CHAPTER 9

Slipstream touched down in a far less occupied area of the city. The location was near a construction site, and Nina could see construction equipment and tilled ground where the workers were going to put up a new building. At the moment the place was deserted because it was a Sunday.

When the fembot's feet touched the ground she opened her hand and let Nina climb off onto the sidewalk. Then the two just stared at each other for a moment unil Nina, unable to take it anymore, asked. "What did you mean by I am one of his? Who is this person?"

"Oh that," the femme said, straightening up. "You have this familiar energy signature to you," she replied, folding her arms. "Like that of my brothers or... my creator."

"Huh?" she blinked, confused. "Who was that?"

"Have you ever heard of a Decepticon named Starscream?" when the fembot said the name she seemed to be having a hard time controlling her temper. Whoever that guy was she didn't like him.

Nina shook her head. "No." she replied. "Who is he?"

"Only the most self self centered, poor excuse for a transformer I have ever met," the fembot replied, clenching her fists.

Nina sensed that this Slipstream had a very deep hatred for the being she mentioned. "What did he do to you?" she asked her.

"Nothing," Slipstream replied. "Except for creating me with the worst part of his personality."

The girl didn't comment on that because she had no idea what the femme was talking about. Instead she asked. "and what does this have to do with me?"

Slipstream met her eyes. "Plenty," she told her. "Because parts of him were used to create you."

Fowl's words seemed to surprise the woman on the other end of the phone. "You want me to what?" she asked.

"Help me find a very important part of my work," the Irishman answered, annoyed that he had to repeat himself. "The final product."

"What?!"

Petra gripped her cell phone tightly in one hand while a small, glass cylinder slipped through the fingertips of her free hand. It shattered noisily on the floor at her feet. "Find something?" she echoed. "What, am I a dog that can just come because you called and LOOK FOR SOMETHING YOU LOST?!"

"I didn't say that," the scientist responded, sensing Petra was about to go off on another of her tirades. "I never said that."

"You don't have to." She sucked in a breath through her teeth, then went on. "Oh of course… women always were like bitches to you anyway, so it's totally appropriate. It was always that way, ever since you hired me. You always said I was a dog! You told people I looked like one, and you treated me like one! ARF, ARF, ARF!"

The woman's tantrum was starting to get on his nerves. "I never said you were a dog," Fowl growled. "I only said you looked like a dog."

That was exactly the wrong thing to say to Petra. She let out a high-pitched shriek. "I WAS NEVER GOOD AT ANYTHING!" she exploded. "I'M NOT EVEN BEAUTIFUL! I COULD NEVER BE BEAUTIFUL!"

Then there was a terrible BONK noise as Petra slammed her phone down against the floor, then she pressed the "end call" button. She had terminated the call.

Fowl stared at his cell phone for a moment, then scowled. "That woman hung up on me!" he snarled, throwing his own phone down onto the passenger seat beside him. "I can't believe that wench actually hung up on me!"

There was a honking noise behind him. It was the only thing that suddenly alerted him to the fact that the red light had turned green. Scowling, he gripped the steeling wheel firmly and stomped on the gas peddle.

Petra lay face-down on the floor with her arms wrapped around her head. She wasn't crying; she had not actually cried at all for a very long time. She was actually breathing very hard, inhaling and exhaling like a panting bull getting ready to charge.

Finally she unfolded her arms and shoved herself upward into a sitting position, then jumped to her feet. "DAMNIT FOWL, I HATE YOU!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, kicking over one of her small tables with her foot. It was currently covered with ceramic bowls and glass cylinders containing liquid compounds from her latest experiment. The liquids spilled and splattered all over the carpet of her living room, and the glass and ceramic cracked and shattered as they crashed into the floor.

"I HATE HIM! I'VE ALWAYS HATED HIM!" She wailed, then threw herself onto her couch. Now she allowed herself to cry, for the first time in a long time.

It was times like this when… she almost missed her brother, Prometheus Black. Almost. Because sometimes if she got too cranky, he would go out and buy her a nice hot, steaming cup of hot chocolate with little itty bitty marshmallows… just to make her calm down so she wouldn't destroy the furniture or all of the breakables around the house.

Actually, this house was her brother's house. She had begun to stay in it when her brother went to jail, and now that her brother was missing in action… she had more or less taken it over as her own. But she sure missed the hot chocolate… that was one thing her brother had been good for, at least.

She finally began to get a grip on herself. It was hard to do without the promise of hot chocolate from her brother, but she managed. She sat up straight on the couch and wiped her eyes.

Then, very slowly, an idea began to form in her mind. Fowl had contacted her, and she hated it because she hated him, and he reminded her of what a failure she'd been at everything all her life. But maybe somehow… she could use this to her advantage.

It wasn't like she was doing much else right now, except seeing how different kinds of poisons affected 6-week-old parakeets—and that wasn't really doing much, that was just a time-killing hobby. Besides, she had run out of parakeets.

"Hmmm," she mused, stroking her chin thoughtfully as the wheels began to turn inside her screwed up brain. "If nothing else… if I can get close to that bastard Fowl again, I could get a chance at that blond bimbo he hired." She cackled. Even though she hated Fowl… maybe if she could get just one chance to tell that bitch what she thought of her—or better yet, a chance to whack her over the head with a frying pan—helping Fowl might just be worth her while.

Petra giggled to herself and scrambled off the couch, stumbling onto the floor. She crawled on her hands and knees toward the area where she'd dropped her cell phone, being careful to avoid the broken glass.

She quickly dialed Fowl's phone number, a number which she'd never ever thought she would be dialing on her own again. She then grinned like a maniac as she held the phone to her ear, listening to the rings. One, two, three…

"Where is she going?" Sari asked, watching Lase Vanderbelt walked down the street in what seemed like a totally absent pace. She and Bumblebee were following the woman on a hunch.

"I don't know," Bumblebee told her. "But I am beginning to think we might have jumped to conclusions here. She doesn't seem to be doing anything strange."

"Well walking around in a silk nightgown isn't exactly what I call normal," Sari told him. "Nobody does that kind of thing."

"Well nobody else seems to be bothered by it," Bee informed her, watching a group of humans walk right past the blond woman without even batting an eyelash. "None of the people out there are even giving her a second look."

Sari had noticed that too. It was a little strange. Didn't they see her? "They probably think if they make eye contact they'll get involved in something they'd rather not be." she told him, coming to the best conclusion she could. "Did you notice all those bandages on her body?"

"Yeah," he said. Those were the very first things he'd noticed. Why did she look that way? Had she gotten in some kind of accident? "I wonder why she is like that."

"That's what I want to find out."

"By following her?"

"Hey, I never said it was a great plan," she responded, folding her arms. "But it's a start."

"Ummm Sari, aside from the way she looks and that strange behavior, what other reason is there for following her?"

She shook her head. "Something about her doesn't feel right," she replied, her blue eyes once again locking on the older woman's slim figure. "Like she's got this evil aura about her."

"Evil aura?" Bumblebee looked at her. "Sari, no offense, but you're starting to sound like Prowl. He's the one who usually senses evil auras."

"Well maybe it's rubbing off on me," she commented, shrugging.

"Just don't let the other parts of Prowl rub off on you," he replied. "Like that weird tree hugging part."

"You don't have to worry about that," she assured him. "I don't intend to hug trees any time soon. Their bark is too prickly." she saw him looking at her funny. "I'm kidding." she laughed.

Nina stared at Slipstream, not sure how to react to what the robot had told her. "What are you saying?" she demanded. "That this Starscream thing put parts of himself in my body?"

Slipstream nodded. "That's what it looks like to me," she told her. "That would explain your energy signaure is similar to his."

Nina thought that over then laughed, a loud, mocking laugh. "Yeah I was created from parts of your creator," she said, giving the fembot a look that said she thought she was crazy. "Give me a break."

Slipstream glared at her. "Hey, I am just saying what I felt." she pointed a taloned finger at the girl's face, not even bothering to hide her disgust. "It would explain the eyes and the mark on your fleshy little face." she stated. Nina absently covered the Decepticon birthmark with her left hand. "It would also explain why you are able to fire energy out of your hands."

Nina looked down at her hands. Right now they were as pale as the rest of her, the energy that woke when she was upset currently powered down. She wondered why she even had those powers to begin with but using them felt natural as well, as if they belonged to her. The very idea of these things being part of someone else bothered her yet made sense. It might explain a few things, especially if what the robot said was true. If parts of this Starscream were somehow inserted into her, it might clarify why she had that memory of dying. Though she could not see herself she'd always felt... taller in it. As if she was the same size as the robots she had run away from.

But if all of that is true what does that make me and where did I come from?

She did not even want to think about that. It bothered her too much. So she chose not to believe it.

"You're crazy," she stated. "Why would this Starscream want to put parts of himself into me when he could just make another clone? By the looks you're giving me you find me disgusting which most likely means he would too. I doubt he would use a part of himself to create something he considered gross."

"He could just be desperate."

"Desperate to what?" Nina questioned her. "To prove he can do it?"

Slipstream made a face. "If you only knew what his intentions were."

Nina gave her a look. "Oh, and you think you do?" she questioned.

"For your information I do," she replied, folding her arms. "But you're tiny human brain would not be able to comprehend it."

"So you're going to act all high and mighty about it and not tell me what it is." the girl made a rude noise. "Psht. Fine. Whatever. If you're going to be like that then just drop me off where you found me and I'll be on my way."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"You see whether you are made from Starscream parts or not, you're disgusting and a pathetic waste of space," she raised her foot her intent clear. "Squashing you would do the world a load of good."

"No!" Nina shouted, raising her hand. Did this fembot fly away with her just to tell her some stuff then kill her? "You can't do this! You don't even know me!:"

Slipstream smirked. "And I don't intend to either."

Nina had no choice. She raised her other hand and shot a bolt of energy at the fembot. It hit her foot. She yelped in pain, grabbing the foot and dancing around on one leg. While she was distracted the girl took off. "Oh no you don't!" she shouted, glaring after her. "You're not going to get away that easily!"

Nina heard a noise behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw that the fembot had gone into vehicle mode. She was flying toward her, her engines screaming.

Lase halted and looked around herself, getting familiar with the area. This part of the city she had never been to before. Aside from doing some shopping and work and her apartment she never really drove through a lot of the city. This place looked like the local shopping center, stores lined up in rows on both sides of the street.

"Why did you stop?" Starscream's voice hissed in her ear. "We are not even close to where that key is."

"It's not that easy to find my way on foot," she informed him. "Plus I have no idea how to get to the tower from here. I have never even driven past it."

"You're hopeless."

"And you're a jerk."

His laughter vibrated in her head. "Is that the best you could come up with, flesh bag? I've heard worse insults from drones."

Oh brother, there he went again, putting her down even though he was relying on her. She rolled her eyes and didn't give him a comeback. It wasn't worth it. She just continued to walk down the sidewalk, though she began to notice some people giving her sideways glances. It must be how I look, she thought to herself. I never had the time to get dressed and now I'm stuck walking around barefoot in my slip. she sighed. I wonder if my apartment is still mine? I haven't been there in two months and I bet I'm behind on my rent and other bills.

"Aw what's wrong now? Your vanity making you self conscious?"

"No," she muttered. "I just don't like being stared at."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, though by his tone she could tell he wasn't. "Want me to cover you with a blanket? Oh wait I can't! I'm dead!"

She ignored his taunting. She paused at the end of the block and looked around. When she looked northward she thought she caught a faint outline of the Sumdac Systems tower. "Ah hah! I have found you!"

"So you're useful after all."

Lase ignored him and headed toward the tall building in the distance. Once I get there and find this key maybe then I'll have my body to myself again. the implants in her body began to throb. Maybe these unwanted additions to my body will go away too.

"Why did you hang up on me?" Fowl demanded when he picked up the phone and the caller identified themselves. "What is your problem? If you didn't want to help you should have just said no." he waved his hand around until he realized he was swerving then grabbed the steering wheel again. "You see, this is why I fired you! I don't like playing your little games!"

"Oh but I do want to help!" Petra responded, sounding like a little kid in a candy store. "That's why I'm calling you back!"

Well this was unexpected. "You do?" he asked, his voice betraying his surprise.

"Oh, yes!" she replied, sounding more than a little eager."Just tell me what to do and where to go."

Fowl was suspicious. Why had Petra Black suddenly changed her mind? "Why do you suddenly want to help me?" he demanded. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing!" her voice changed to a whine. She sounded upset that he would even entertain such thoughts. "I just needed to think about it for a moment. So I gave it some thought and realized helping you was a good idea. But if you don't want me to help."

"Oh, I do," he said, quickly.

"Good." she was thrilled. As if the whole thing was her idea and he was going along with it. "What do you want me to do then?"

"I'll tell you in person," he said, turning onto main street. "Do you still live in the same apartment?"

"Of course I do," she replied. "Why would I move? I have a great view of the lake from here."

"Okay," Fowl said. "If you're there stay, okay. I'll be right over."

"Oh, before you come over can you do me a favor?" she asked.

"What?"

"Can you make a stop at the coffee shop and get me a nice hot, steaming cup of hot chocolate with little itty bitty marshmallows?"

Professor Fowl sighed and rolled his eyes. Another one of Petra's weird obsessions. "Okay, fine," he said.

This is it for me! I am such an idiot. Not only do I have those Autobot freaks after me but this clone wants to kill me too. Nina was beginning to feel like the whole world was out to get her for some reason. Scientists, robots, seekers. What next? The moon? Knowing my luck the moon will turn into one of those freaks and eat me along with the entire planet.

And it most likely would too, just to give whatever higher power was out there a good laugh.

Yeah, Primus, go right ahead. Laugh it up. the thought startled her. Primus? Whose Primus?

The pavement in front of her suddenly blew up, cutting off her thoughts about planet eating moons and supreme beings named Primus. She stopped and put up her arms to protect her face. Behind her, she heard that crazy fembot cackling. "You won't get away from me that easily, flesh bag!"

Nina looked over her shoulder at the oncoming plane. It was coming right at her like it wanted to fly into her and kill her that way. No! Not this time, you won't! One death that might or might not be mine is enough!

Nina turned around and faced the jet head on. If she was going to die she was going to take somebody with her. Opening her hands she raised them and fired bolts of red energy at her. Slipstream swerved sideways to avoid being hit. Then fired at Nina again. She dived to the ground to avoid being hit.

Just as she did so a large, black figure seemed to come out of nowhere and slam into Slipstream. The fembot screamed in surprise and anger and crashed to the pavement.

The figure then landed on the ground in front of Nina. He looked down at her. She stared at him with wide red eyes. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Nina stared at her savior in shock, her mouth hanging wide open. It was that gold and black robot that had chased her before. He had saved her? Why? Did he want to kill her himself?

"Stsy away from me!" she shouted, backing away. "Just stay back, you freak!"

The robot looked sad. Maybe he wasn't expecting her to act like that after just saving her life but she didn't care. She hadn't asked for his help or wanted it. "I'm not going to hurt you," he told her, stepping toward her. "I would never harm a human."

She kept on backing away. "Just," she stammered. "Just leave me alone."

"But-" the rest of his words were cut off when a bolt of energy hit him in the back, knocking him over. He grunted and fell over. Slipstream stood behind him with her arm raised, the cannon attached smoking.

"Never turn your back to a seeker," she said. She lowered her arm and started walking forward, her red optics locked on Nina. "Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? Oh yes." she raised her arm and fired again.

The girl dived out of the way, the shots barely missing her tiny frame.

A/N

Yeah my ideas for this are kind of low right now. I do intent to finish it but I might need some help with it. Meh. Petra Black belongs to Tehmarishal. I'm just borrowing her with her permission.