Disclaimer: Don't own Transformers…

AN: Here we go, the next chapter, and just let me tell you, the reviews- awesomeness! I'm all fluttery inside from all the support. Thank you all so much!

SN: Worry not, for there is method to the madness- or lack of in-depth emotional description. The emotion overload is coming, just not quite yet, I'm going to try to ease into it. I am actually using this particular writing style to engage the readers in the joys of doing self character analysis and then comparing their thoughts the actual development. Hope you're enjoying it anyway.


Psycho

CH 4: Unease


There'd been a traitor, as Prowl predicted, and though many had become solely focused on the suspicions that there were more, Prowl could feel the chill of unease that there was more to all this than he'd first expected, something that hit a far too close to home. It made his recharges a bit less restful and his waking joors a thing of anxiety, but he was a mech of facts and logic, so he dismissed those feelings- for the most part.

Nightwatch had been the traitor, and though he'd escaped before he could be detained for interrogation, he'd left behind an unsettling message.

Beware the madmech's smile.

It had been a most discerning look into the dynamics of the Meister's relationship with his subordinate, and the place in which it had been found, even more so; the praxian enforcer's accommodations.

Was it a message intended to intimidate Prowl, the mech newly appointed head advisor of the case? Or a warning from an enforcer who'd been forced into servitude by the whims of a madmech? Or even just another game the Meister had setup for his own amusement?

So many possible motives, but for reasons that Prowl couldn't describe- others would call it gut instinct, Prowl thought that illogical and unreliable- he did not believe this was any of those- not really. Though it being a game and warning didn't sound all that off either.

A game. A game. A game.

But what's the prize? There must be something besides amusement that has led the Meister to create such an elaborate game of provoke and pursue, for despite his obvious love of the chase, the efficiency in which the silver bot worked and operated suggested an individual who had higher functioning skills than previously thought.

Contrary to popular belief, insane does not equal unintelligent. This was important to understand in Prowl's line of work.

With a flick of his wing, the praxian got back to work strategizing the course of action for their coming encounter with the Meister. The encounter was overdue, and this, more than anything, had the enforcers tense.

Ah'm bored. Time ta up da ante.

What could he possibly be planning, with a message like that?

He was mostly done with the preparation, and though he still found the plan lacking due to the shortage of information to be found on the silver bot, it was still very efficient in its design.

The city had been divided into 60 sections, each with a particular signal to be evacuated at a moments notice, with officers standing by at all times for the signal. All possible escape routes had been marked, both on the road and not, as well as the speeds a bot of the Meister's frame type would need to make it off the road and to said escape routes, so his moves could be more accurately predicted. Sensors were set to recognize the silver bot's spark signature and release road spikes at key locations in each area when triggered.

In the end, Prowl was rather confident that he could at least complete his primary goal.

Make contact with the bot.

And find out just what he was really dealing with.


9-1-1 emergencies, this is the Iacon Enforcers Headquarters. What is the nature of your emergency?

Hello again, mist'a offic'a. Jus' seein' if Nightwatch's is still 'round. Haven't seen him in a while.

The terminal operator quickly reeled back and contacted his chief via comm. Sir, the Meister is on the line now! He-

A scream was heard in the background, the squeal of metal twisting at unnatural angles made the young terminal officer cringe in shock at the morbid implications.

Sorry 'bout dat. Ya were off elsewhere, so ah had ta entertain mehself. Please, don't stop on meh account.

Speeddial, what's going on? Speeddial? The Chief bellowed in impatience.

See ya soon. Say bye, lil' guy.

Another scream, a plea, and the link cut out.

Speeddial snapped out of his stunned silence with a start. Hostage situation. The Meister has a hostage!

No sooner had he said that, the whole base was thrown into chaos.

The alarms were still ringing as the enforcers flooded from the base.


"Ah'm bored." The Meister looked down at the writhing microbot in his grasp, watching with dark fascination as the little thing spasmed in pain, gripping uselessly at the silver bot's claws.

In a show of something resembling mercy, the silver bot reach to the microbot's twisted leg and jerked it back in place. It eased some of the pressure that'd been building in the bot's leg hydraulics, but caused the little thing to cry out again at the sharp sting of agony.

"Da enforc'as should be here soon, den yer free ta go." The silver bot assured, though that was little consolation to the injured and panicked microbot.

The bot look up to the clearly insane mech with pained, frightened optics. "What-t's wrong with y-you?"

The silver bot shrugged. "Don't know. Jus' onlined dis way ah guess. Think ah got it from meh carrier." The bot put his face uncomfortably close to that of his captive's, mouth twisted downward in a slightly troubled frown. "Nightwatch said dere was somethin' wrong with meh too."

Confused, and further frenzied to get away from this bot, the little mech was about to stumble out a plea to be released, but the white-visored mech suddenly bolted to his feet, jolting the little bot in his grasp. "They're here!"

He seemed much too excited about the prospect.

The enforcers were quick to transform into mech mode and take up their position around the silver mech, and the Meister took note of the professional orderliness of their formation; a nice, clean, but purposely mis-angled line.

Praxian enforcers. There was simply nothing more magnificent than watching praxian enforcers taking a stand to protect innocent civilians.

It- made the Meister's spark swell with something warm and addicting.

Release the civilian and put your hands where we can see them. I repeat. Release the civilian and put your hands where we can see them. The enforcer's announcer called out to the bot standing before them, the others raising their weapons to the ready.

"Here ya go." And with that the Meister released the microbot.

The little bot bolted away from his larger captor as fast as his compromised limb would allow, quickly taking refuge behind the enforcer line. An older officer with medical experience saw to him immediately.

Hostage safe, fortunately without as much trouble as they'd thought, the enforcers then turned to the task of dealing with the silver menace.

Put your hand where we can see them.

The silver bot waved, smirk firmly in place.

Smartaft…

And off he went in a blurr of silver and the screech of tires.

The enforcers gave chase.


Sections 24 and 25 had been cut off, but somehow the silver threat had managed to get through the road spikes without skipping a beat. The section 26 officers had seen the silver bot make a break for a broken drain tunnel and set an ambush, but even with the enforcers laying in wait at the end, he'd somehow disappeared, only to reappear in section 17.

Things weren't going as planned, but still, Prowl was not to be swayed from his goal.

He sped down the highway, heading for the Meister's last known location.

He had to make contact with this less than sound bot. He simply could not plan an effective strategy of capture if he did not know what he was dealing with first hand.

Usually, this would not be a problem, since most bots he planned to capture were relatively sane and had obvious motives for the crimes they did. They could easily be manipulated into capture, but this bot-

How does one capture a bot who seeks neither wealth nor status, who finds joy in the chase but always seems to be searching for more, who will not be satisfied with his own successes. A bot who will not be contented and yet never seems to be wanting for anything but attention, and if his past actions clearly shows, ignoring him is not an option.

With a sharp turn, he crossed into section 15.

What could Prowl possibly use to lure this bot, who did so much yet revealed so little, into a trap?

He had to know, failure was not an option for him.

your call.

Clearview had put his trust in him, more than Prowl could have ever hoped for from the bot he so admired and respected. He'd made a promise.

I will not discredit the Praxian enforcers nor will I betray your trust.

He'd said that. The first promise he'd made to his commander, not as an enforcer pledging to uphold the law, but as Prowl, who for the first time had been had been trusted to do more than push papers and make plans. Now, that promise was only further concreted with the newfound freedom to choose his own actions, given to him by that very bot.

A blimp in his sensors, the sound of a roaring engine, and Prowl just managed to swerve at the last moment as a flash of silver zoomed pass him.

No time to be stilled by the shock. He had a duty to complete.

Prowl immediately gave chase, coming up right beside the silver bot.

"Pull over. You are under arrest." Prowl called, moving into position to intercept the speeding bot.

Incredibly, the silver bot did just that, transforming at near top speed to land gracefully on the road, lighting sparks as his peds scrapped across the asphalt. Shocked by the abruptness of it, Prowl almost didn't manage to stop on time.

There was silence when Prowl finally came to stop before the other, transforming to stand face to face with the smaller mech.

He drew his weapon, taking the classic praxian enforcer stance, wings flared and hands holding the gun steady before him.

"Meister, you are under arrest for the endangerment of civilians, the destruction of property, and resisting arrest."

The silver bot just stared at him, an unwavering, intense stare that bordered on an expression Prowl could not identify, visor giving an eerie quality to that already haunting gaze. Somewhere in the back of Prowl's processor, he felt a particular brand of fear rear it's monstrous head.

The feeling was back with a vengeance.

What escaped the bot's mouth, was not what Prowl had been expecting.

"Ya look jus' like him."

And the silver bot smiled, a true, terrifying smile.


AN: They meet! Dun, dun, dun. Jazzy! Why you so creepy!? Stop making poor Prowler uncomfortable, and Prowl- poor baby.

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