I Didn't Lie

You Never Asked

Whoa. Been gone for over a month. Don't worry. I'm not dead. Just a little busy. Now let's continue.

RECAP: Agent Fowler WAS KIDNAPPED by Laserbeak and Selena. Taking him to the brig of the Nemesis, Starscream began with interrogating the special agent. Selena, being the sadist she was, demonstrated her… aggressive interrogation techniques. Whipping Fowler with chains and sticking her fingers in bullets wounds was a personal favorite. Unfortunately, due to the noise outside, Selena had to leave Fowler and deal with the Autobots.

To Selena's great displeasure Jack, Miko, and Rafael were present, bringing her history as well as her history with Autobots into the light. Wanting to remove the Autobots, Selena requested that the three children be removed from the site.

During the course of the fight, Selena's body grew stiff, she coughed up blood. Courtesy of a call from Starscream, Selena learned it was a lingering secondary side effect to the medicine used to revitalize her body. Now having to return to the ship to rest for 30 minutes, the three children were discovered and kidnapped. Now…things begin to heat as Jack's steadily growing animosity for Selena heats to a boil.

(-_-)

"GRAAAH!" Selena plowed her feet into Starscream's chest, slamming the Seeker into the floor and against the wall of the empty corridor. Her eyes glowered with scarlet rage. Her teeth bared themselves, giving the impression they were fangs.

Starscream held his hands spread where she could see them, laughing nervously as he felt the air grow heavier with Selena dispersing magnetic waves. The walls creaked and moaned, sending shivers down Starscream's spine. For a second it looked like the walls were concaving.

A sweaty oil drop rolled down his brow. Me thinks I overstepped somewhere. The Seeker dreaded. "YOU SIR, HAVE OFFICIALLY WORKED MY LAST NERVE!" Selena roared, her voice ringing throughout the halls. Yep! Definitely crossed a line. He inwardly snickered. "Not notifying me of the Uranium piece in Megatron's hand was bad enough!" Selena grasped onto his chest plate, yanking him forward. "BUT NOT TELLING ME ABOUT THE MEDICINAL SECONDARY SIDE EFFECT OF THAT OIL?" The sharp tip of a knife formed from her kinetic energy touched to the center of Starscream's forehead. The Seeker chuckled nervously. "It is now my turn to have personally enjoyment of another's pain." The mirage like knife drilled rapidly. Starscream could feel the breeze drawn on by the velocity. A sensation of dread accompanied by a sense of impending doom overcame him. He chuckled dryly, his processor whirling for an excuse that could possibly save his soon-to-be ending life. "Now I'll let you choose." She cackled psychotically. "Do I take an eye," Starscream moved his head back, feeling the drill close in on his eye, "A hand, or a leg?"

Starscream swallowed his petrified apprehension, calming his quivering body. "Before you decide to carve me like one of those human turkey's," He pushed himself up, making his stay on the floor a bit more bearable, "May I propose alternative option?" He proposed with a menacing smirk. A curious brow raised on Selena. However rage still burned brightly in her eyes. Starscream drew an Energon prod from behind him, demonstrating the high level voltage it possessed. "Agent Fowler is still reluctant to surrender the information I desire. So I intend to be…" Gently he slid the prod along her cheek. Selena flinched at the cold touch. Starscream purred, "A little more persuasive with him." He removed the prod; his eyes chuckling as his move made the magnetic knife vanish. "Why don't you extinguish your last…20 minutes by questioning our captives?"

"What captives?" Selena asked bewilderedly.

"Minutes after your battle ended I received word of three human children being found and captured." Selena's eyes widened in fear. No… "They are rumored to be allied with the Autobots." He placed a pointed finger to her forehead. Pushing her back gently, Selena slid along the air, off of Starscream's chest. Starscream sat on his rump, smirking at Selena's dazed state. "Why don't you see what you can learn from them? The Eradicons are likely meandering past the bridge by now."

"I'll do that." Selena folded her arm, glaring smolderingly to the Seeker. "Just make sure you don't kill Fowler." A devilish smile crept to her lips. Her tongue ran over her teeth hungrily. "I want to have my fun with him." She moaned, cooing in a covetous manner. She touched a finger to the side of her chin, tilting her head with wide eyes. "His anguish sustains me."

"DEE HA, HA, HA, HA!" Starscream hooted. "Oh! You truly a blood lusting sadist, aren't you?" He patted her head with two fingers. "There may be a future for you in the Decepticons yet."

Selena smirked nonchalantly. "I'm honored."

(-_-)

It took all but five minutes for Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead to deal with the Decepticons impeding their rescue of their three human friends. Bulkhead's injuries, luckily, were more superficial than severe, despite the beating he took. Arcee urged him to return to base. He may have had to drive, but at least it would be smooth sailing back to base. Bulkhead declined. Miko was inside the ship loaded with Decepticons and Selena. With Optimus and Ratchet MIA, Arcee and Bumblebee would need all the help they could get.

"Now how do we get inside?" Bulkhead wondered.

^Selena entered the ship through a hatch on the runway.^ Bumblebee reminded him.

"Then let's get up there!" Arcee commanded, glaring hard to the ship. "We get in, get the kids and Fowler, and get out."

(-_-)

"HEEEEY!" Miko roared, kicking and screaming. "YOU BETTER PUT ME DOWN NOW BEFORE…before…YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW!" Her threats obviously lost flare. Was she going to kick him? Stick blast heavy metal rock in his ear? Maybe put him in a small room and blare "It's a small world after," for hours on end? What could she possible do against five story robots from space? "I'LL PUT A SPACE LEECH IN YOUR EAR!"

"They don't have ears." Rafael corrected her.

"SHH! They don't know that!"

"Miko," Jack groaned, leaning on his elbow on the Con's hand, "Give it a rest. They aren't going to put us down."

Miko folded her arms, pouting childishly. "This sucks."

"Ohh!" Rafael moaned sickly. "Why did we ever come?" He cursed himself and his friends. "We should have just stayed home."

"We came to see Selena!" Miko reminded them. "You guys didn't have to come you know!"

"But we wanted to." Rafael assured her. "Selena's our friend."

"WAS our friend." Jack stressed, starling Miko and Rafael. "She was our friend." He hissed. He whipped ah and back towards where he believed the outside was located. "You saw how she attacked the Autobots! She would have killed them if she wasn't slapped by that weird illness all of a sudden."

"Well…maybe, but…" Rafael trailed off, feeling guilty for agreeing with Jack.

"BUT NUTHIN!" Miko finalized. "No if's, ands, was, or buts about it!" She declared. "Selena is our friend. If she wasn't she never would have waited for us to hide."

"IF SHE WAS OUR FRIEND SHE NEVER WOULD HAVE LIED TO US!"

"Technically she didn't lie." Rafael defended, earning a glare of disbelief from Jack.

"Well she didn't tell us the truth either!"

"What truth?" Miko spat derisively. "Hey Jack, Miko, Raph, how goes things?" Miko imitated Selena. "By the way, I'm an alien magnetic user from a galaxy far, far away and I'm here to kill Autobots because they blew my planet to smithereens. How's school?" She leered to Jack, daring him to question her scenario. "You mean that truth?" The Darby boy could not think of a comeback. But Miko could see that he still didn't trust Selena. She slapped her hand, twisting to face Jack full on. "You may not consider her a friend, but we do!" Rafael was reluctant to at first, but he nodded languidly, agreeing with Miko. "And besides, if I were her I'd go on a killing spree to if someone blew my parents into dust."

"How can you defend that murdering…lying…" Jack searched for proper term to describe her. Alien wasn't going to cut it. "MONSTER?"

"SHE ISN'T A MONSTER!" Rafael screeched. "Stop calling her that!"

"Yes Jack," A voice chortled up the hallway. "Please stop calling me names." The three children gaped in shock and horror. Selena was lying on her side mid-air, head propped up by her hand and elbow in. Her glistening red eyes added to the complacency of her smirk. She touched a hand to her heart. "You're going to hurt my feelings."

"I didn't know you hand any!" Jack snarled.

"Point taken." Selena sat up. "Hey boys," She bobbed her thumb to the door next to them, "Just throw 'em in there. I'll take it from here."

"But we were ordered to take them to the brig – UGH!" The three Eradicons stepped back. Selena may have been smiling, but her eyes were shadowed by a malignant hue.

"Put them…in the control room…now." She demanded politely. The walls cracked in three places. The Eradicons shrieked in terror. Miko, Rafael, and Jack found themselves terrified as well. Without further argument the Eradicons whisked a door open and dropped the kids inside. Selena folded her hand behind her back, smiling childishly. "Thank you." A quick glow of scarlet lighted her eyes. The heads of the three Eradicons imploded one at a time. Miko and Jack held their hands over Rafael's hands and ears – no avail. The young boy whimpered horrifically. "Now no one will know of my little secret." Selena snickered, stepping to the floor, meandering for the apprehensive children.

"Which one?" Jack remarked heatedly. "The one about you killing those agents?" Selena raised an impish brow. "Your vendetta on the Autobots?"

"My rumored-to-be ex-friendship with the three of you." Selena replied with an impassive smile, the door closing behind her. The room suddenly became darker. The scarlet in Selena's eyes brightened in the purple tint room. "That's something I'd rather not have the Cons learn about."

"How nice of you!" Jack mocked her. "So what? Are you going to implode our heads too?"

"I see you haven't been paying attention, Jack." Selena chuckled, meandering towards the three obviously frightened children. "I have power over metal, not minds or flesh." She elucidated, stressing the difference in kinetic talents. "Besides I already blew your minds 15 minutes ago." She quipped. Rafael and Miko giggled. Selena bowed. "Thank you. I'll be here all week."

"Hopefully you'll be gone sooner than that!" Jack growled.

"Why so serious, Jack?" Selena questioned with a sardonic chortle. She shrugged her hands. "Can't friends enjoy a little joke here and there?"

"WE'RE NOT FRIENDS!" Jack's voice echoed. "And this isn't a joke! You lied to us to get close to the Autobots. You used us!"

Selena furrowed her brow. "Now hold on!" She raised a finger, stopping the raging boy. "I never lied and or used you three for anything!" She snarled affrontingly.

"Then why not tell us?"

"YOU…NEVER…ASKED!" Jack was dumbfounded by the response. "I'm sure you three had your suspicions." She deduced. "The Autobots acting weird whenever I was mentioned," She listed off. Miko and Rafael remembered Bulkhead seeming to dance around speaking of her. Optimus and Ratchet especially. "Or how about the fact that it took all of Arcee's will power not to break cover?" Jack couldn't deny that fact. Arcee threw a fit later that day. "You three suspected something was up," Selena continued to scold Jack, "But it was your fear of me being the one who killed Vida, Custer, and virtually killing Ratchet that stopped you." She pointed to the way leading to the gorge. "Why else do you think you three came here? To see a brawl? Not hardly. You knew you would see me."

"We didn't know." Miko lied.

"But you suspected." Selena reiterated, silencing the heavy metal girl.

"You're right. We did." Jack admitted resignedly. "And let me tell you, we were sick to our stomachs when we learned the truth."

Selena smirked, scoffing at such a childish response. "Well you'd better get used to it Jack." She chuckled forbiddingly. "Because from here on in you're going to learn a whole universe worth of truths." She leaned in, emphasizing her point. "Truths that will make you question each and every aspect of this provincial life you've been living."

"I'm already questioning one." He growled. His voice quaking as he struggled to control his rage.

"Which is?"

"Why a stupid burger order brought us together?"

"That stupid burger order was the first moment you witnessed my use of magnetism." She reminded him with a harsh tone. "It's not my fault you three came running back."

"So now this is our fault?" He huffed.

"I told you three to stay away! But just like the cats your curiosity got the better of you!" She raised her hands, presenting the control room to the three children. "And look where it got you." She licked her lips. "And it all began with that burger."

Unable to contain his rage, Jack lashed out with a punch to Selena's face. Her hat fell to the ground. Miko gasped in horror. "JACK!" Rafael howled. "WHAT THE HECK?"

Jack panted heavily, his fist still in Selena's cheek. The Magneetian didn't so much as yelp in pain. She merely stood with the fist pressing harder into her cheek. Strands of her hair blocked her eyes, preventing Jack from seeing her expression. But she could sense his. For a moment Selena cold have sworn she heard his heart beating at 30 beats per second.

Jack panted and heaved. His adrenaline reached a critical level. A few seconds ago he couldn't see straight. Realizing his fist was in her face, Jack shook his head and retracted his light feeling hand. He punched a girl. And alien, but still a girl.

Selena kept her face turned away. Not wanting to look into the eyes of the raging boy. "Do you feel better now?" She asked monotonously, gaining Jack's attention. "I suppose you would." She sniggered dryly, wiping a wrist over her lip, pretending to remove blood. "You humans have such short tempers."

"Stop saying humans like that!" Jack demanded through his trembling voice. "You're not better than us."

"I never said I was." She slowly began to face him. "But you should know this…BOY!" Selena's eyes had gone completely red. Jack yelped. "You should always be careful…with whom you pick your FIGHTS!" A punch landed in the center of Jack's gut. He lurched forward. Selena moved an elbow over his head and jabbed it down into the back of his head. Jack crashed into the metal floor. His mind went into a daze.

Rafael dashed to Selena, pushing her away. "SELENA, PLEASE STOP!" He begged. Selena cocked a brow to the young boy.

"YEAH!" Miko shrieked. "You got your hits in. Don't kill him."

Selena's eyes regressed to their normal color. Jack's mind was fuzzy. "Do not imagine because I am a girl I cannot take a punch." Jack groaned hoarsely. His stomach burned with white hot pain. "You watched as I took punches from Bulkhead. What made you think your punches would hurt me?"

"What…made you think…" Jack rasped, pushing himself up, "You could…get away with…keeping your secret?" Miko helped him rise to his feet. Jack was dizzy in the head.

"Why should I answer a question that had yet to be asked?" She demanded. "So I can appease the human? YOU JEST!" She scolded. "Aside from you not asking, I kept who I am a secret to prevent the human authorities from bugging me!" She crossed her arms, fuming on her time on earth. "Those losers at that Facility near Groom Lake already learned of my disdain for human curiosity!"

"Groom Lake?" Miko questioned derisively. Then a thought occurred to her making her pig-tails shoot up. "AREA 51!"

"That's the one." She spat repulsively.

"You didn't cause that explosion, did you?" Rafael questioned worriedly.

Selena licked tan skinned finger, relishing in her handy work. "Who would have thought making a small knick in generator could cause such a grandiose explosion." She purred psychotically. Jack and Miko felt shivers run down their spines. Rafael was at a loss for words. "And the screams were so…" Her smile faded into dread, "Nostalgic."

"Reminiscing and relishing in others pain?" Jack trembled. "How…can you…stomach…any of this?"

"Very easily." A disparaging chuckle escaped her lips. "People claiming to be my friends ousted me to those science nerds. They actually believed they could hold me with tranquilizers and metal shackles." She licked her lips hungrily. "I made the doctors and those kids the martyrs for their mistake." Jack backed away. Miko and Rafael hid behind him. Selena then calmed down. "But there was something different about the three of you." She recognized. "I'm not sure what it was…" A warm smile crept to her lips, "But there was something about your faces that made me trust you."

"Apparently not enough to tell us the truth." Jack sneered still edging back.

"You're right." She agreed, closing her eyes solemnly. "I guess…I was scared to tell you." She admitted shamefully. Jack couldn't deny he was shocked by the sudden change in her mood. Miko and Rafael understood her fear. In this day and age, those who are different aren't welcomed with open arms. But they still felt a slight pain at her not being able to trust them. Had she truly been betrayed that much in her life? "I didn't want you to hate me." The visor of her beret blocked her eyes. "I didn't want you to get mixed up in my world. But as you can see that didn't work out."

"So now what?" Miko asked.

"Now…" Selena released a dismal sigh, "Now I warn you three once more." She droned, her expression going blank. Rafael hid behind Miko. Jack stretched a hand out protectively. "I can't tell you to stay away from the bots. But I can tell you to stay away from me." She rumbled monotonously. "So I'm telling you," She whispered, getting as close to Jack's face as she possibly could. Her crimson eyes boring into Jack's brown eyes, "Stay…away from me!" She smiled maliciously. "That is of course you enjoy becoming captives by Decepticons. Who, by the way, I can't always prevent from harming you each time you decide to tag along." Selena watched Jack's throat flex as he gulped.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! "Hm?" Selena tapped her ear. A Scouter visor extended over both her eyes. Miko, Jack, and Rafael had to admit they were impressed. A map of the Nemesis was displayed. The door to the runway had been forced open. Three Autobot signals were detected. "Hmph." She scoffed with a malignant grin. "Looks like your bots have found their way in."

"THEY'RE HERE?" Miko cheered.

Selena picked up and dusted off her head. "Yep." She drifted to the air. "But I suggest you not hold your breath." She cooed cynically. Rafael gazed sadly to Selena, tears tugging at his eyes. "They may be your friends, but I don't intend to hold back because of it." She curled away, and flew for the door.

"SELENA!" Rafael ran after her. Selena ignored him. "SELENA WAIT!" The door closed behind her, locking Rafael and the two teens in the room. "SELENA!" He pounded on the door. "SELENA PLEASE! DON'T DO THIS SELENA!"

(-_-)

Selena leaned her back against the door, head lowered dismally as Rafael's pleas reached her ear. She placed a hand to her heart. Twinges of pain speared and needled agonizingly. Why did it hurt so badly? Why were Rafael's words so deafening sad it pulled on her strings? She could not explain these feelings. Nor could she explain why the voice of one little boy saddened her. All she knew was that two words pulled at her lips. Two words she never imagined she would speak and mean sincerely.

"I'm sorry, Rafael."

(-_-)

They kept close to the walls. Any corridor they wandered into, any perpendicular or four way hallway they come across, the bots would stand back to back and aim their blasters down each hall. So far all was quiet. No cons. No security. No Selena. The unnatural silence made Arcee uneasy.

"This isn't right." She rumbled, chills of perturb surging through her circuitry. She peered around a corner. Nothing. "Five minutes and no sign of Decepticons." Taking point she treaded lightly, roving her eyes up down and side ways for any surprises. A secret compartment, doors bursting open with an armada of Cons behind it, a renegade remote control car con – anything. "There's no even a speck of Con dust."

^Maybe they're on break. Drinking OilNog and soaking their feet coolant.^

"At the same time?" Bulkhead questioned.

^Yeeaah…^ Bumblebee trailed off bashfully. ^It's possible.^

"But unlikely." Bulkhead agreed and disagreed.

"Unlikely or impossible, it doesn't matter." Arcee scolded. "What matters now is finding the kids." She reminded them, making the two mechs fiddle their fingers. In tense situations Bulkhead and Bee felt it was necessary to lighten the mood. Optimus always said going head on into with a rattled mind was foolish. And so Bee and Bulkhead told jokes. "The question is: where would they be?"

"I'll give you a hint." The bots whipped around, blasters revving to fire. Selena hovered crossed legged in the middle of the hall. She held her hands out, presenting the hallway. "They aren't in this sector of the ship."

"The where are they?" Bulkhead demanded heatedly.

"That's for me to know," she unfolded her legs, drawing her Chakrams, "And for stand there fuming cause you'll never find out."

"You sure you have enough brass to be boasting?" Arcee snarled, smirking smugly. "Last time I checked you were COUGHING up copper." She mocked. "What happened? Your old age catching up?"

"Actually it as something to do with Starscream and his hack of a spider dock bot." She pounded on her shoulder, loosening the tension in her muscles. "I exerted myself before my body had time to heal." A dark shadow cast itself over Selena's devilish grin. "But now that is not the case."

"I think you must have taken a harder hit to your head than we thought." Bulkhead transformed one hand into his wrecking ball. "There are three of us and one of you." Selena remained unimpressed. "And I'm willing to bet your body has healed completely yet."

Selena bobbed her head, sticking out her lips sardonically. "True. True. I have another five minutes before the side effects where off." She admitted happily, bewildering Bumblebee. Who would happily divulge their handicap? Someone who knew something they didn't. "But look around, smart one!"

Arcee and Bulkhead kept their visual receptors locked on to Selena. Bumblebee, however, glanced about the hall. His powder blue specs contracted fearfully. He beeped and booped restlessly, shaking Bulkhead by his shoulder and pointing to the walls and floors. "She's talking about the hallway?" Bulkhead questioned confusedly. Selena's grin widened. Arcee and Bulkhead caught on, staggering back as they gazed frightfully to the hall. "SCRAP!" They both cried.

"Correct." Selena folded her hands behind her back. "We are in a metallic hallway way, Lady and Gentlebots. 10 ft thick walls, too many nuts and bolts and screws to count, and a floor that I could turn into quicksand." A spanning dome bloomed from Selena, coating the next 50 feet of hallway magnetic energy. "Fresh metal to conduct and ease my powers along. Which means no pain or strain on my part." The walls wailed shrilly, and grinded bone chillingly. The screws began to unhinge themselves, nuts and bolts rattled, rending themselves free of the wall. Arcee and Bumblebee stood back to back with Bulkhead. The howls of the hall growing ever more loudly as the seconds past. Selena eyes ignited in crimson. "YOU'RE ON MY TURF!" She knit her brow. Like popping pins the screws, nuts and bolts sniper shot from the wall, piercing and scarring the Autobots. Energon spilled from their freshly opened wounds. Arcee swiped and shot at the tools futilely. Selena laughed grimly. "Do not worry." She chortled. "I enjoy playing with my prey. I won't kill you until I'm bored."

Ring, ring, ring! "Hm?" Selena tapped her ear. The visor crossed over her eyes. She was receiving a call. From Rafael?

(-_-)

After Rafael grew tired from pounding on the door, he decided to distract himself by exploring the room. Jack and Miko were distracting themselves by arguing about What Selena had down to him and what she plans to do the bots. He could not understand why Miko would still choose to take her side, when it was obvious she didn't care about them. Miko didn't buy it. It was hard to determine whether Rafael believed Selena was friend or foe. He would have preferred not to talk about it. Especially since there was an interesting equation on a monitor screen. Rafael's gasps of impression caught his two protégé's attention. The three were now twiddling their fingers, wondering what it was or – more importantly – what it said.

"What do you think it is?" Jack asked.

"Whatever it is, it's important." Rafael confirmed, adjusting his glasses. From his place on the ground he attempted to make sense of the patterns. There were multiplication and division signs, pluses and minuses. It was obviously an equation. Possibly a formula. But the symbols in place of number made deciphering the formula impossible to decrypt by human means. Cybertronians however… "We've got to get this back to Optimus somehow."

"How do you know it's not a recipe for space nachos?" Miko questioned with her own absentminded flare.

"I know math when I see it." Rafael reassured her. "And this is one serious equation." Miko, not interested in math in the least, wandered off to explore a pit. A strange yellow glow peeked around a corner.

"Can you download it?" Jack wondered dubiously.

"Doubt it." Rafael replied dismally. "Even if I could, I don't see where I could plug in a flash drive or how much space I would need."

"DUDE!" Miko squealed, climbing fervently up the massive steps. "Check out what I found!" She announced, running to the boys. "Maybe if I chisel it, this would make an awesome key charm for my phone." Between her thumb and index was a lime yellow marble. It was glazed, shiny. Rafael and Jack could see their reflections. "What do you think this is, huh?"

"That's a solidified form of uranium!" Rafael gasped. Miko handed it to the boy. Rafael examined the marble with absolute fascination. "Very rare, even harder to find."

"Yet the Cons have one?" Miko questioned. "Why?"

"Selena!" Jack snapped his fingers. "They dug it up for Selena!"

"EW!" Miko held her fingers like a cross. "Don't tell me one of them is planning on proposing."

"NO!" Jack knocked her in the head. "Don't you remember what Ratchet said!" He stressed to his younger friends. "Magneetians have a weird…aversion to Uranium!" Rafael widened his eyes in horror. "It weakens them!"

"It's a leash." Rafael whimpered. "They're controlling Selena."

Jack ran a hand through his hair shamefully. All this time he thought Selena was acting out because she was truly…evil, when it was the Cons forcing her to behave this way. "We have to find her." Jack decreed. "Raph, can you track her with your computer?"

"I can try." Rafael dug his laptop from his backpack. Accessing a police program he modified into his software, Rafael was attempting to locate Selena via satellite or some other means. What means? "Her phone!" He cheered. Rafael plugged his phone into his laptop. "I can find Selena through her phone."

"COOL!" Miko haled excitedly. "Then maybe we can get a map of this place and find a way out."

"Unfortunately we can't." Rafael rained on her parade. "I'm locking onto Selena's phone through towers." He clarified slowly for his technologically inept friends. "It'll only give me a rough triangulation of wear she is."

"Rough has in?"

"Which direction and how far." He answered dismally, knowing it wasn't much. "And it'll only work…" He dialed her number, "If she answers." He did not use the term if lightly. Jack and Miko bit their lips nervously. The word if was the same as a not likely.

As he dialed the number, the three listened in agony as it rang. The first ring…Jack licked his lips. Sweat beaded down his brow. The second ring…Miko crossed her fingers. Her pig-tails frizzing in sync with her rattling mind. The third ring…Rafael bit his fingertips, one more ring and it was all over. Would she answer? The fourth ring…click…silence. Rafael, Miko, and Jack groaned irritably. So close.

"Hello?" The groans ceased. The three froze. They crouched low to the ground, making sure they heard right. "Rafael?" It was Selena's voice. The program locked onto Selena's position. On a map of the world, a highlight trail was outlined and moving. Obviously, since they were on an airship, the signal was going to move. 108 meters, southwest of their location. "Raph-" Rafael hung up.

He would feel guilty about it later. "The hallways are at least 36 meters, give or take a couple feet," he calculated, "Knowing that and the direction in which the signal is coming from…I'd guess…Selena's another two hallways away."

"Then let's get running." Jack instructed. "Miko, take a quick pic of the equation." Flipping her phone, Miko took a snap. "Now…how do we get through the door?"

Question asked and answered. The massive doors hushed open, a Vehicon entered. Miko, Jack, and Rafael ducked behind askew wires. Languidly the Con meandered inside. As the doors began to close, Miko, Rafael, and Jack sprinted from their position and managed to dodge roll out the door. The guts of wind from the doors closing blew Miko forward a couple inches.

Jack hoisted her to her feet. "COME ON! COME ON!" He dragged her along. Rafael quickly stuffed his computer into his bag, picking up the pace behind them. Unknown to him, his phone unclipped from his computer and fell behind.

(*)

It was only a mere fives minutes ago when Selena received the sudden call from Rafael. And in those fives minutes she's managed to dwell on the oddity. For a couple minutes he didn't speak. And when he hung up, Selena found herself falling into a pit of bewilderment. Why did Rafael call? More importantly, why didn't he say anything?

Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee glared the perplexed Magneetian down, panting heavily as Energon leaked from their flesh wounds. (Go figure). Many of the nut and bolts that struck them were lying scattered about the floor, covered in Cybertronian blood. Moments ago they ceased spearing the bots. Saved by a phone call – who'da thunk it. The bots armor was stained. Bulkhead was down on one knee, unable to hold himself up. He kept telling himself he'd be able bodied and ready for another round. He just needed to catch his breath. Arcee and Bumblebee remained standing, ready to go another round. However they played Selena's distracted attention to their advantage of resting.

"You're name's Bumblebee, right?" Selena asked him, putting away her Scouter. She gazed in a relaxed manner to the struggling yellow mech. "I don't suppose you know why Rafael called me." Bee shrugged his shoulder and shook his head. "Really?" She mumbled. Her mind wandered into the realm of possibilities. Why would Rafael call and not speak? "Wonder if he's mad."

"Can you blame him?" Arcee rumbled, spitting out Energon. "You had them kidnapped! Why shouldn't he be mad?"

"Kidnapped?" her voice sneered. Starscream informed her of Miko, Rafael, and Jack being captured. "I had nothing to do with that!" She snarled offensively. "The Eradicons found them. I was just as surprised as you were."

"Why do I...not believe you." Arcee choked.

"Whether or not you believe me is of no consequence!" Though it would make a little sense. Rafael probably called to ask why or how the Cons found them. Maybe he was scared – like with Custer and Vida – Selena would be involved. After all, Rafael and Miko are striving to prove Jack and themselves wrong. They truly want to believe Selena wasn't…all bad. "Fact of the matter is I know I didn't send for them." She restated with confidence. "Fowler is the only human I was asked to acquire. I didn't have a reason to involve the kids."

"Then let us take them home." Bulkhead requested pleadingly. "Let us move them out of harms way." Selena cocked a brow, skeptical "You hate us – we get that! But can you really allow three human children to pay for our wrong against you?"

"No. I can't." She answered simply, surprising Arcee. "But there's not much I can do for them now." She stated the harsh reality. Even if she managed to release Jack, Miko, and Rafael, Selena knew they would never be free of the reality they were faced with. "However…" She hummed menacingly, "I can do something about the three of you." With a flourish of her hands, Selena twirled her Chakrams over the tops of her palms. The whips of air presented the illusions of buzz saws. "I will saw my Chakrams into you slowly, so that you feel every spike as it tears your circuitry." Bumblebee and Arcee backed up around Bulkhead. The Wrecker pushed up on his knee, grudgingly hoisting himself to his feet. "And as your sparks are near extinguished, I shall step back and watch with a smile as the light leaves your optics." The Chakrams rolled to her finger tips, spinning like pinwheels. Arcee and Bumblebee crossed their arms, preparing to deflect. "NOW DIE!" Selena whirled her arms around and launched the Chakrams. They tore through the air, curving and spiraling for the bots like torpedoes. Bulkhead tried to get in the line of fire. He was too worn out from his previous injuries. Arcee and Bumblebee glared the swiftly approaching wheels. 10 feet…five feet…three feet…mere inches…STOP! They just stopped. Dead in the air the Chakrams sat. Frozen in time. Then they dropped, coining to the ground. Attention fell onto Selena.

The young Magneetian drifted to the ground. When her feet touched down, her legs bent in, fighting to keep herself from collapsing. Her purple nailed hands were shaking, her shoulders trembling. Her fingers stiffened, curling in and out as her arms quaked. Selena's once steadily paced breathing was now choppy, shaky. She rasped in dehydration. Her throat tightened. The oxygen to her brain was slowed, the cranium swelling like a balloon. Sweat beaded down her brow. The crimson orbs were losing their colors. A hand slapped to her mouth when a short cough erupted. Copper blood splurged to the palm. Her eyes narrowed. This is…But Megatron's out.

"What's wrong, Selena?" Bulkhead chuckled smugly. "That medicine kicking your tail pipe!"

"NO!" She snarled famously. "It's not…the medicine…" she heaved coarsely. "Something…worse…" Obviously none of the bots were the cause behind her sudden affliction. But she had the sickening feeling as to who or what was. Woozily Selena turned herself around. Her feet staggered, stumbling over the toes to make a 180 degree turn. As her full attention fell unto the corridor behind, "YOU!" her eyes narrowed with sharp contempt. A yellow stone – uranium - extended out in a nail painted hand belonging to Miko. "You three…have officially WORKED MY LAST NERVE!" Jack and Rafael positioned themselves in front of her, protecting her in case Selena overcame the effect. "RAAHHH!" She roared rabidly. "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?" She tromped towards them. Her legs gradually weakened the closer she came. Strands of her hair fell over her face, outlining the raw insufferable insanity in her eyes. "Give me the stone, Miko!" Out of fear Miko stepped back. Jack extended a protective hand. Selena scoffed derisively. "Do you really want me to lay your ass out flat again, Jack?"

"In the state you're in you couldn't fight a cold!" He snarled defiantly. Selena blew hair from her face, blowing off the insult. "This little rock," He mocked disdainfully, "This stupid little rock weakens you?"

"That STUPID LITTLE ROCK comes from my planet!" She explained exhaustedly. "It's what kept the orbital and gravitational balance."

"Whatever its function," Rafael stepped in, disrupting the going nowhere argument, "The Decepticons are obviously threatening you with it!" He warned her.

Selena knit her brow, confirming his suspicions. "Megatron is." She divulged unwaveringly. She took a deep breath, calming her uneasy muscles. "He has a chunk imbedded in his hand. I get woozy the moment he enters the room."

"Knowing that, you should leave them and come with us!" Jack pressed. Selena huffed, finding his notion a jest.

"Selena, the bots can confiscate the uranium from Megatron." Rafael promised her. "You won't have to work for them anymore."

"You-hoo hoo still don't GET IT!" She howled with a sneering grin. "I came to the Deception of my own volition! I'm working with them…" She prodded her fingertips into her chest exaggeratedly, "BE-CAUSE-I-WANT-TO!" Miko, Jack, and Rafael gaped in horrified disbelief. "Even after Starscream told me about the Uranium I chose to stay! And do you want to know why?" She quizzed, daring them to answer. The three only stared, unable to speak. "Because in the last 30 years since my planet imploded I haven't been able to locate those responsible!" She huffed a small, unbelievable laugh, "And in just a couple days I find two! I killed one, and left my mark – in more ways than one – on the other! Plus I've found riffraff I can enjoy tearing down in front of Ratchet and laughing as I break him down, circuit by circuit, and drive his hope-filled spark and processor into a purgatory oblivion!" Selena glowered, staring down the three children as the harsh reality of her words began to set in. "I could have left anytime wished. But I'm having so much fun I don't think I ever will!" Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee lowered their heads appallingly. Their sparks ached in tune with Jack, Miko, and Rafael's rising sadness. Rafael was on the verge o tears. Miko and Jack were at a loss for words. "Do you get it now?" She asked for the last time. "It may have been a coincidence," she flowed her hands over her person, "But I don't wear black, purple, and red because it looks good."

"You're a fleshy Con." Arcee rumbled ominously.

"That I am." She admitted proudly. "And I'm not sorry about it."

"Then neither are we." Jack hissed with a hushed tone, taking the stone from Miko and stretching it toward Selena. She hissed in aversion. "You're our enemy, Selena. And it's time we treated you like one."

"Then I shall do the same." She agreed. Selena raised a foot and stomped it forward. The floor warped. A tunneling burrow bee lined for Jack.

Jack, seeing the floor tunnel, staggered back. The tunnel reached the Darby boy. The floor stretched up, grazing Jack's wrist, forcing him to drop the stone. Miko dove for the stone. Selena waved her hand, covering the stone with the floor. It wasn't enough. She could still feel the effects. There was no way she could fight with the stone At least she could attain answers.

"Rafael." The spectacled boy glanced to Selena. He cried out and jumped back out of startle to find Selena towering over him. "When you called me, it was to learn where I was wasn't it?" She keened her eyes to his face as he looked away. "I thought so." When she whipped a hand out, Rafael flinched, thinking he was going to be hit. He heard a grate be ripped off its hinges. Selena wrenched a ventilation grate from the wall. Rafael gawked in confusion. "You three may want to take cover." She moseyed along, tapping her ear. The visor pinged a few Decepticons nearing her position. "A faceless Con of mine decided to call for backup. They'll be here in two minutes." Jack, Rafael, and Miko cringed, grouping together, their hearts pounding with fright. They looked to their bots, who were more broken down than pintos. Saying they were screwed was an understatement. "They may look bad," Selena remarked moseying to the perpendicular hallway, "But I make sure to only inflict cosmetic damage when my Good-Natured Sadism demands I play with my victims." She clarified. Jack narrowed his eyes, suspicious as to why she would reveal this particular information. "I have jet to get back to." Selena kicked off the ground, rocketing down the hall in the direction of the control room.

(*)

Selena glided down the hall, her senses and muscles relaxing as she drew further away from the Uranium. The lingering damage to her ego, however, burned at her pride. To have been subdued by humans. Human children no less. UNACCEPTABLE! Even worse still they know of her weakness to Uranium. Likely the Autobots revealed this information to them. And there was no need to ask where they acquired the chunk. Megatron was bound to have a few pieces lying around. Now the question remained as to what she was going to do now that the Bots have a piece.

"Huh?" Selena dove down. Something was on the floor. It was a cell phone. Flipping it open, opening text read Welcome Rafael. "Raph's phone?" The home screen was of Selena and the picture she took with Jack, Miko, and Rafael. Selena wasn't going to lie herself. Guilt spiked her heart. "For the first time…my smile was true." She groaned to herself, closing the phone. "And all because of three kids." She tucked the phone under her hat. "Too bad I have to chase them away."

(*)

"Okay," Miko clapped her hands, "If Selena's evil," She emphasized skeptically, "Then she must be one of those…evil dudes with a heart of gold." A layman's term, but it stuck.

"That gold is turning navy." Jack rumbled.

"Then why does she keep warning us?"

"Not us." Bulkhead breathed gravelly. "You three." Miko pointed a bewildered finger to herself. "For some reason Selena likes the three of you."

"She has a funny way of showing it." Arcee scoffed.

"No kidding." Jack agreed grudgingly.

^Never mind that!^ Bumblebee interjected uneasily. ^We have Decepticons on the way!^

"Bee's right." Arcee meandered for he kids. "We need to figure out where Fowler is and get out of here."

"One of the Cons Selena exploded mentioned the brig." Rafael recollected. "Fowler may be there."

"And that's where Selena's heading."

"AUTOBOTS!" The bots twisted around. The Vehicons Selena warned them about had arrived. They locked their blasters. Jack, Miko, and Rafael ran to take cover in the vent. A bolt from the Con struck the ground at their feet, the shock rebounding them.

"BULKHEAD, BEE, GET THE KIDS AND RUN!" Arcee commanded, firing upon the Vehicons. Bulkhead and Bumblebee pranced backwards, delivering cover fire. Bulkhead scooped up Jack and Miko. Bumblebee swept Rafael up. The two mechs retreated down the corridor, Arcee bringing up the rear. She launched volleys of bolts to the spot where Selena buried the stone. Arcee ran her fingers through the ground and scooped up the stone. "This should come in handy."

(*)

"For a fleshy you are quite resilient, Agent Fowler." Starscream remarked scathingly, circling the dry heaving agent. "But I don't need mechanical optics to see your resilience is waning." Fowler sneered his teeth, leering vengefully to the Con. His glares only made Starscream grin menacingly. "All you need do is tell me what I want to know," He slid the side of his finer down Fowler's blood stained face and body. "And I can end your suffering."

Rings of exhaustion drew under his eyes. The visual receptors themselves were beginning to lose light. His vision blurred and obscured. Starscream was a giant white and red blur. Burning tingles, buzzing noises surged in his head. His consciousness was hanging by thread. "Now which do you prefer?" The Seeker purred. "To speak?" He glided the prod, the metal screeched horrifyingly along his slender sharp fingers, "Or to scream?" Starscream activated the Prod. Fowler clenched his fists, dreading the inevitable pain. But he bit his tongue, remaining silent. "I see…" Starscream hummed, touching the Prod to Fowler's cheek. He flinched at the cold metal. "That's okay." He teased. "I'm sure Selena," Fowler twitched at her name,"Will enjoy loosening your tongue."

"That I will." Selena floated in, perching on Starscream's shoulder.

"Ah Selena," Starscream announced, cooing slyly, "What brings you here?"

"Had a little issue." A hidden glare nested beyond her smile. "Apparently the others acquired a unique stone." Starscream caught on to her hints. Judging by his reaction, Selena assumed he was as in the dark as she was. But they both were aware or suspected Megatron acquired more than just the chunk he had.

"I'm sure it's due to an imbecilic oversight." Selena smiled. Starscream called Megatron an imbecile. "I know how to cheer you up." He sang, wriggling a brow. Selena cocked an eye, intrigued by his notion. "Agent Fowler has made the foolhardy decision to remain silent."

Selena giggled scathingly. "Well in the Country America he has that right." She elucidated, empathizing with Fowlers admirable yet recklessly stubborn antics. "On the ground he can remain silent. Even plead the fifth."

"What about in this room? On this ship?" Starscream purred wolfishly.

Selena deliciously skated her tongue over her top lip. "All human rights are null and void." With a wave of her hand a chain rattled and slithered around Fowler's neck. "But of course if you wish to not speak, that's your choice." the chain end dug into Fowler's mouth. The link severed and clamped to his tongue. Just enough to have a grip, not piercing the flesh. Fowler whimpered terrifyingly. Selena's eyes twinkled. "I'll just be forced to wrench your tongue from your mouth."

"Now, now Selena," Starscream lowered her hand with two fingers, "Let's not be rash." He reasoned sardonically. "If his tongue is removed, he can no longer speak. And if he can't speak we'll have no reason to keep him alive." He raised a sneaky eye, "You'll no longer be able to enjoy yourself. Your fun will end." Selena heaved impatiently. During his many years of loyal service to Megatron, Starscream taught himself how to play on Megatron's Cruel Vanity. Selena's Sadistic Vanity was a well tuned lute he could play with absolute precision. Flaring her temper was even easier.

Selena reluctantly removed the chain from Fowler's tongue, but kept it around his neck. Being denied her fun is similar to signing a death warrant. She would not hesitate to take out her frustration on Fowler's neck. "I do believe I've granted you a postponement with death, Agent Fowler." Starscream boasted mischievously. Fowler spat and hawked fervently, desperately cleansing his mouth of the lingering iron taste. The sudden urge to disinfect his mouth overcame him. When he got home he was going to brush with five different varieties of toothpaste, and mouthwash. "You can repay me for my kindness. All I ask in return is the location of the Autobot base." Fowler rolled his eyes. "A meager price, I think."

"Sorry. I'm fresh out of bases. How's about an IOU?" Fowler joked smugly.

Starscream's brow twitched. Selena groaned, feigning dread. "And the detestable human humor continues to SURFACE!" Starscream jabbed the prod into Fowler's ribs. The Agent felt a crack, then white hot flashes of pain dispersing throughout every pore and muscle. His crusted wounds bled fresh blood, the wound opening further and adding to the excruciations. "I honestly do not understand humans." He remarked, not letting the prod leave Fowler. "Why do they jest when pain is inflicted?" He twisted the prod, pressed in and retracted. Fowler hung limply, panting heavily. Mentally he praised it was over. But deep down he knew it was far from finished. "Selena you've lived among these…" he clamped two claws to Fowler cheeks, "creatures," he labeled in revulsion, "For 15 years, yes?"

She scaled her hand, "Give or take a couple months."

"Why do they joke whilst in pain?"

"Humor is said to ease the pain." She answered indifferently. Attaining Fowler's full yet hazy attention, Selena tapped her skull. "It's all in the mind, you see." She chuckled. "In all beings – organic or otherwise – the brain is the god among organs. It commands and directs every last bodily function and reflex." She unleashed a kick to Fowler's groin. A high pitch wail erupted from the human. "This includes pain." Fowler huffed gruffly, saliva preserved as venom dripped down his mouth. "By laughing or having something to laugh at, the mind distracts itself from the responsive nerve endings receiving the jolts of pain." Selena floated leisurely to Agent Fowler, draping her arm loving around his shoulders. "And unfortunately," She crooned, shoving a finger in the bullet wound and twisted. Fowler's wail transformed into pathetic whimpers, "Human law enforcement and military men are trained to fight until the last breath."

"What encourages this behavior?"

Selena removed the finger, putting herself in Fowler's direct line of sight. "The delusion of a rescue." Fowler gritted his teeth, confirming Selena's suspicions. "Unfortunately for you, Agent Fowler, the rescue you so foolishly prayed for has pulled out."

"What?" He breathed in alarm. Starscream cocked a bewildered brow. His attention was caught by her folding her hands behind her back. She crossed her fingers. Starscream inwardly smirked. A pretense. Which meant the bots were either close by or closing in.

"Three humans were found earlier." Selena informed him. "Held captive by three Cons." Reaching into her hat she removed the cell phone, dangling it by the chain as if it were a bounty prize. "This phone belongs to one of them." Fowler's gaze flared in fear. "Don't worry. They weren't harmed. The Autobots came to their rescue." She narrowed her eyes, searching for the right expression. "And then they bailed."

Fowler turned his head away, lowering his gaze as he tried to hide him somber disappointment. The bots…left? He couldn't believe it. Why would they save me? He cursed his foolish hopes. He's rude, crude, a jerk, the bots have saved the world so many times and he scolded them for collateral damage. Now what do I do?

Selena folded her arms, smile proudly. Starscream touched two fingers to her shoulder, stepping forward to take over. "My dear Agent Fowler," Fowler shook his head, facing the Seeker, "As my young friend has so accurately stated, the Autobots have abandoned you." He towered over the human, chuckling forebodingly. "As such our time together has been extended. But as you've no doubt surmised: Selena can be quite brutal and quite impulsive." He added derogatorily. Selena kicked a foot out. Starscream raised a hand. The foot connected with the back of his palm. "Case in point." He moved her back. Selena rasped offensively, replacing Rafael's phone under her hat. "I am the only one who can keep her at bay. Meaning I am the only one you can rely upon now. So tell me what I want to know, or…" He activated the prod, edging the device in suspenseful slowness toward Fowler.

"Please…no more…" Fowler begged dryly, "They're in…" Starscream drew the prod closer. Fowler moved away, "Secret Government base."

A pleased expression beamed on Selena. "Go on." Starscream urged. Gunshots were heard beyond the door. Selena faced the door, glaring in annoyance. She knew those gunshots anywhere. Fowler Starscream was more bewildered than angered. raised his head with glee. Those gunshot sounds were similar to Energon blasters. Autobot blasters. They're here? The Eradicons standing guard charged their blasters, keeping an ear to the door as they awaited the assailants. "Yes?" Starscream chortled to Fowler.

"In the old Steel Mill." Fowler answered, mischief in his tone. "Or was it in that carnival fun house?" he smarted off. His humor returned.

Starscream roared frustratingly. Selena clenched an irritated fist. Starscream rammed the prod into Fowler once more. He drew it back. Selena unleashed a round house kick into his temple, cutting his head open. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE AL-SPARK IS GOING ON OUT THERE?" Starscream roared. "Get your exhaust pipes out there and find out!" The Eradicons scrambled out the door, dashing down the hallway.

Selena sighed tetchily, holding a hand to her aching head. "This is what I get for playing with my prey. Should have killed the bots before those brats arrived."

"GRRR! THE…AUTO…BOTS!" He lashed his hand back, inadvertently impaling Fowler with the prod. "I sincerely hope our ship will not have to share the same fate as the mines."

"It won't." Selena assured him. "I'll handle this." She floated for the door.

"No." Starscream pinched her leg, drawing her back. "Remain here." He ordered. Selena furrowed her brow confusedly. "If the Autobots have the stone, I'm sure they will not hesitate to use it against you."

"I buried it under the floor."

"Obviously you underestimate the raw strength of us Cybertronians." Demonstrating his point, Starscream pierced his razor dagger fingers into the floor. His fingers filed on the metal as he removed his fingers. A glimmer of light shimmered, fining the sharpness. It was a clean stab. Selena swallowed a nervous lump in her throat. She could only imagine what those claws could do to her. "Now remain here. Perhaps we can rip Government Base location out of this…" he poked the unconscious Fowler like a slab of meat, "Human filth. Seeing as he isn't exactly forthcoming with the Autobot base."

"Can't exactly interrogate what does speak." She clamped a hand to his face, shifting it from side to side. "At least he's not dead." She let his head drop. "But I doubt he'll be talking anytime soon."

"Oh I beg to differ." Starscream rumbled, his anxiety rising as the battle beyond the door grew louder. "WAKE UP YOU LUMP OF FLESH!" Selena slapped Fowler across the face.

"Grandma…Is it cookie time?" He uttered drunkenly. Selena and Starscream exchanged baffled glances. "I would like…chocolate milk." Starscream growled impatiently. Selena face palmed herself in ridicule. Energon isn't compatible with human nervous systems. Fowler was tortured into a rambling stupor. Booming footsteps were heard stampeding to the brig.

"Great!" Selena slapped her thighs. "Now what? We can't question…can't question…" Selena touched a hand to her woozy head. "Can't…ugh…ugh…" Selena lost altitude, falling to her knees.

"Selena? What is wrong with you?" The Seeker asked. One could almost hear the concern in his voice.

"Uranium…" She grumbled. Dry heaves spilled from her throat. Sweat dripped into her enraged eyes as she glared to the door. "It's close."

"Closer than you think."

Selena and Starscream glanced up. Arcee positioned herself in the overhead light, blaster aimed for Starscream. Attached to her hand was the uranium chunk Miko and Jack. The Seeker retaliated, aiming his blaster to Fowler. Bumblebee and Bulkhead burst through the brig door, joining the stand off. They may not have been in sight, but Selena was confident Jack, Rafael, and Miko were close by.

"I wouldn't." Arcee warned Starscream.

"Oh but I might." Starscream practically dared her. "I may be persuaded to stay my hand," he chortled, his shifty eyes roaming over all Autobots present, "Provided little Arcee here relinquishes the uranium to me." Selena groaned sickly, falling to her hands.

"Not happening." Arcee declared, confident it was an unlikely outcome. "You may as well hand Fowler over." She advised, her blast hand twitching. "Without Selena you have no chance of defeating us."

"I don't have to defeat you." Starscream assured her slyly. "Just get around you." He edged his blaster closer to Fowler. Bulkhead and Bee took a step closer. "Go ahead!" Starscream dared. "Take the shot. Maybe my lifeless corps will tense on impact and I'll fire a shot." He charged his blaster an extra level, upping his blast power. "Turning dear Agent Fowler into nothing more than a splattered scorch mark on the floor. At least we'll finally have a reason to paint." Bumblebee shuddered. Morbid images beyond what he thought he'd ever envision.

Selena lied on the ground, groaning in anguish as the effects of the Uranium seeped through every pore and sapped the strength right from her. Her skin was losing its color. Her sight was blurring. The Autobots were fuzzy bulks. Her throat was becoming dry. Whenever she exhaled sickly moans sounded from her throat. A couple times she choked or gagged.

"I'm waiting." Starscream sang tauntingly, poking the pikes of his blaster into Fowler.

Arcee bite her lip, feeling caught between a rock and a hard place. It wasn't uncommon was an armed Cybertronian to fire a shot upon being fatally injured. Even their mechanical ligaments had reflexes. Regardless, she couldn't give up their only leverage over Selena. But she couldn't allow Fowler to perish. Well she could, but Optimus would never allow the matter to rest.

Arcee sighed in defeat. "Here." She let the stone fall from her wrist.

Starscream caught the stone, holding it between two fingers mockingly. "Wise choice." He tucked the stone into his chest plate. The oppressive veil lifted itself from Selena's shoulder. But just barely. At least her vision cleared. Using Starscream as a balance post she pulled herself up, struggling to stand. "Now Agent Fowler, Selena, and I will take our leave." He declared triumphantly.

"The Emu says YEAAAAH!" Fowler blurted out of nowhere, distracting Starscream.

Bumblebee took the first shot, knocking Starscream's blaster away from Fowler. Bulkhead followed through. Selena was still woozy in the head, but she dropped herself to her knees and punched the ground. Bulkhead's feet sank into the ground to the thigh. Arcee began firing up Selena. Starscream scooped her up and strafed back. He dodge rolled to the side. He tossed up Selena, jumped into vehicle mode and caught her in his cock pit. The Seeker rocketed from the brig, barreling down the hall. Selena looked out the hull. Jack, Miko, and Rafael were hiding around a corner. Her fingers curled with impatience. "Those kids…"

"What of them?" Starscream rumbled, soaring outside.

Selena moved her beret visor over her eyes. Folding her arms she slumped into Starscream's seat, propping a foot on the dash. "They don't learn." She reached in and removed Rafael's phone, marveling at the device. "And if that's the case," she opened the phone and scrolled through his contacts list, coming across a number labeled home. "Perhaps its time I educate them on the situation they're truly in."

That's all for now folks. I'll try not to be gone for too long this time.