped, "What are you doing here anyway?"

I don't know why, but he didn't scare me as he did the day before, and maybe it was because I knew he had no right to be ordering or being angry with me around like he was doing.

"If you MUST know Ratchet, and I emphasize MUST." I replied hotly, giving him a death glare of my own as my arms crossed themselves in front of my chest, "I was seeing my Life-Mate Optimus off, and considering that I won't see him for the next couple of weeks, I believe that I had the right to, DESPITE what you may think."

Ratchet seemed a little taken back by my sudden change in character while his optics softened and he suddenly stared seemingly at me, his head slightly cocked to the side while his optics were wide.

"What?" I asked as I was confused to what Ratchet was doing and then was grabbed from behind by two pairs of arms.

"SAVE DOMY!" I heard three male voices yell and I yelped as I was suddenly picked up and carried away!

"SUNSTREAKER! SUNSWIPE! BLACKJACKET! GET BACK HERE WITH DOMINO!" I heard Ratchet roar as he chased us and I stared at my 'rescuers' as they ran away while Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were carrying me in the 'two person seat carry' style at the same time!

"What are you guys DOING?!" I asked incredibly as they ran with me and following Blackjacket through Autobot City, where they managed to lose Ratchet while other transformers stared as they ran past with me in their arms, "And where the heck are we going?!"

"We're rescuing you! The brig is no fun for a lady!" Sideswipe said, and I looked at him in shock.

"Yeah and we're taking you to the woods to act out a Monty Python scene with us!" Sunstreaker added and then gave me a goofy grin as he added, "Queen Domino."

*Oh Lord in heaven, please save me from these crazy guys!* I thought as my optics turned towards the sky as they continued to run.

"Yeah, plus we decided to get in trouble too!" Blackjacket added as we were suddenly outside, "That way we can hang out in the brig with you!"

I was touched (though somewhat strangely) to know that these guys would do something like that for me.

"AWWWWW! You guys are so sweet!" I said as they ran towards the woods, "What did I ever do to make get friends like you?"

They didn't answer me until we were safely in the woods, where they finally set me down and I found myself staring face-to-face with the Twin Terrors.

"You made Optimus happy again." Both of them told me, both sounding sincere, and they pulled away, walking with Blackjacket ahead on a path.

*Well, I feel appreciated.* I thought to myself as a warm feeling grew in my spark.

"C'mon Domy!" Blackjacket called and I looked up to see them a little aways ahead, all looking back at me.

"COMING!" I yelled, running to catch up.

I followed them deeper and deeper into the woods, all the while wondering where these guys were taking me to act out the scene of Monty Python that they had mentioned when they 'rescued' me. The twins just talked to each other and I couldn't help but think that Blackjacket was somewhat more happy than I had ever seen him. His walk had more spring and he was slightly swaying from side to side as if he was listening to a song that no one but himself could hear. I was confused to his behavior, but decided to ask him later in case it would embarrass him in front of his friends in some way (you know how guys are) and I jumped as both twins suddenly whirled around.

"Ready Domy?" They both asked at the same time and I just nodded.

A rustling from nearby caught my attention and I looked to see two transformers come out of the trees, both actually dressed like the Knights of Ni. I couldn't regconize them worth a darn because of the costumes, but I think that was the point.

"Wow." I said, staring at the two of them, "Nice costumes guys. You look exactly like the Knights of Ni!"

"That's what we were going for!" Sunstreaker said smugly and he suddenly pulled some things from behind a nearby tree and handed them to me, "Here, put these on."

"Well wait, how many Autobots are out here?" I asked as Sunstreaker walked off.

"As many as we need." He replied as he went and fetched some more things that they had hidden.

*Oh my Lord!* I thought to myself, *They're going to film this, aren't they!*

I looked down at the crown, robe, and sword that Sunstreaker had just handed me and I looked at the twins.

"Where did you guys get this stuff?" I asked as I watched them give Blackjacket a costume as well.

"Oh we just borrowed some of Wheeljack's equipment for a little while at a time." Sideswipe told me as he helped Blackjacket with his blue and white robe, which made me regconize it as Sir Bedevere's outfit.

*Borrowed? More like stole it and then put it back so he wouldn't notice!* I thought, thinking back to all the stories I had heard about these two.

"C'mon Domy! Put your costume on!" Blackjacket said to me as he put on his helmet.

"Putting it on." I replied as I slid on the robe.

After I put the white and gold robe in place and tied it on, I strapped the sword to my belt, making sure that it was secure. Then I picked up the gold-colored crown and set it on my head carefully, but it slid on and sat on my helmet perfectly.

*I don't even want to know how those two nutcases got my measurements!* I thought to myself, knowing full well that they couldn't have just guessed and got lucky.

So there we were, Queen Domino and Sir Blackjacket, followed by two transformers dressed up as our manservents while clapping two wooden bowls together and we were 'riding' through the darkest parts of the woods where Sunstreaker had told us to go. I didn't need to act being creeped out, because it was really dark, like nighttime had just came and took over morning. There was also a little fog in the area, which I thought somewhat unusual because the ground was dry and it hadn't rained for a while.

I suddenly heard a twig snap and I turned my head in time to see someone walking away, but the fog covered him and I couldn't tell who it was. He disappeared and we continued on, only to hear another twig snap and both of us saw another person, this one clearer. I was relieved to see that it was only our fellow actor/transformers playing along and then from that point I had to act creeped out. We were suddenly surrounded by snapping twigs and we saw many transformers in the woods around us.

I was looking around at all of them and suddenly, there was something strange in front of me and I looked WAY up to the face of Sunstreaker, who had actually put the helmet on and even a fake beard! I could tell by the red feet underneathe the robe that it was Sideswipe's shoulders he was sitting on and I felt sorry for his poor brother.

"NI!" Sunstreaker suddenly said loudly enough to hurt my audio-sensors.

The other 'Knights of Ni' came up and started saying "Ni" as well and I had to bite my tongue in order to keep myself from laughing and ruining the scene.

"Who are you?" I asked Sunstreaker in my best King Arthur voice.

"We are the Knights who say.........Ni!" Sunstreaker replied in a high squeaky voice that really tickled my funny bone and I almost had to put my hand up to my mouth to keep from laughing.

"No, not the Knights who say Ni!" I said in mock horror, looking at Blackjacket who was also trying not to laugh.

"The same!" Sunstreaker squeaked, and wobbled a little from where he was sitting on Sideswipe's shoulders.

"Who are thee?" Blackjacket asked, his voice sounding almost like he had a cold or something and his nose was stuffed up.

"We are the keepers of the sacred words: Ni, Peng, and Neeeeeeeeeeeeee-wom!" Sunstreaker replied, several of the "Knight of Ni" repeating Nee-wom in the background.

"Those who hear them seldom live to tell the tale!" I said in a creeped out tone to Blackjacket.

"The Knight of Ni......deeeeeemand a sacriface!" Sunstreaker told us, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Knight of Ni, we are but simple travelers who seek the enchanter who lives beyond these woods." I said in a humble manner.

Sunstreaker made this slightly ticked off expression on his face that nearly got me laughing.

"NI!" He yelled and the others joined him while Blackjacket and I acted like we were suffering, "Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni! Ni!"

Blackjacket and I were almost to our knees in 'pain' when Sunstreaker made a gesture that stopped the 'Knights of Ni' from saying Ni anymore. Blackjacket and I got up slowly as Sunstreaker turned to us again.

"We will say Ni again to you...........if you do not appease us." Sunstreaker said, crossing his arms in front of his chest again.

"What is it that you want?" I asked, acting fearful of them.

"We want.................a SHUBBERY!" Sunstreaker said and suddenly dramatic music came from somewhere as Blackjacket and I mock-cringed before acting as though I had just realized something.

"A what?" I asked mock-disbelievingly while giving Sunstreaker a odd look.

"NI!" Sunstreaker said again, the other joining in again, "Ni! Ni!"

"Please! Please.........no more!" I begged and they stopped saying Ni, "We will find you a shubbery!"

"You must return here with a shubbery." Sunstreaker said, looking somewhat pleased, "Or else you will never pass through this wood...........alive!"

The oddball face he made while pausing before saying 'alive' got a small giggle out of me, and Blackjacket nudged me slightly in the side.

"Oh Knights of Ni, you are just and fair, and we will return here with the shubbery." I said in a assuring tone while Sunstreaker looked kind of smug, probably because of his usual vanity.

"One that looks nice!" Sunstreaker told me, sounding like a fussy gardener or something of the sort.

"Of course." I said, nodding.

"And not too expensive!" Sunstreaker added, another goofball look on his face.

"Yes!" I replied, my sides hurting very much from keeping my laughter in.

"Noooooooooow.............go!" Sunstreaker said dramatically, pointing us into a direction.

"Annnnnnnnnd cut!" I heard someone say before I burst out laughing along with everyone else.

I was on the ground and rolling back and forth on my back while Blackjacket managed to keep standing, but somewhat unstably as Sunstreaker got off his twin's shoulders.

"That was great you guys!" I heard someone say and I managed to look over and see Bumblebee coming out of the woods with a video camera in his hands.

*I knew it! I knew it! I bloody knew it!* My mind howled as I went into another round of laughter.

"THERE YOU ARE!" I heard an all-too-familiar voice yell and I looked to the path to see Ratchet, Prowl, Jazz, and several others coming up from the path we had just came from.

And Ratchet looked pretty ticked off, if I might add.

"RUN AWAY!" I yelled in King Arthur style, getting to my feet and taking off.

"RUN AWAY!" The others including Blackjacket, Sunstreaker and Sideswiped answered, all of us running through the woods.

All of us ran away from a raging Ratchet and his search party through the woods til we got out from the other side and then after we hid all our costumes, we transformed and went the long way back to Autobot City. As all of us drove on the road, Blackjacket drove by my side while the others went ahead of us.

"Hey..........Domy?" Blackjacket suddenly said.

"Yeah buddy?" I asked.

He didn't say anything for a moment and I just waited patiently while we drove down the road.

"I've got something to tell you." Blackjacket said, sounding quiet but happy.

"What's that?" I asked, thinking that he just had a good day and was going to tell me about it.

"Arcee and I..........." Blackjacket started.

I waited for more, but he didn't say anything else and I was being to feel concerned. Had Arcee rejected my buddy?

"Arcee and you...." I said, trying to get him going again.

Blackjacket was silent once more and I was about to assume that Arcee had rejected him when he spoke again.

"We're bonded." Blackjacket told me happily.

I was shocked during that moment, but that passed and I was extremely excited as I squealed in joy.

"Alright Blackjacket, way to go buddy!" I praised him.

On the way back to Autobot City, Blackjacket told me that Arcee had followed him and asked him if it was true, if what I said about him was true.

The Story from Blackjacket's POV......

"Blackjacket! Blackjacket wait...." I heard Arcee as she followed me and my spark throbbed in pain from Domino's betrayal of my feelings for the beautiful Autobot that was behind me and I tried to just ignore her, walking away.

But no matter where I turned or how fast I seemed to go, she was always one step behind me, trying to stop me with words or one of her hands on my shoulder, which I tried to shrug off as my useless attempt to ignore her continued.

Finally I made it into my chamber, but Arcee was still right behind me as I tried to shut the door.

"Please Blackjacket, I just want to know if what Domino said is true." Arcee pleaded and I turned away from her as I shut off my optics in pain, thinking she would give me a gentle rejection that I would never want, "Are you in love with me?"

I just stood there with clenched fists and said nothing, my optics refused to activate and look at her or anything that was in the room while she put her hand on my shoulder once more.

"Please.....tell me." Arcee begged softly and I pulled away from her touch.

I didn't want to treat her like that, but I was just so afraid of what she might say to me and I couldn't bare the thought of Arcee rejecting me when I loved her so much.

I wasn't even sure when I had or how I had fallen so hard for Arcee, it was like I woke up one day and I found that I loved her more than life itself, despite the fact that she was older than me by far. I had been a punk when I was human and for a while, I had been pretty nasty because I had hated the world until I had met Daniel and the Autobots, who showed me that the world wasn't as bad as I had originally thought. I might have changed my ways, but I still had the dark nature that I had created in order to protect myself and I even scared Sunsteaker with that dark nature when I fought Decepticons by his side once. He jokingly told me to remind him never to tick me off, but I could tell he was a little afraid of me, and for some reason, that hurt me.

Because of that dark nature, I knew I didn't deserve Arcee, who was as pure and kind as she was beautiful to me, and I knew how Domino had felt when she thought she couldn't have Optimus, but I knew for certain that I couldn't have Arcee.

I suddenly heard her go past me and I activated my optics to see her going towards my computer, which was on screen-saver at the moment. I was confused to what she was doing until I saw the note I had left, saying "Put new pictures of Arcee on shrine", and my spark leapt into my throat as I found I couldn't move, let alone stop her as she got rid of the screen-saver, free to see her shrine which I had stupidly left on.

As she looked at the pictures of her and the attempted poems I had written, I could see her beautiful face reflected in the screen of my computer and what I saw made me able to move.

She was touched, so much that she was crying pink energon tears while smiling, and I found myself going to her side.

"I've been in love with you for a long time." I told her as I went to her side and looked down at her, but she seemed to be hypnotized by the screen, "I've never had the courage to tell you........because well........."

I didn't know what to tell her by this point, because there was many reasons why I hadn't told her, and it was mostly because of my many flaws. And I was so much younger than her, why would she love a guy that was practically a baby compared to her?

Arcee suddenly turned towards me and hugged me, making my optics go wide before I held her back, as tight but as carefully as possible as her touch took away my pain. I couldn't believe that I was holding her like this, but I just tightened my grip and shut off my optics, not wanting to ever end as I would surely lose her when the embrace ended.

"Blackjacket....." I heard Arcee murmur.

"Yes.....Arcee?" I whispered back.

"I was in love before." Arcee told me and I activated my optics in shock, feeling some of the pain come back but there was no need for it, "He said that he didn't love me in return, and he told me that he never would."

She started to cry, but I wouldn't let her as I made her look into my optics.

"Whoever hurt you before was a complete fool." I told her with all my spark, "You're beautiful, you're kind and you made me fall in love with you the moment we met. He had no right to hurt you and if I ever find out who this was, I'm gonna........."

Arcee then suddenly reached up and grabbed the back of my head, making me look at her in surprise before being shocked as she pulled my face down to hers, pressing those lovely rose-colored lips to mine. My hands found life of their own as they held Arcee closer to me, and I kissed her back hard as I nearly crushed her against me. My spark was leaping in pure joy as we pulled away from each other and I was panting slightly as I stared down at Arcee, who was smiling up at me.

"I love you." I told her, being honest to the core.

"I love you too, Blackjacket." Arcee told me and we kissed again as we were bonded.

End Story.....

I couldn't help but squeal again in pure joy as I heard Blackjacket tell me about them kissing, and luckily, nobody else but Blackjacket heard me as we went home.

As we pulled into Autobot City and both of us transformed, Arcee came up to Blackjacket and hugged him tight, while I just grinned at the couple as they shared a small kiss and then I went to the brig like I had been supposed to in the first place, figuring that I would get started on my punishment and get it over with as fast as possible.

Jazz told me later that when Ratchet came back with his search party, he had been beside himself with anger while throwing anything that came into reach and he had been surprised when Bumblebee told him that I had went to the brig willingly. I was soon joined by Blackjacket, Sunstreaker, and Sideswipe because they had run away with me. We worked together while telling each other jokes, stories, and just recited Monty Python lines once in a while.

It was there when the Twin Terrors asked me if I wanted to complete the Knights of Ni film that they had started by adding the old woman along with the Knights of Ni with the shubbery and I agreed, saying that I was looking forward to it.

We couldn't do that for a while because of our week in the brig and so after the week finally ended, I found myself going for a drive in the nearby town after asking permission from Ultra Magnus, who was in charge while Optimus was gone.

So there I was, just enjoying myself while driving around and looking at all the stores, dance-clubs, video-games places, and so much more. You're not going to believe this, but I nearly got hijacked while I was waiting for the red light to go green. I was just sitting there and suddenly I felt someone run into me, once I ignored it, but when they did it again, I knew from past high-school lessons they were trying to get someone to come out to check the damage so they could hijack me. I opened my door, acting like someone was about to come out to check the damage and as I could hear them running up, I slammed my door shut and sped off, leaving some very confused dummies in the dust.

I was still laughing about the hijacker-wannabes when I found her on the side of the road.

She was sitting on the curb, dressed in a red evening dress, both high-heels were filthy and she was hunched over crying and her dark wavy brown hair was over her face, but it didn't matter, I could have recgonized her anywhere because of our time spent together as friends.

It was my friend Debra Hilde, we had been friends ever since we had met in preschool, and we stuck together through thick and thin in high school. Sometime after we graduated, she met a man named Robert Phee who was a lawyer in the local courthouse. She introduced me to him, and I have to say, I didn't like the sight of him of him one little bit, the way he looked at Debra as she was talking to him, watched her walk around, and I swear I caught him looking at my chest. They dated for two years, despite the fact that I tried to convince her that I could tell Robert was not the guy she wanted to be with and I nearly burst into tears when she excitingly told me over the phone that Robert had proposed to her. They married a year later, and Debra's reception was the last time I saw her for a long time. Debra then told me coldly that they were moving away, that Robert didn't want her to see me anymore because I had butted in too much, that I was clingy, and I was bawling the next day in bed as they went on the honeymoon that would also take them to their new home, somewhere far away.

That had been almost ten years ago, if I was recalling correctly.

I had never thought that I would ever see her again and my spark was jumping in joy to see my friend, but it started to ache once I saw what kind of position she was in as I pulled to the side.

"Debra?" I said quietly, but she didn't look up at my voice, just continued to cry and moan something over and over again.

I transformed and looked down at her as she just sat there, looking so helpless like a small babe at my feet. I then sighed as I knew I was probably going to break some rule, but I reached down and carefully picked her up, somehow managing to put her inside while I transformed again. Debra didn't even seem to notice, she was so much in grief and as she lay on my seats, I could finally hear what she was saying.

"Robert, Robert why?" She cried and I tried to ignore it as I concentrated on getting her back to Autobot City.

Debra just laid there and moaned about Robert while I drove and as I arrived, I met my buddy Jazz in the doorway.

"What's kicking, Domy?" Jazz greeted me as I pulled up through the entrance.

"Jazz, you're just in time." I told me and he just stood there looking surprised as I opened my door, "Can you get Debra out? She's kinda out of it."

Jazz's expression went from surprised to confused, but he went to my side and carefully reached in and lifted Debra out, who just lay on his large black hands like she had done on the way.

"What's the matter with her? Is she sick?" Jazz asked me as he looked her over as she laid there like a rag doll in his palms.

"She's in grief." Was all I said in reply as I transformed and carefully took Debra from Jazz before starting to walk to Optimus' and my chamber.

I wasn't walking long before I suddenly realized that I had a stalker, and I turned around, thinking that it was Jazz and that he wanted to ask more about Debra, but instead, I found that it was Hot Rod instead.

"Hey Domy, who's she?" Hot Rod asked, coming closer and looking down at Debra.

"Her name's Debra, and she's had a rough night, excuse us." I replied and tried to turn around, but Hot Rod took me by the wrists and held me there while he continued to stare at Debra.

I was glaring at him but tried to wait patiently while he examined her with his sky-blue optics, even brought his face closer and I nearly kicked him because I was afraid that Debra would look up and scream at the sight of a huge male robot face above her. She might have tried to get away from him and then fall out of my hands. My spark leaped into my throat as Hot Rod used one of his fingers to gently push her hair aside so he could see her face, but Debra didn't even notice or care as she continued to sob.

"She's beautiful." I finally heard him say softly and I finally lost my patience.

"She's had enough trouble from one guy already!" I snapped and pulled my wrists away from his grasp as he looked at me in surprise, "She doesn't need another one fawning over her like what you're doing!"

I then turned around and walked off, feeling Hot Rod watch after me, probably hurt from me snapping at him. I made a mental note to apologize and maybe introduce Debra properly to him as I entered the chamber at last.

I walked to the bed and slowly sat down while cradling Debra carefully in both of my hands, looking down I found that she had passed out from crying.

"Oh sweetie." I said, carefully taking one of my hands from under her and using it to grab a pillow, "What did he do to you?"

Settling my pillow in my lap, I carefully placed Debra onto it, and held the pillow as I stood up, looking for a good place to leave Debra to rest. I finally chose the bed itself because I was afraid that if I put her on the floor, someone would step on her by accident, and everything else she might fall off if she chose to roll over. That choice being made, I set it carefully in the middle and I was about to leave to tell Ultra Magnus about Debra, but I suddenly thought that I should take off her shoes and cover her with something to make her more comfortable.

Taking off Debra's shoes to me was almost like taking shoes off a Barbie doll except you had to be a lot more careful, and then decided to cover her with a white transformer-sized hankerchief that I had found in the nightstand next to the bed. I was finally satisfied with her sleeping condition and I wrote a note to put next to her, saying that I would be back soon, signed Laura Bow instead of Domino because I knew she didn't know my Autobot name or what had happened to me.

Yet anyway.

As I walked out of our chamber, I was suddenly face-to-face with Wheeljack who was just standing there in front of my door, one fist raised like he had been about to knock. He blinked at me before he let his fist fall to his side.

"Um........hi?" I said, staring at him while wondering what he was doing here.

"Is it true that you have a human in there?" Wheeljack asked, trying to look around me into the darkness.

"Yes, and I'm about to tell Ultra Magnus, why?" I asked, and I then saw the gleam in his optic.

The kind of gleam that let you know a mad scientist like Wheeljack has something brilliant up their metallic sleeve.

"You've got something to show me, don't you?" I asked, shutting the door behind me.

"As a matter of fact, yes." Wheeljack told me and I could tell he felt this invention of his was a real breakthrough, "Come with me, Hot Rod already told Ultra Magnus about the woman you've got with you and how protective you seem to be with her."

*If only you knew, Wheeljack.* I thought as I followed him, *Another mental note, thank Hot Rod for informing Ultra Magnus for me.*

As we entered his lab, I was suddenly surrounded by the Dinobots.

"Domy! Domy! Wait till you see what Wheeljack made!" Slag said to me excitedly.

"Hee! Hee! Hee! Domy will be surprised!" Slash said, almost jumping up and down in glee.

"Will I be surprised?" I asked, grinning at how excited the Dinobots were about Wheeljack's new invention, "Will you show me then?"

"Yes! Me Grimlock say show Domy, Dinobots!" Grimlock said to his comrades, and as I leaned against the wall to watch them, they all looked back at me as they suddenly started to shrink.

My jaw hung open as my head followed them as they shrunk down to human size and looked up at me as my brain tried to come up with something intelligent.

"Wha....wha.....WOW!" Was all I could say as I stared down at them.

"I tell Domy she would be surprised!" Slash said somewhat proudly.

Wheeljack then came up as the Dinobots grew again and I looked at him in amazement.

"This is so cool, Wheeljack, how did you come up with it?" I asked him, wanting to know every detail.

"I managed." Was all he said in reply and I pouted at him.

"C'mon Wheeljack, you know I wanna know more than that." I told him in a stern tone, but I could feel a grin on my face.

"It's complicated." Wheeljack told me, holding up something in his hand and I looked at the device he had, "Wanna have that kind of skill? Do you want to be able to be human-sized?"

I was speechless for a moment while I thought of all the possiblities I could do with being human-sized again and how I could probably talk to Debra without scaring her with my Autobot size.

"Yes, yes, yes! A thousand times yes!" I told him excitedly and he chuckled.

"Okay, hold still." He told me, and I tried, but I kept wiggling in anctipation, "I said hold still!"

"I am holding still!" I said to him, actually holding still as I argued and that's when he turned on the device, which only lasted for an instant and I stared at him as he turned away, putting the device into a case, "That's it?"

"That's it." Wheeljack confirmed as he put the device in a case, "I was going to keep a secret from everyone until tomorrow when I announced it, but when you arrived with your friend, I decided it would be best if you were able to talk to her at her size."

"That's kinda what I had in mind." I admitted and I gave him a hug, making the modest mad scientist blush, "Thanks."

"You're welcome Domy." Wheeljack replied as he pulled away from me, "You can go now, and remember, all you have to do to activate your shrinking ability is think about it. I already downloaded the information into your data log."

I gave him a grin as another thank-you before I turned and walked out of the lab, waving goodbye to the Dinobots as I went.

As I went back to Optimus' and my chamber, I hurried because I had no idea if Debra had woken up or not and I didn't want her to get scared in a strange place. Who knew what she might do in her situation?

When I got to the chamber finally, I was in for a shock. Hot Rod was already in there on his knees beside the bed, and he was staring at Debra like he was smitten. At first I was angry with him because he had entered without permission, but then I noticed that look on his face and then I couldn't help but think it cute that Hot Rod obviously had a crush on my human friend.

I cleared my throat to get his attention and Hot Rod looked up at me, a purple blush growing on his cheeks at the sight of me in the door looking at him with my arms crossed in front of my chest. His exact expression said to me, "Please don't kill me!"

"May I ask...........what you're doing?" I asked, raising an eye ridge at him.

"I........um........I was just........." Hot Rod started, either at loss for an excuse or something to say that would not make me angry and kick him out, which I planned to do.

"Out." Was all I said, stepping aside and pointing out the door.

Hot Rod stole another look at Debra before he got to his feet and hurried out the door, acting like I was going to hit him or something if he didn't move fast enough. I held in a laugh until he was out and I had shut the door, then I started to giggle at how silly yet very cute Hot Rod was being. I shook my head still giggling as I headed to the bed to check on Debra.

She was still out, and she was twitching like she was having a nightmare or something of the sort. I stopped giggling as I looked down at her in pity and I slowly reached a hand over her, using my first finger to gently stroke her back in the most soothing way that I could. She seemed to calm at my touch and soon she slipped into a deeper slumber as I pulled my hand away and used that hand to grab the note I had left. I walked to a trashcan while crumbling the note with one hand and I threw it in before turning my attention to another situation.

I was trying to decide what I was going to do to sleep that night, either to move Debra to where my pillow had originally been or just sleep on the floor and then I remembered what Wheeljack had given me earlier.

*I'll just shrink to human size and sleep on Optimus' pillow.* I thought and then rolled my optics at myself, *DUH!*

I then took the only other handkerchief from the nightstand and laid that beside me as I then carefully sat at the head of the bed so that I wouldn't jostle Debra out of sleep. Making sure that I didn't disturb her, I then thought about being human-sized like Wheeljack had told me and even though I expected it, I couldn't help but be surprised as I shrank, the whole chamber just growing in front of my optics! I couldn't help but sit there stunned for a moment as I was human-sized again with my legs hanging over the side of the bed, for the first time ever since I had been made into a transformer and I couldn't believe this, I felt like I was human once again by some kind of magic spell.

I shook my head at my own nonsense and then I turned around as I pulled my legs up. I grabbed the edge of the handkerchief and dragged it after me as I crawled to Optimus' pillow. I stood up only after I had reached it and I started to climb onto it. It was slightly difficult, considering that it was squishy and bigger than a couch to me now, but I finally managed and I settled into its comfy middle, pulling the handkerchief over me like a light blanket.

*This is sooooooo comfy!* I thought to myself as I crossed my arms behind my head and laid on my back, *I should tell Optimus about this kind of luxury when he gets back.*

I brought my arms from behind my head and I brought my arms forward as I opened my compartment on my right arm, looking for my set of headphones.

Almost every transformer in Autobot City has a compartment of some kind, mostly on the arms for easy reach or something of the sort, and a transformer named Pipes had given me my headphones. Pipes is one of the few Autobots that's really into human technology, and this guy actually has a collection of human electronics in one part of Autobot City that wasn't used until he got there. I've been there more than once and he's got almost every kind of electronic that you've ever heard of. He made a few copies of radio headphones that were advanced in his own design and he gave me one of them for no reason at all. When I asked him why, he just shrugged at me and went back to picking at something that he had on his worktable. Pipes can be somewhat strange, but I think that he's just a sweetie.

The headphones Pipes gave me can bring up any radio station from around the world and I've actually picked up a phone conversation one night with those things. It was a couple of teenage girls talking about the boys they had a crush on, their favorite colors of nail polish, what they did at the mall, and what they were going to do for prom when it came. It would have been fairly interesting if the girls didn't say "Like," with every single sentance that came out of their mouths, that kind of thing drives me CRAZY!

I put on my headphones and then I spent the next twenty minutes looking for a song to put me to sleep. I was about to fall asleep from boredom until I found this song that reminded me of how I felt about Optimus Prime.

I still hear your voice when you sleep next to me,

I still feel your touch in my dreams...

Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why,

Without you it's hard to survive...

Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling,

And everytime we kiss, I swear I could fly,

Can't you feel my heart beat fast?

I want this to last...

Need you by my side,

Cause evertime we touch, I feel this static,

And everytime we kiss, I reach for the sky,

Can't you hear my heart beat so?

I can't let you go...

Want you in my life.

*Oh man, now am I supposed to get to sleep?* I complained playfully in my mind as my head and foot tapped in time to the music, *This song rocks!*

Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky,

They wipe away tears that I cry...

The good and the bad times, we've been through them all,

You make me rise when I fall,

Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling,

And everytime we kiss, I swear I could fly,

Can't you feel my heart beat fast?

I want this to last...

Need you by my side,

Cause everytime we touch, I feel this static,

And everytime we kiss, I reach for the sky,

Can't you hear my heart beat so?

I can't let you go...

Want you in my life.

Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling,

And everytime we kiss, I swear I could fly,

Can't you feel my heart beat fast?

I want this to last...

Need you by my side.

As the song ended in my ears, I slid the headphones off, wondering if I could talk to Optimus over our bond even though he was probably at Cybertron by now.

*Optimus? Can you hear me?* I asked, sitting up as I put all of my focus into trying to contact Optimus, *It's me, Domino! If you can hear me, please answer!*

I waited for a short time, listening as hard as I could, but I couldn't hear anything, and I sat there, disappointed and feeling lonely.

*If this is how I feel right now, it's only going to get worse during these loooong two weeks.* I thought to myself as I lay back down and curled up while lying on my side while loneliness started to kick in.

I was about to fall asleep when I finally felt something.......something amazing. It just came out of nowhere and I opened my optics as wide as I could when I felt something enter my spark and made it pulse so fast that I had to sit up in order to endure it. I can't describe all of what I felt, but I felt hot, cold, pleasure, and the wonderful knowing that I was wanted by someone at the same time while I heard this in my head.

*Goodnight Domino, I love you.* I heard Optimus in my head as the feeling that I now knew he had sent pulsed through me and it slowly went away as I sat there, just plain stunned at what had just happened.

"Woooooooow." I said slowly and quietly, a smile coming onto my face while wondering, *How did he DO that?*

The next morning.....

The first thing I did after my optics were activated was smile at the thought of the amazing feeling that Optimus had sent me last night and I nearly sighed in complete contentment before I remembered Debra. I looked over to where she was and saw that she was awake, sitting up on the pillow where I had put her. I sat up slowly, not wanting to scare her if I moved too fast, and I watched her as she looked around, seemingly in shock.

"Morning." I said in my softest and friendliest tone, making her look at me.

Debra took one look at me after I spoke and gasped, standing up on the pillow, only to stumble down again because the squishy thing refused to be stable under her feet. I blinked as she fell down and I sighed, knowing I had my work cut out for me when it came to regaining the trust that we had a long time ago.

"Debra.......Calm down." I told her as she sat up again.

She looked at me in fear which quickly turned to realization and confusion as she stared at me with her brown eyes.

"How...........I mean.........." Debra started, but couldn't seem to finish.

"We knew each other a long time ago." I told her and she started to argue until I added, "You knew me as Laura Bow."

The disbelief on her face told me that convincing her would not be easy and I began to tell her about what we used to do in high school, including pranks we had played on the snobbish cheerleaders, and I also made a risk by telling her the times I had begged her not to be with Robert anymore.

By the time I was finished, Debra had this look of absolute shock and I slid down from Optimus' pillow, landing on my feet nimbly and sat down while preparing to grow to Autobot size again. I figured by now Wheeljack had updated at least half the population with this ability to grow big or small that day.

I thought about being Autobot sized again and I grew quickly while keeping an eye on Debra, who was even paler as she watched me grow, one of my legs dangling over the side of the bed now.

"I know this is kind of scary." I told her as I was now at normal Autobot size, "But it's not bad, in fact you may have fun while you're getting used to it.....I did."

"Are they going to turn me into a robot?" Debra asked, almost squeaking as she looked up at me.

I was confused for a moment to why she thought that we were going to turn her into an Autobot and then I nearly slapped myself in the forehead as I realized that she didn't know what had happened to me.

"No Deb, no one's going to turn you into a robot." I told her assuringly and she let out a sigh of relief, her hand going to her heart, "But in my case, there really wasn't much of a choice."

"What do you mean?" Debra asked me and I was all too happy to tell her all about it.

I then told her everything about my ex, how I had escaped him, and how I had escaped to the small town. Debra's face was full of pity as I told her about when I was running from my ex and then her face turned into disgust as I told her that my ex was stepped on by Megatron. The pity turned to fear and she let out a gasp as I told her about how I had been picked up and nearly crushed to death by Megatron. It turned to nearly disbelief once more as I continued with my tale, telling about the part where I had woken up with a new body and met the Transformers for the first time in Autobot City, a place I had called home for nearly a year then.

"Are you really happy here, Laura?" Debra asked me as I finished, purposely leaving out the part about Optimus and I being bonded, not wanting her to be any more depressed than what she already might have been.

"Yeah, I'm happier than I've been for a long time, Debra." I replied honestly, relaxing a little bit against the headboard (if you can it that) of the bed.

Debra didn't say anything after I replied, just hung her head and stared at the pillow she was sitting on, and I couldn't help but feel pity as I looked at her, wondering what kind of emotional challenge she had gone through before I had found her. I then found myself staring at her dress, and realized that a change of clothes might help her mood even the slightest bit. That dress she was wearing was pretty, but it didn't look as though it was made for comfort.

"Listen," I said as I got off the bed slowly and carefully, Debra looking up at me as I spoke, "I'm going to go and see if I can't find any clothes for you to change into. That dress doesn't look like it's comfortable."

Debra then hung her head again, staring at the pillow once more.

"It wasn't last night either." Debra replied, so quiet that I barely heard her.

*What happened to you?* I wondered as I started to leave, "I'll be right back."

As I walked out the door, I suddenly thought of Hot Rod and then whipped back around, nearly falling while tripping over my own feet. Debra looked strangely at me as I poked my head back into the door and I could feel my cheeks heating up as I grinned at her.

"Um.....listen." I said as I tapped my fingers against the frame of the door, "If another robot, mainly a red, yellow flame-painted one comes in, don't get alarmed, that's just Hot Rod. He's a friend of mine."

"O.........k." Debra said, blinking in confusion as I left.

As I walked, I wondered who would have clothes that would fit my friend and I ended tracking down and asking Spike for advice before going to Red Alert to get a list of names of the women that were living in Autobot City. I had a little trouble getting Red Alert to give me a list, the guy was so paranoid, but I managed to get it from him in the end and I managed to find a couple of women that would probably help me, as I had heard both made a hobby of making their own clothes.

I went to the first woman who was named Barb Wilson to ask for clothes and instead, she gave me her sincerest apologies because she had sent all of her old clothes to Salvation Army. I told her thanks anyway, and I went to the second woman named Goldie Lole, who gave me all I needed and much more.

I had a couple of bags of clothes dangling from my fingers as I walked back to Optimus' and my chamber, Goldie had been generous enough to donate at least ten nice hand-made outfits for Debra. I had offered to do something for her in return, but she wouldn't hear of it, saying that it was only fair to help an Autobot since they had always helped her.

I found myself wondering if Hot Rod was paying Debra a visit, but as I entered and looked around, I didn't see any sign of him. I can't say that I wasn't surprised that he wasn't there, after he had been so persistent to see Debra the night before, and I had thought for sure that he would try to see her while I had been getting clothes.

"What are you looking for, Laura?" Debra asked and I looked at her in time to see her quickly wipe fresh tears from her face, but I decided not to say anything about it, yet.

"I'm surprised that Hot Rod didn't come in here, that's all." I told her as I walked over and put the bags next to her, "He was curious about you last night and he was pretty persistent in order to see you."

Debra somehow looked both amused and disturbed at the same time as I told her this and I shrugged at her, showing that I had no idea why he was doing that. I had my suspicions, but I wasn't about to tell her what I believed about Hot Rod, because she had already been through so much with just one guy already and I was unwilling to reopen healing wounds.

"I'll stand out in the hall and let you get dressed," I told her as I settled the two bags next to her, "Yell when you're decent and then I'll take you to get breakfast."

"Thanks Laura....." She told me and I turned around to leave, but she added, "You're a good friend even though I don't deserve one."

"What are you talking about?" I asked as I turned back around.

Her head was down for a moment before she looked back up at me, her eyes full of tears.

"Because of the way I treated you....." Debra said to me, her voice choked, "When you tried to warn me about Robert."

She then burst into tears with her hands covering her face and my spark cried also as I reached for her, picking her up gently and brought her to my face, pressing her carefully against my cheek. She hid her face against my skin and bawled, my optics shutting off as I stood still, holding her and letting her cry out her sorrow against me. She cried for a whole forty-five minutes before she finally calmed down and I carefully put her back on the bed next to the clothes.

"I'm sorry." Debra told me as she wiped away her tears, but didn't look up at me.

"Don't apologize." I said as I turned again, making her look at me as I left the room, "That's what friends are for and I meant it when I said that we would be friends forever."

With that, I shut the door behind me and I walked to the other side of the hall, leaning against the wall as I waited for Debra to dress. As I waited, I happened to look to my left and saw that my buddy Blackjacket was running at me at full speed, his face full of glee.

"Yo buddy, where's the fire?" I asked as he slid to a halt in front of me.

"Domy, Jazz just told me that the Autobots finished their business on the moon base early," Blackjacket told me in one breath and I blinked in surprise at him, "They say Optimus is coming back, and that he'll be here either tonight or tomorrow."

My jaw hung open in utter shock for a moment and then I was leaping in the air, full of pure joy that I was going to see my husband before the next week was even over! Blackjacket was joining me in his own silly way, making faces and sticking out his tongue, making me bellow out in laughter.

"Laura?" I heard Debra call from my room, sounding kind of timid, probably from the racket that we were making and I stopped jumping, Blackjacket doing the same as he heard Debra's voice.

"Who's that?" Blackjacket asked, staring at the door in confusion.

"Let me see if she's decent first and then I'll introduce you." I told me and then went to the door, knocking on it gently, "Deb? Are you dressed yet?"

"Y-y-yes, but what's going on?" Debra asked, sounding kind of scared and I was purely disgusted again with Robert, as the Debra I had known had never been timid in her life.

"I just got word that my husband's coming back early," I told her through the door, "I was being excited, that's all."

"A-a-a-a-hem." Blackjacket said to me teasingly and I made a face at him before I turned back to the door.

"I want you to meet somebody, can we come in?" I asked, feeling somewhat silly because this was Optimus' and my chamber that she was in.

"Yeah." Debra called back and I opened the door, walking straight in with Blackjacket right behind me.

Debra was now dressed in a cute little pink shirt that looked like it had been bejeweled by an expert and black jeans, but she didn't have any shoes on and I mentally scolded myself for not thinking of that as I stood in front of the bed while looking down at her.

"Deb, I'd like you to meet Blackjacket." I said as I gestured to my buddy beside me, who gave her the same friendly grin that he had given me when we had first met, "Blacky, this is Debra."

I wasn't surprised when Debra smiled back at Blackjacket and I was relieved that he had won her just as easily as he had won me over as a friend. I could tell that these two were going to be tight and I was grateful, because Debra needed friends the most at that point in her life.

"Ready for breakfast?" I asked as I got ready to pick her up and put her down on the floor, but someone cleared their throat and I turned around, looking at the door I had left open.

Ultra Magnus stood there, nearly filling the whole doorway as he was nearly as wide as he was tall, and he dwarfed most of the other Autobots. He stared at me with his huge blue optics and I straightened from Debra with my hands dropping to my sides, still looking at him.

"Hi Ultra Magnus, what can I help you with?" I asked politely, wondering what he wanted.

"Domino, I need to speak to you." He told me, his voice straight forward and to the point as always.

"Okay, just a sec." I told him and he nodded, leaving the doorway, "Hey Blacky? Can you take Debra and......"

"Sure Domy, see ya later." He told me, grinning goofly when I glared at him playfully for interrupting me.

As I turned to Debra, she was looking as though she was lost at sea and I felt bad for having to leave her, but Ultra Magnus was the boss while Optimus was away. And I was wondering if I had done something wrong..........again.

"Blackjacket will look after you, don't worry." I told her, "He took good care of me when I first became a Autobot."

"Stop it Domy, you're going to make me blush." Blackjacket told me jokingly as he reached for Debra and taking her gently in his hands, he lowered her to the floor.

"I can't help it if you're going to be a good FATHER someday." I told me and then jogged out laughing as he gave me a shocked look.

I was looking at Blackjacket as I left and to my eternal embarrassment, I ran straight into Ultra Magnus, who didn't even budge while I stumbled back from the force.

"Sorry about that." I said to him, rubbing my head while grinning sheepishly as he stared at me, "What's on your mind?"

"Two things are on my mind," He told me, still staring at me, "One is your human friend."

"I thought Hot Rod told you that she was here." I said, frowning as I thought Hot Rod must have forgotten, but it turned out that wasn't the case.

"Hot Rod DID inform me that you brought a human here," Ultra Magnus told me, "But he didn't mention that you knew the rule about newcomers."

"What rule?" I asked, becoming all serious, my own green staring into his light blue as I put my hands on my hips.

"Newcomers are allowed, but only for a short time," Ultra Magnus told me, "Usually for a week, maybe shorter....."

A week or shorter? That was not nearly enough time for Debra to recover from her experience and get back on her feet, as I well knew.

"Listen Ultra Magnus," I said as I prepared myself to beg, "Debra went through something bad and her husband was part of it. She has no money and nearly all her family is either dead or too far away for her to reach...."

"I feel for your friend Debra, Domino, but rules are rules." Ultra Magnus told me and then added, "You know how Red Alert is if someone doesn't follow his rules."

"Yeah, well his rules suck more than once." I told him and he actually smiled when I said this.

As I watched him, I thought that Ultra Magnus should smile more, and that he was so handsome when he did have a real smile on his face. If it hadn't worked out between Optimus and me, I suspected Ultra Magnus would have been next on my list.

He really is a nice guy, he's just a little too serious, and Optimus had started lighting up a bit after we had been bonded, so if he ever got a girl, I imagine that he would lighten up, even a little.

"Yes, I would have to agree with you." Ultra Magnus told me and then his smile faded, "But Debra will either have to recover quickly, or you will have to ask Red Alert to make an exception."

I couldn't help but give him a sour look when he suggested the part about Red Alert and he smiled again.

"Yes, he's not easily swayed when it comes to his rules, but he CAN be swayed." He told me and then he suddenly reached into cyber-space, "The second thing on my mind is that Optimus contacted me and asked to give you this."

I couldn't help but stare as he pulled out one of the biggest laser-guns I had ever seen and he handed it to me, the thing just slightly heavier than the gun I was used to carrying around. It was half as long as my arm and the barrel was huge, which told me that it packed a wallop when fired.

"Wow." I said as I looked the thing over, "This thing is wicked."

"That's a laser-gun that Optimus carries himself." Ultra Magnus said as he was also looking at the gun with interest, "It's quite powerul, and it will probably take some time to get used to."

"If it doesn't blow me through a wall first." I quipped jokingly as I held it up in my hand, the thing fitting perfectly in my hand like it had been made for me, which it probably had been.

Ultra Magnus chuckled and turned, making me look at him as he started leave.

"Take care of yourself and your friend, Domy." He said as he left and I blinked at my silly nickname as it left his mouth.

"You've never called me Domy before." I muttered after him as I watched him leave, "Is EVERYONE going to start calling me that?"

I put my new toy in cyber-space along with other things I had place in there and then I walked down the hall, passing several other Autobots, one of them was Jazz who made a face at me and I made one (which involved me sticking out my tongue) back, making him laugh while calling me ornery at the same time.

As I reached the end of the hall, I was surrounded by the other humans that lived in Autobot City, and the area I was looking at was not unlike the room in a mall where there was tables placed at random locations, but there were meal-making machines (Guess who made them, that's right, Wheeljack) instead of snack bars. As I scanned the area, I finally spotted Debra sitting alone at a table, her head resting her on her hands while her elbows were on the table, and I sighed as I could see that she had nothing in front of her.

I shrank to human size before walking through the crowd to join my friend Debra at the table she was sitting at, drawing many surpised glances, but I ingored them the best I could as I was concerned for my friend.

Debra looked both sad and trashed as she sat there, not looking at anybody or anything as she stared at the table, her eyes unfocused, but she finally looked at me as I sat there, and she met my optics as I joined her at the table.

"Hi...........are you hungry?" I asked gently, giving her a small friendly smile.

"I can't eat anything." Debra told me, her voice sounding like she was tired of everything.

"You need to eat something." I told her firmly and I got up again, walking over to the nearest Meal-Maker 2000, pressing buttons to make what I remembered as Debra's favorite breakfast while still avoiding the stares of nearby people.

"I still can't believe that you're a robot, Laura." I heard Debra say behind me, sounding almost like she pitied me and I didn't know how to answer to that as a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and a couple of sausage patties appeared in front of me.

"My name is Domino now, Debra......." I said, the plate finished and I as I brought it over to her, I added, "And I'm still the biggest brat in the universe, nothing's ever going to change that."

Debra smiled for the second time that morning and for a while I suspected, considering that I had known for a while that Robert was not treating her like I knew he should. I sat down again before I was suddenly death-hugged by a pair of all-too-familiar black arms.

"Hi Blacky." Was all I said to a human-sized Blackjacket as he hugged me from behind, making sure to nearly squeeze the life outta me and I grunted at the grip he had on me as I wondered, *I wonder how many Autobots are updated with this power now?*

"Hi Domy." Blackjacket said to me and he suddenly let go.

As I watched, he went to Debra and gave her a gentle hug, Debra giving him a surprised look before leaning into his embrace somewhat hesitantly. I smiled as I watched.

Blackjacket let go of her and walked off, Debra watching him with a bewildered look on her face until he went around the corner, probably to go find Arcee if I knew my buddy at all.

"He's really sweet, isn't he?" Debra asked me, starting to slightly play with the food I had made for her with a fork.

"Yeah he is.......Deb?" I suddenly inquired, looking her straight in the eye, "What happened last night? Why were you out in the streets?"

Considering whatever kind of emotion-torment Debra had gone through and how she had been last night, she handled her explanation amazingly cool.

"Robert put me out of the house." She told me, looking down at her plate.

"Which house?" I asked.

"Our house." Debra replied, looking at me like I was a little slow.

"Well, how on earth did he manage that?" I asked, standing up so that I could walk around to her side of the table,"He should be arrested for that because since you are his wife, you own half the sucker, it's your right."

"The house is in his name, Domino." Debra told me calmly, resting her chin on one hand while her elbow was on the table.

"That's the problem most of the time." I replied, "Men like Robert brainwashing women and making them believe that they don't own anything, but the fact is, you're his wife and you get half of everything, including the house and cash."

"I don't have any rights to the money either!" Debra said to me, all but shouting the information, slamming her hands down on the table.

I narrowed my optics at her as she told me this, which made me wonder what had happened to the Debra I used to know. The Debra I remembered would not have stood up for this and she would have done everything humanly possible to make the person give her what they owed her.

"No rights? What do you mean, no rights?" I asked, leaning over so that we were meeting face-to-face, "Is that what the dirt-bag told you? He actually convinced you that you have no right?"

Debra was silent for a moment, just looking at the table and the expression on her face let me know that it was something worse than Robert's word.

"I signed a prenup." Debra told me, her face suddenly looking like she felt a hundred years old.

The minute I heard 'prenup', my green optics narrowed to a glare at her and boy was I ticked off!

"What the heck did you do that for?" I growled at Debra, my metal hands gripping the table so hard that it almost splintered, "I oughta punch you in the face, what were you thinking?"

"Robert knew that he would always be successful in his business." Debra said, amazing me with how calm she was, even though she knew that I could hurt her in a second for signing a stupid prenup, "And he told me, "I want to know that you're here for love." And I didn't have a job at the time, so it's his money."

I just stood there for a moment, thinking about all this furiously with a scowl on my face and then I suddenly thought of something that calmed me down instantly.

"Oh is it?" I said, smiling slightly mischevious as she looked at me, "What were you doing while he was working, Deb?"

"Taking care of the house, cooking and cleaning." Debra replied, confused to where I was going with this.

"Exactly! That sounds like a job to me." I said, opening my arm compartment and searching through it for my calculator and a small laptop (another present from Pipes), "Cooking and cleaning.......how long you did this?"

"Twelve years." Debra said and I could finally see some of righteous anger in her eyes as it flared up.

"All right, okay!" I said, finally finding what I wanted and closing my arm compartment, "Let's see how much he owes you!"

I sat down and set the calculator in front of me, using the computer which had easy internet that Wheeljack had installed for me to find the usual costs for cooking and cleaning for rich guys's houses. Finding the usual price that maids charged for working in mansions, I put those done on the calculator.

"For twelve years, you've been cooking, cleaning......." I said as I added these up, and then asked, "When you had sex with him when he wanted, was it any good?"

I blushed and felt somewhat dirty when I asked that, but it was another reason to get Debra the money she needed and deserved.

"...............No." Debra said finally, not looking like she liked to think about those times.

"Major deduction." I said firmly and put a heavy price down for that.

"And I didn't tell you that he hit me." Debra suddenly said, pointing at my caculator.

I stared at her for a moment, completely stunned and then went on my computer to find the fee for hitting women charged by the police. When I found it, I could see that it had quite a lot of zeros in it!

"Whoooohoooohoooohoooo!" I said, going nuts on the calculator, my blue fingers hitting buttons like mad as I added all the numbers I had found.

I could feel Debra and other people staring at me like I was crazy as I added up how much Dirt-Bag Robert owed her for her twelve years of wifely service, and all I could think about was how rich Debra was going to get after she got her money.

When I was finally done adding up..............

"Girl, that man owes you sixty-four thousand, two hundred and twenty dollars, and eighty-two cents." I said, looking up to see Debra's face.

She looked both happy and shocked at the same time at the price that Robert owed her. I was happy with this reaction and I cleared the calculator of the price.

"Now, we need to go get your money." I said, putting my calculator away and then was shocked to find Debra back to her low-confidence as she looked at her plate again.

"That'll never happen." Debra said, sounding so sure that she wasn't going to get her money.

"You wanna bet?" I asked, feeling frustrated with her and excited at getting back at Robert at the same time that day, "It can happen two ways sweetie. You can get it from his checking account voluntarily, or I can scare the heck out of him and make him give you the money."

I pulled my big gun that Ultra Magnus had just given me from cyber-space and showed it to her, making her cringe.

"What's it gonna be?" I asked, lowering the gun.

"Domino............" Debra said tiredly, covering her face with her hands.

I stared as I put my big gun back into cyber-space, feeling sorry for her and determined as well.

*What has he done to you Debra?* I thought and then shook my head, "Uh huh! I'm not going to have this! Come on!"

I stood up, sliding my chair in as I plotted ahead of what I intended to do.

"What? Where are we going?" Debra asked as I stepped next to her.

"To your house." I said, determined to get Robert to give Debra what he owed her and I grew to my Autobot size with just a thought.

"Oh no, the guard will never let us in." Debra said, not noticing how big I was getting while she was preparing to eat her breakfast finally, but it was too late for her to do that now.

"I said come on!" I said as I reached down and picked her up, running towards the exit with her in my hand.

I guess some of Optimus' take-command attitude had rubbed off a little on me.

I almost ran into Arcee on my way out, but Blackjacket pulled her back in time before I plowed her over in my rush and I yelled an apology to her as I ran outside as she stared after me. The minute I felt sunshine on my face and I could see the woods, I transformed while tossing a yelping Debra into my driver's seat and sped off. Debra had gained back her wits at this time and she shifted in my seat before trying to talk me out of doing what I was determined to do.

"Domino! It's fine, I can find some kind of job and then........" Debra started until I was going at a hundred and twenty, then all she could do was hold on tight!

I sped through the woods and through the town, making sure to take the roads that almost no one took and then when we finally came to Robert's mansion, I sped up even faster and rammed the gate at full speed, scaring the guard nearly out of his mind while the gate doors fell off their hinges. I didn't even have a dent or a scratch while the gate had been destroyed as I drove full speed up the long drive-way.

I was tempted to drive full into the house as we came to it just to give Robert another financial problem, but instead I slowed and stopped, allowing Debra to get out before I transformed again and shrunk down to human size.

Debra had gotten the idea at this point that she couldn't argue with me and she led me to the double oak doors. She tried to open one, but it was locked.

"It's locked." She said as she turned around, "Let's just go back to.........."

I walked past her and lifting one foot, I kicked the area between the doors, both of them flying open from the force of my foot against them. Debra just stood there looking impressed until I gestured for her to enter first and she marched right in. She walked through the house and up the stairs with me following her. She finally led me to what seemed a big closet, the room was packed with feminine clothing. She looked around and her expression was unreadable, but her eyes were full of blazing anger.

I stood there watching her while she stared around the room, the clothes looking expensive enough to make the Queen of England say that they were too expensive for her to buy.

"Get your stuff!" I finally told her, making her jump.

She went to one of the shelves, feeling the under-side of it while I looked around and started looking through the clothes that were hanging up.

"Are these your clothes?" I asked as I looked.

"They're hers." Debra said as she continued with looking for something as I turned to look around the room and then walked up to some hanging clothes.

"Hers? Who's her?" I asked, one of my hands holding onto a silk shirt that I had found while looking through the hanging clothes.

"The slut that my husband kicked me out for." Debra said, almost saying that through her teeth as she continued looking.

"Oh." I said and then looked at the tag of the shirt that I held, "Who is.......um........Dol.........say and Gab...........anna?"

"Dolce and Gabbana, they're designers." Debra corrected as she had found a small suitcase and was looking though it.

"Oh, then she's a label slut." I said as I looked again at the shirt, hearing Debra chuckle a little at what I said, and then I found that the shirt still had a price tag, and I found that this shirt alone was $700, which I snorted at, "$700 dollars for this rag?"

I took the shirt off the hanger and started wiping the mirror in that room with it, seeing if it was any good cleaning considering how pricey it had been.

"Not even a good rag." I said as it suddenly ripped a little from my treatment of it and I just took in both hands to rip it all the way.

"Nonononono Domino!" Debra said in alarm, getting up and gesturing for me to stop, "Don't do that!"

As I looked up, I saw that there was fear in her eyes, the familiar fear of punishment, no doubt imprinted by Dirt-Bag Robert himself and it made me angry to see that in her, Debra of all people. I remembered how she had beat up men that had hurt me and others in high school, yet now I was seeing FEAR in her eyes of a man who couldn't even take care of himself without a woman around.

I stared at her as I dropped the 'rag' to the floor, leaving it there, backing away slightly while my optics met her eyes.

"This man LEFT you, for some diseased slut." I said firmly to Debra and then something flashed in the light between the clothes as I passed them, catching my optic.

I slowly turned and parted the clothes, seeing one of the human things I hated the most.

A wire hanger.

My ex had beaten me with those many times, cutting me most of the time and from that time on, I got enraged every time I just saw one. In fact, Optimus had asked every human living in Autobot City the other week to get rid of their wire hangers because I got angry at just seeing them. Rage slowly filled me as I picked up the offending hanger, glaring at it with all my might as my vision became red.

"Domino, what's wrong?" Debra asked, stepping back and eyeing me as I turned around, my hand shaking the hanger so much that it rattled.

"A wire.....HANGER!!!!" I roared as I proceeded to rip the thing apart violently, and after I was done with it, it was nothing but small balls of twisted metal, beyond repair.

I wasn't finished being angry though and I grabbed the next thing I saw, which happened to be a white evening dress. I was about to rip the sucker when I saw Debra's sheet-white face as she stared at me and an idea came into my mind and my anger went into mischievousness as I walked slowly towards her, holding it out.

"Rip it." I ordered, feeling an sly smile come onto my face.

"Rip it?" Debra asked incredibly, backing away a little.

"Rip it." I confirmed while nodding, holding it out again.

"No, no." Debra said, but I could tell the idea appealed to her as the suppressed rage started to show.

"Rip it." I said in a slightly evil tone, trying to tempt her as much as possible.

"Rip it?" Rip it?!" Debra asked me, now eyeing the dress with anger.

"Rip it!" I said again, almost shouting.

"RIP IT!" Debra shouted, grabbing the dress from me and.........tried to rip it.

She stood there grunting, pulling on it from different directions while I stared incredibly, my optics blinking at her as I watched this funny but pathetic display.

"What are you doing?" I asked in disgust as she even tried to bite it to make it rip.

I watched this for a few more seconds before I suddenly snatched it from her hands.

"Rip it like this, get mad at it!" I said and then like I said, I got mad at it like I did with the wire hanger with its painful memories, tearing it apart easily and still pulled at it, "It'll make you feel better!"

I then threw the ruined gown on the floor, even stepping on it as Debra watching me with flaming eyes.

"Rip it!" I ordered again.

"Rip it! Rip it!" Debra snarled as she whirled around to some more hanging clothes.

"Rip something! Rip something!" I encouraged as she fumbled with outfits, muttering 'rip it!' as she finally grabbed a black dress, "Rip it real good! Rip it!"

Debra almost had the hem of the dress when she suddenly stopped fumbling with it and looked at me suddenly.

"Wait a minute, what's this going to solve?" Debra asked me, her face expression asking me, "what's the catch?"

I just gave her a sly look as I stepped backward, to where some more expensive clothes waited to be ripped.

"Nothing." I admitted, "It's just going to make you feel a lot better!"

I then proceeded to whirl around and rip into the clothes behind me literally, several flying over my head as I was finished with them.

"RIP IT!" Debra cheered, laughing happily as she dealt her anger on the slut's expensive wardrobe.

"RIP IT!" I yelled back, going for some shoes, my metal hands ripping them easily.

We were ripping dresses, skirts, shirts, sweaters, and shoes like there was no tomorrow, each ripping got more wild than the next. Each time we found something that we couldn't rip ourselves, we called the other over and then we'd each take a side while pulling with all our might, which ripped 'em pretty well. I suddenly paused in the middle of the fun, Debra taking that moment to rest and catch her breath.

"This is for every woman, who ever had a problem with a dirt-bag man!" I stated loudly and Debra laughed as the fun began again.

Almost every single one of the out-fits and shoes were ripped by the time Debra got too tired to do anymore, so I decided it was time to call it quits.

"Feel better?" I asked as I helped Debra sit down on the floor in front of the mirror, among our handiwork, and I'm proud to say that most of it was beyond repair for even the most talented seamstress or tailor.

Debra nodded while panting and I sat next to her as she tried to catch her breath.

"Okay." Debra said to me after she caught her breath, "I'm going to go down to the office, because I forgot some things."

"Okay, you go down into the office." I said as she got up and went downstairs, "While you're at it, find me some energon."

I was only joking, knowing full well that there was no energon in that house and I waited for two minutes before I realized that there was a revealing black dress behind me that Debra and I somehow missed. I ripped it down from the hanger and ripped it easily in two pieces.

"Heheheheheheh!" I chuckled evilly as I tossed the pieces into the pile of ripped clothes.

I then heard footsteps on the stairs and I looked up, thinking it was Debra. Instead, some woman I had never seen in my life came up the stairs. She looked like a junkie and her hair was the ugliest dyed mess I had ever seen.

Robert left Debra.....for THIS?! I thought, cringing at this woman's ugliness, What the heck is wrong with him?

I have to admit, seeing this woman's face when she saw all the ripped clothes was price-less though.

"What?" The woman came up, her face full of loss at the clothes, and then she saw me sitting there, "Who are you?"

I put my hand on my hip and stared back at her.

"Who are you?" I sassily asked back.

"I'm the owner of this house." The woman said to me angrily, carefully stepping so that her feet weren't on the clothes, despite the fact that they were beyond repair.

"Eeeeeeeeeent! Wrong answer." I replied, getting up off the floor, "My friend Debra is the owner of this house. You're the slut, you don't have any power or any deed what-so-ever."

The woman knelt down on the floor, picking up the dress I had just ripped.

"Did you do this?" The woman asked, looking close to be hysteric, "This is Vera Wang!"

She nearly shouted the last words at me, and I was untouched by her loss as I cocked an eye ridge at her.

"Who is that? Does she do nails?" I asked casually, looking at my non-existent finger nails, "I need to get my nails did."

"That's it! I'm calling the police." The woman said furiously as she threw the dress onto the floor.

"I'm not scared of the police." I said honestly, crossing my arms in front of my chest, "Call the police, slut."

"If I call them, they're going to be here in ten minutes." The woman said, looking as though she believed that would get me running out of the house.

"Okay, then that leaves me nine minutes to beat the living daylights out of you." I replied, actually taking a step forward.

"You think so? I know karate!" The woman said, getting into a fake position with her hands in front of her and I snorted.

"And I know 'whoop your sorry butt'!" I replied loudly, putting up my fists.

"Ha!" The woman said to me, jerking like she wanted to run away.

"Come on! Bring it!" I dared her, gesturing with one of my fists to come at me, which she didn't, "Come on!"

She actually started talking gibberish with a Japanese accent and I had to keep myself from laughing from the stupidity of it all.

"What the heck are you doing?" I asked, rolling my optics as she continued with what she was doing.

She was still talking Japanese accented-gibberish when I heard the shouting from downstairs.

"Waitaminute! SHUT UP!" I roared at the woman, ending the gibberish and after it was silent for a few seconds, I recognized the shouting as Robert's, "Uh oh!"

I ran past the woman to go downstairs and I couldn't resist slapping the woman's head as I passed her, making her shriek in pain. I grinned as I ran downstairs towards Robert's office.

"Yeah, you keep running!" I heard the woman shout after me and I laughed out loud as I hurried towards the office.

"I'M GOING TO HIT YOU SO HARD THAT YOU......." I could hear Robert shout and then I burst through the door, pulling my big gun out of cyberspace.

Robert had Debra by the arm and he had a fist raised like he was going to smash it into my friend's face, which made me angry beyond reason, my optics almost red from glaring at him. He lowered it the second he saw me come in and Debra started struggling from him, finally slapping him across the face.

"Oh please do it! Please hit her!" I said, mock-begging the coward as he suddenly let go of Debra from the pain as I held up my big gun directly in front of me for him to see, "I want to see you do it!"

Debra all but ran towards me and stood beside me, glaring at the pale Robert who looked terrified of my gun.

Can you blame him? The barrel was about the size of his head.

"What the heck is wrong with you?" I demanded, pointing my gun at him, making him even paler, "Let's see you hit her now, put your hands up creep!"

The slut then decided to come into the study and seeing what was going on, she ran to Robert's side.

"Oh my God, don't hurt him!" The slut ordered me, making me glare at her as she ran to his side, taking his arm in her hands.

"I'm not going to hurt him, I'm going to KILL him!" I corrected her, raising my gun up to prove my point, flashing the barrel at him again, "Putting his hands on my friend like that! I oughta to rip him in half with my bare hands!"

"I'm calling the police." The slut told Robert, who recovered enought to stop her.

"Yeah, yeah....call the police." I told her and both of them looked at me with hate as I added, "I'm a freakin' Autobot for crying out loud, and you're a scumbag, you threw your own wife out onto the streets for some ugly....."

"GET OUT!" Robert roared at me, some fear still showing through his voice and I smirked as I shook my head.

"Heck no, half of everything in this house belongs to Debra." I replied, giving him another flash of my gun's barrel, "And we're not leaving until she gets what you owe her."

"She'll never see it." Robert replied and the slut nodded with him.

I raised both of my eye ridges at his nerve.

*Oh no he didn't.* I thought as my optics narrowed and I was about to make him regret it when Debra beat me to it.

"Robert, I have been nothing but a good woman and wife to you," Debra said as she walked towards him a little, her dark eyes in a deadly glare but her voice cool and calm, like a killer, "I didn't deserve getting kicked out of our house like this and I don't intend to let this go. You will give me what you owe me or I'll let Domino do what she likes."

She was dead serious, standing there with clenched fists, and I was cheering for her in my head when Robert snorted at her.

"I don't owe you anything, woman." Robert said nastily and my temper flared as he added, "As far as I see it, you owe me plenty, seeing how I kept you rolling in money...."
"That's it, I've had it with you." I snarled and I pointed my gun directly at something over his shoulder, I fired.

The laser-shot was pretty-good sized and it singed his shoulder while completely destroying the mirror and blowing a hole through the wall that was behind him, his slut screaming in pure terror while Debra stood there, looking just as shocked as Robert was as he sat there the floor, his shoulder bloody. I was nearly knocked from the force of the gun and I managed to keep while looking down at my new toy in awe.

*This thing IS wicked!* I thought as I looked at the damage that one shot had taken.

But unfortunately, the fun wasn't to last as I suddenly heard sirens outside and I cocked my head at the sound while the slut started laughing.

"The guard must have called the police!" She cackled and she didn't seem to notice as I walked over, "You're so busted, you......"

I slammed my fist on top of her head, not enough to hurt her, just enough to knock her out and she slumped to the side, Robert looking at her horrorified just as the police burst through the door.

"Police! Hands in the air!" One of them yelled and as I turned around, I found that there were about six officers, pointing guns at us.

Debra already had her hands in the air and I sighed as I held my gun behind my back, hiding it as I put it into cyber-space. I figured that neither Optimus or Ultra Magnus would be happy about this as soon as they found out and I put my hands in the air, thinking that the officers' faces at the sight of me would have been funny, if I knew that I wasn't going to go to jail.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting next to Debra in a jail cell and I had a half-grin on my face as I remembered all the shocked faces in the police department as their fellow officers had brought Debra and I in handcuffs. I could have easily snapped the handcuffs, but I was trying to do the right thing by explaining to the judge tomorrow about what we both had been doing in Robert's house.

I was seriously tempted to break us out, since Optimus was probably already at Autobot City and looking for me, but my Christian and Autobot beliefs held me at bay, so I stayed where I was with Debra. Debra was asleep by this point and I was hanging my head while sitting on the floor next to the bunk.

*Optimus, I'm so sorry, but I won't be with you tonight.* I thought, feeling shame and sadness well up in my spark, *You asked me to behave when you left, but Debra was just so much in need.....*

*Domino?* Optimus' voice suddenly spoke up in my head, making me jump, *Where are you?*

*In the town with Debra.* I replied, not wanting to tell him that I was in a police station...in a cell.

*Well, come home.* Optimus ordered me gently and I felt my insides cringe at his words, *What's the matter?*

*I......can't.* I replied, wishing that he hadn't been able to sense my feelings through our mental bond, *I'm....uh....*

*Yes?* Optimus persisted in his gentle way.

*I'm.....I'm in jail!* I finally blurted out mentally and I heard a long pause, making the shame grow with every second.

*Human jail?* Optimus asked, sounding like he couldn't believe it.

*Yeah.* I told him, nodding even though he couldn't see it.

*Why? What did you do to upset the humans?* Optimus asked and I took a deep breath.

I told Optimus everything through our mental bond, how I had found Debra and took her in, how I had talked to Ultra Magnus about her staying with me, and when I had talked to Debra that morning, including how much that Robert had owed. Then came the story of how I had pratically kidnapped Debra in order to speed to Robert's house and break in, looking for the money that he owed her. How I had talked Debra into ripping the slut's clothes (plus why I had done that and he actually chuckled a little) and then the part where we were chewing Robert out. I even added the part of shooting my new gun to scare Robert, I didn't want any secrets between Optimus and me.

*And then the police came, and arrested Debra and yours truly.* I finished, still feeling ashamed of myself as the last of my tale left my mouth, *I'm sorry that I went and did this, but I just thought that I.....*

*You did go too far, but I understand why you did what you did.* Optimus told me and I felt myself feeling better, *Your loyalty to your friends is quite admirable, but the next time that one of your friends is wronged, try to talk to me first before you fly off the handle again.*

*Agreed. I just wish that I wasn't in jail.* I told him and I stood up, walking to the only window within the cell, looking beyond the bars into the direction of Autobot City, *I'd give just about anything to be in your arms right now, I've missed you.*

*I missed you too, Domino.* Optimus told me and I felt a hint of the powerful feeling that he had sent me a week ago, flowing through my spark, *But you'll have to wait for now, we've got to explain to the humans why you did what you did.*

*I know, I just wish I didn't go and get myself into this mess.* I told him and he chuckled again.

*I'm kinda wishing that too, but you were just trying to do the right thing for your friend.* Optimus told me.

*What sucks the most about this is that I might be here for a long time.* I told him, my hands on the bars, *Breaking in and entering is a big no-no here on Earth.*

*Same thing on Cybertron, but let me worry about your sentance.* Optimus told me, *I'll take care of it tomorrow.*

*Well, goodnight then.* I said, taking my hands down from the bars and turning away, *I'll see you tomorrow.*

*Who said I was going to wait until tomorrow.* Optimus asked and I froze, listening as he added, *I'm coming over now, I'll see you in a little bit.*

I smiled, feeling my desire for him arise.

*I'll be waiting for you.* I told him and then heard no more, which told me that he was on his way.

CrusaderTransformer1: Thanks guys and I hope that you enjoyed this recent chapter, but please understand that I'm making this up as I go, I've got no plot. XP