"My lord?"

Megatron huffed sharply awake sitting up from his slouched position against the shelter wall. He growled at the sight of one of the smaller jets, Thrust. "What is so important that you rouse me from recha-"

"Air Warrior and the twins caught wind of a human vehicle a few nanomiles from here from the south past the mountains. They have gone in scout of it and to eliminate any possible threat. He wished me to inform you."

"That is no reason to awake my recharge." Megatron growled in frustration, rather wanting to return to sleep.

"There is more, my lord." The jet continued. "The grounders have only limited resources to sustain who is left in this camp, and are hoping to ask you for a scout to the nearest outpost for replenishment."

Megatron sneered. Surely he thought these troops were well equipped to manage themselves on a scout, or perish on a confrontation with the wrong group of humans. He glanced down at his side only briefly, seeing the small form of Annabelle still in deep sleep. He frowned however when he noticed her making a few suppressed coughs, curling more on herself to avoid waking.

Thrust tilted his helm as Megatron crouched on a knee and nudged at the girl as if inspecting something dead. "Is there, something wrong, my lord?"

The tyrant frowned deeper with a rumble as the girl coughed small again, noticing a pasty tone to her skin as he tilted her body to face him. Her core body temperature was also rising, seeing beads of salty sweat on her forehead as she moaned in agitation and ache.

"My lord? Is there some-"

"The girl is unwell." Megatron rumbled, his voice only slightly hinting worry. "She will need proper supplies."

Thrust did obviously not understand, blinking at the sick human before back to his leader. "But uh, the scout, sir. We certainly can't stay here long without-"

Megatron growled sharply and came swiftly into the seeker's face, who yelped and dropped onto his hands and knees obediently and fearfully. "The GIRL'S supplies come first! Surely none of you would care to suffer with the stench of dead human around here, would you?"

Thrust shook his helm furiously, keeping his helm down. "No no, of course not, my lord. We can retrieve whatever supplies are needed for the girl's condition."

"Very good." Megatron rumbled, standing up straighter, allowing Thrust to timidly stand as well. Yet before he spoke, he realized that perhaps none of these new troops knew what necessities human needed, and even he only knew little of what they would need when sick. He frowned with a growl as he thought briefly. He could not leave the girl alone, and only he would know what to retrieve, but was unsure of who to leave with his human. He was stuck in consideration, but tried to make a decision quick upon hearing another small sickly groan from Annabelle.

"…Who can be most trusted, among you troops?"

Thrust blinked, confused by the question. "I…well, I'm sure all of us can be willing enough to trust your word and order."

"Yet one of such that I can trust with…" He paused unintentionally, but growled again to straighten himself out. "To trust with guarding the girl."

The seeker held his tongue, thinking about what to reply. "I…I would assume any of us, could bear with watching over the flesh—well, girl, my lord."

Megatron leaned in dangerously. "And if you could pick one?"

There was another long pause of consideration. "Er…personally, I think any of the chopper soldiers are well equipped, or the grounder Trample. Or, perhaps even our second in command, Air-Warrior."

Megatron took in the words, but had already made up his mind before the seeker even spoke. "Very well." He glanced down at the girl as he spoke again. "…Send in Air-Warrior, Cypher, and Trample. One of each troop will be enough protection."

"For one human, sir? Isn't it a bit much for just a little-"

Megatron grabbed Thrust by the side of the neck, lifting him up just enough so the tips of the seeker's pedes barely grazed the ground. The latter shrieked briefly and locked up in panic. "BRING THEM."

"Yes YES sir! Yes I will at once, my lord, yes!" Thrust yelped again, and like a whipped hound shuffled on all fours as he quickly left to bring the three demanded soldiers.

Megatron growled darkly, agitated by all that had happened. He would have to make the trip quick, as he would not risk keeping the weakened Annabelle alone with new troops he had yet to be accustomed and trusted with. He would keep his line of order over them all, but he also had to protect his spark's other half. Hissing, he crouched down beside the tiny form of the girl, tucked in a fetal position in aching sickness. With a careful claw he nudged at her back, which made her groan in response. He could feel her agitation and ache by a pang in his spark. The longer this took, the weaker she would get. She needed proper medical attention, and first he must find what such conditions require for recovery. He had another option to help her, but it was one that he did not want the others to witness or hear of. It was best to keep it simple.

He was so distracted with staring over her that he didn't notice the mechs arrive.

"I have brought them for you, my lord." Thrust replied, keeping his helm tilted down respectfully, as did the other three beside him.

Megatron whipped his helm sharply to face them, standing at once to keep some sort of authority. "Very good. I am suspecting Thrust has briefed you about what I demand?"

"Yes, my lord." Air-Warrior stood from his bow to face his leader. "We will take good watch over the girl in your absence. It will be in good—um, pardon, she shall be in good hands."

Megatron growled again, gritting fangs. He didn't truly trust them around his human, but he supposed he would not be gone long. If something were to happen he would be sure to rid the heads of each of them.

"I will not be long. I won't hesitate to take all your heads if I come and find something of her amiss. Understood?" He rumbled again as they nodded, and giving one more glance down to the girl, he pushed them aside to go past, taking on his rickety vehicle mode and driving onward. He powered on slower than usual, out of doubt and uncertainty of leaving the girl alone. Yet, he realized he would have to give the girl space as well. He wasn't sure why he had to, but in the half of his shared spark it seemed right.

Cypher fanned the blades on his back instinctively, looking to the blue and grey second in command once Megatron was out of sights. "I'm never one for pets. Why pick us three just to watch one little insect?"

"He has his reasons." Air-Warrior replied, turning partially to go inside. "Even though we have been with our master only briefly, I can already sense his…protection, for this fleshling. And if he deems it fit then we shall follow it." He and the chopper blink however, already finding Trample seated next to the sleeping Annabelle, cocking his helm curiously at her. "Yet I see one so eager of the task already."

The two came over as well, couching down to a knee so the three circled her. She remained in sleep, curled up more as sweat stuck to her heated, sweating skin.

"Rather disgusting, their method of perspiration." Cypher grumbled with a slight sneer. "Especially with that sharp sodium discharge scent to it."

"I suppose we will only learn to get used to it." The seeker suggested with a shrug of wings. He frowned his mouthpiece when the girl turned over on her back suddenly, moaning in an ache. "I'm no medic on these creatures, but she appears to be getting worse."

"Oh you think so?" Cypher scoffed with distasteful sarcasm.

Trample blinked at the moaning Annabelle, who was sweating more from her pale brow. The grounder tilted his helm with a click of fangs, as he couldn't help but be concerned, even for a Decepticon. Even though he met her briefly before he found she wasn't all too bad to him. Clicking again he poked a claw at her, which she moaned sharp at since it was a rather rough one. The mech pulled quickly back, not meaning for it to be that hard of a nudge. When he tried for another gentler one, the seeker grabbed his wrist.

"Just leave it be, you'll only make it worse." Air-Warrior pushed the mech's hand away, looking back to the girl. "Quite peculiar though, for an insect."

"What is possibly peculiar or intriguing about this creature?" Cypher frowned, rather annoyed of being put on this assignment. "They can't do much on interest besides do something stupid or idiotic. And from the ones we have witnessed it isn't that hard for them."

The seeker glanced to the chopper. "That may be true, but I have the sense that this insect is more important to our master than we come to realize. She should still be deemed with no less respect if he thinks that much of her."

"That is your opinion, not mine. It is just going to be a hassle to watch our step with one of these around."

"Oh just embrace it, won't you, Cypher? Besides, with the insect in this position it will-"

He was cut off when Annabelle blinked awake, groaning again.

Having not registered that she was surrounded by the three mechs, Annabelle rolled herself up to lean her back up against the wall. She felt like her insides were burning, her throat feeling parched, and about ready to vomit her guts out. She coughed again into her sleeve, rubbing her face tiredly, realizing her attempt to avoid getting sick the night before was a failure. Well, she thought, she could just ask Megatron to…

It was then she glanced up to see the three pairs of optics staring down at her.

Annabelle shrieked and braced farther back against the stone wall as if to get away, but with the three surrounding her from the remaining three sides she felt trapped. She was beginning to panic and coughed again. Where the hell was Megatron when she actually needed him?

Air-Warrior tried to calm the situation, as her distress would cost the three's heads once Megatron returned. "Calm down, girl, we are only here to keep watch over you. There's no need to shriek out like that."

"Yea I bet you won't want me to scream so Megatron won't know what you're doing! Where is he? Megatron!" She cried out past them in hopes he was just outside and unaware of her situation. When she cried out again, the three troops unsure how to make her calm down without being physical, she coughed harder again to the point where she was getting out of breath.

Trample stared, clicking worriedly as she was only becoming worse, and with the other two bickering on what to do or why they were even here, the quiet grounder decided to take action. He looked over to one of the crates that he saw the girl use to get supplies or means of nourishment, and carefully poked around inside the one closest.

Annabelle scooted back more, still calling for Megatron in her distress. She didn't trust being alone with these new troops, and surely didn't like it when she was not being guarded by the tyrant, as strange as it sounded to her. She yelped again and slid back more when Trample snarled sharply at the other two arguing, silencing them with their surprise. The teen remained still, staring wide-eyed and shaking, hoping if she stayed still they might leave her be. To be honest she was rather surprised herself to see the quiet mech make the seeker and chopper shut up.

Trample then slowly looked back at her, sliding down to both knees before her. Cautiously he lowered a claw toward her, but paused seeing her flinch and moan small in uncertainty. He shook his helm with a few soft clicks, reassuring her that he meant no harm, and started to lower his claw again. In Trample's palm sat a tiny orange, one of the few pieces of perishable food that was still good for eating left in the crate.

Annabelle stared, but found her breathing settle down at the kind action. She blinked as he moved his claw a little closer to her, insisting she take it. Watching him cautiously, but needing to eat something she scooted forward just enough to reach at the fruit. She quickly grabbed it and sat back, never breaking Trample's stare. Then again she was grateful for the mech's gesture. She looked down at the orange in her hands, and then gave the grounder a small smile. "Um…thank you."

Trample nodded once, glad he was able to settle the girl down. He looked back to Air-Warrior and Cypher with a smug look in his optics, arms crossed as if to say 'so there.'

Air-Warrior and the bulky other shared side glances, rather taken aback by how easily he dealt with Annabelle accordingly. For the sake of his dignity he straightened himself a little, flicking his wings. "Er, um, well then," he mumbled, and looked to the girl. "Lord Megatron has assigned us to keep watch and tend to you whatever you wish, until he returns with your supplies."

She stared in confusion. He actually left? He left her here with these strange new mechs who could easily kill her without a second thought in absence of his protection. She swallowed her dry throat. "He actually left?" The mechs stared in return. "Er, no offense but it's just weird to me how he would just leave me with new guys like you. What's to stop you from killing me?"

"I already asked myself that." Chopside grumbled, looking away.

Air-Warrior threw him a warning side glance. "Lord Megatron, though I do admit, was particularly hesitant to leave you behind. Yet he is the one who is most knowledgeable of human resources, and better suited to find your necessities. He appears to trust us the best in your company." He shrugged. "That, and he knows we would not risk laying a claw on you without losing our heads in return."

Annabelle gave an admitting nod and sideways shrug. He did have a point. She knew Megatron enough that he wouldn't hesitate in destroying each mech in the place if they tried to harm her. But out of them all, she was most weary of Dirge. His first impression did not help her settle with much of the new-army-of-Decepticons idea. Despite them seeming okay with her now she still was uneasy with these mechs. Regardless of her worry she had to wait for Megatron's return…but, she didn't think there would be much hurt in talking with new "people".

"Well, um," Annabelle started, holding back another cough, "I'm sorry, for well, how I acted. You know, freaking out."

"Understandable." The seeker assured. "We may have been newly revived into being, but we already figured your kind does not take kindly to ours."

The teen shifted how she was sitting, leaning back on the wall as her body was still too tired and progressively ill to stand. "Yea I don't blame you there. But, don't you guys know anything about, well…human functions?"

Air-Warrior blinked, curious and confused. "I'm, afraid I don't understand your meaning, girl."

"I mean," she paused to cough again, gagging to clear her dry throat.

"Are you certain you don't require anything first?" The seeker asked thoughtfully.

"Gah, the insect is fine." Chopside interrupted with a sneer back to them. "Really the insect is best just getting its recharge and being quiet. Then we can get back to our own accords while it's down and not causing more problems."

Annabelle glared partially at him. "Hey what the hell did I ever do to you, man?" she sniped at the chopper. "I didn't do anything to you and you simply just don't like me, is that it?"

The mech leaned in close to her with a warning sneer. "I may have promised my master not to harm you, but do not assume that just because I do not make threat to your life that I may promise to watch my step every nanoclick." He poked a claw at her chest, making her cough a bit. "Set that straight in your feeble organic envelope of a brain, hm?"

"That was still supposed to scare me?" Annabelle frowned at him, an unimpressed look on her face. She didn't break the look as the chopper leaned in closer with a sharper growl, smelling drunken Energon from his maw.

"That is enough, Chopside." Air-Warrior grabbed the mech's shoulder and pulled him back. He blinked when Annabelle began coughing again, heavier this time. "Do you require anything for your condition, girl?"

The teen suppressed another round of coughs. "Mm..if there's any water, could I maybe have that?"
"Sure thing." The seeker looked to the chopper, but the bulkier mech turned his helm away to avoid his gaze in stubborn refusal. "Very well…Trample, could you?" The smaller mech nodded and went outside to go look for a way to retrieve some fresh water from the nearby stream.

Annabelle stared at her clothes and vest, sticky with sweat and still rather filthy. It was an understatement to her to just say she felt gross without bathing or cleaning in a couple of days. No, she felt absolutely disgusting. She would go to get a bath, but what point would it be without at least some soap or shampoo? Even if she had the right supplies, bathing in the mud-caked river wouldn't help her problem anymore than it already was. Though, maybe it couldn't hurt again to ask for some help.

"Er, Air-Warrior, right?"

The seeker tilted his helm in regard. "Yes. Do you require something else?"

"Well, sorta…I'm just not sure if any of you will understand, though."

"Spit it out then so we don't have to suffer any longer." Chopside grumbled in distaste.

Annabelle threw him a look, but ignored him for now. "Are, you guys aware of many human methods…er, customs if anything?"

Air-Warrior shook his helm. "Not many to my knowledge. Only that you are mammalian, sociable, and not a very welcoming species when it comes to being acquainted with other species, such as our own."

"You don't need to tell me twice about that." She smirked somewhat humorously, but was not surprised by his assumption. "But when I say customs I mean like, daily ritual. Do you know any of that?"

The mechs shared glances, coercing in their shrill, robotic language for a few moments to try and see if they could decipher her meaning. The blue seeker addressed her again in
English. "I..we are not too familiar with common daily rituals among humans, no. Besides the fact that most had to recharge during evening hours, there isn't much we know of."

The girl sighed to herself, knowing she would have to now explain what she could of her kind. If Megatron wanted them to get along she would have to help them understand her kind on other terms.

"Well first off," she began awkwardly, "Megatron is already aware that humans need good about of rest, well recharge. And, also we tend to try and bathe regularly if possible. You know, wash ourselves? To stay clean and healthy?"

"'Bathe'…" Chopside murmured distantly in thought, now not being able to help but be curious. "You mean, like an annual armor cleanse after our systems do a stressful upgrade due to heavy system damage?"

Annabelle gave him a vacant stare which quickly twisted into confusion. "Um…sort of." Finding her feet despite her growing illness, she stood up while shrugging in contemplation on how to explain. "Well, you know how we mammals, and humans, we like to stay relatively clean." The bots blinked, but seemed to be following. "I and other humans tend to bathe regularly, to keep ourselves clean and prevent ourselves from getting sick. And I haven't had a bath in quite awhile, not since before I joined with Megatron."

"Could this lack of regular bathing be reason why you are becoming ill now?" Air-Warrior inquired both curiously and concerning.

The girl shrugged, swallowing her dry throat again to somehow soothe it. "It could be. That and a mix of being around different germs in a new area. If a human goes from one country to another they aren't always immune to all..er, substances there."

"Bah," the chopper growled out, "you insects are far too feeble for my liking. Yet it is quite unusual, to still adapt and survive despite such weaker systems."

"Call it many years of survival of the fittest." Annabelle shrugged. She paused from continuing when an eager Trample returned, holding out a water-filled bucket between two careful claws. "Oh, thanks." Her throat completely parched and the thought of knowing she needed to stay hydrated, she quickly knocked back the bucket to drink as much as she could. The teen ended up spilling a good bunch of the water on herself and down the front of her shirt. Trample cocked his helm at the action, flicking his small audio plates in amusement. She smirked, embarrassed at herself. "Have to admit, the water does feel good."

"What exactly were you leading up to explaining to us about this 'bathing' ritual?" The seeker pressed appropriately.

"Oh right, sorry." She put the bucket down and smacked her hands together to rub. "I'll just cut to the chase, and ask if you guys can help me find or maybe help me make a shower."

"'Shower'?" Chopside blinked, then sneered in confusion. "I thought we were talking about baths?"

"I am, I am. It's just that one of the ways we bathe is by using a shower. You know, like being in heavy rain that just drenches you in water and rinses you off of dirt and other stuff." The mechs stared in curiosity again, but still drawing a blank on her meaning. She sighed. "Hey, maybe you could look it up. Can't you guys connect to the internet?"

Air-Warrior tilted his helm. "Perhaps, if it helps our understanding." The seeker's red optics seemed to become blurred as white images and Cybertronian texts flickered and flashed before his optics, deep in a sort of trance whilst searching swiftly through thousands of human websites and images. He came out of the trance just as quickly and focused on her again. "I see your point now, girl. Perhaps we can help this matter, then."

"Uh, really?" Annabelle couldn't help but be surprised. "How are we gonna do that? I doubt Megs will let me leave, and I have no idea if we have anything here to make a pump or stall, let alone have any soap."

"Just leave that to us." Air-Warrior reassured, turning his gaze to Chopside, a small smirk at the corner of his lips.

Chopside slowly faced him in return with an unamused glare. "…Why did I have a feeling you would come to me for aid?" he grumbled in agitation.

"You didn't think we would just be sitting here in boredom all orn, did you?" Air-Warrior chuckled. "The girl requires a large supply of water to fuel this 'shower' she needs. You are the one who can collect such amounts easily in your alt mode. Find a still moving, fresh water lake. The cleaner and clearer, the better."

"And what do I get out of it?"

"I'll tell Megatron that such a deed may help improve my health greatly." Annabelle decided to speak their language, as the chopper seemed to be keen on having any excuse to leave. So why not have him leave with a bit of praise on his back?

Chopside gave her a disbelieving look, before the idea seemed to click in. "Ahh…Quite an offer, insect. I might just hop onto that idea, IF you keep your word that is." He warned with a darkened glare.

"I can't take all the praise from the big guy, can I? Can't be greedy with more egos to boost around here." The teen charmed.

The mech stared her down, before nodding. "Very well, girl. However much you need I shall retrieve, as long as you keep your end of the deal." The teen nodded and made a promising gesture of crossing a finger over her heart. Chopside stood with that and left to go find the nearest freshwater lake, taking on his heavy duty chopper mode.

"Trample," Air-Warrior continued, "There are some supplies at a nearby human outpost that she will also need. I will send you the checklist now." The two mech paused, collect the data internally. The smaller mech then nodded eagerly. "Make sure you are not seen when you collect them. I'd rather not have you deal with more panicking insects." The younger jeep nodded again, and left just as eagerly as before.

Annabelle watched them all go, keeping her cough in her sleeve. "You don't have to go through all the trouble, I just thought…"

"Lord Megatron has put us in your care," Air-Warrior stated, "and it is our duty in the meantime to bring you or assemble anything you need or desire. Judging by the smell and look about you, I should have assumed you would require some sort of cleaning necessity. It is truly no trouble at all."

"Well…thank you." She smiled back in thanks, before coughing again and drinking more water from the bucket.

"You should rest in the meantime." The seeker remarked in offering. He peered inside the crates near her, picking through it before finding part of the cloth tarp to hand her. "Perhaps this will be better suited to rest on."

Annabelle blinked at the wad of cloth, rather glad he found it for her. She was getting sick of laying on hard ground with no blanket or anything, especially on the cold nights. She folded out the large cloth and again over itself so it was thicker like a mattress. Putting the water beside her she flipped up one layer of it to act as a blanket and tucked herself inside. "Mm…Thank you, again." Air-Warrior nodded, and stood to leave. "Wait..!" She swallowed a bit as the mech paused to look back to her. "If Megatron comes back, wake me up please."

"Is there reason?"

"Not really I…I guess it's just weird not having him around. Kinda got used to the big guy, you know? That, and I wanted to talk to him too." Annabelle spoke meekly. As she said this she did admit that she got used to Megatron's company, more than she let on. She also couldn't help but feel stranger when he wasn't around, and much better when he was closer. What the hell was going on with her lately?

Air-Warrior stared to her awhile, curious of her answer. He nodded anyway. "Very well. I will. Now get your rest, girl, help yourself recover more quickly for our master." With that he walked outside again.

Annabelle frowned to herself, still taken aback by her answer. She should be grateful to not have Megatron around, and have some time to herself. But she couldn't help but miss his company, his awkward form of reassurance that she was safe with him around. Megatron was not a great mech, yes, but he still protected and tended to her with as much patience he would allow himself. Hopefully he would return before some of his new recruits through about using her target practice.

Tucking the 'blanket' over her more, Annabelle ignored the outside heat and tried to stay bundled up to fight out her growing sickness. She coughed a few times and settled it with a few handfuls of water beside her. She had to sleep, that was the best she could do right now. Megatron would be back soon…she could only hope.

-X-

It was as if white sheets were floating close around her, light shining somewhere past. They wrapped around her in warmth and comfort. It wasn't until she noticed the firmness beneath her that she was indeed on a bed. She almost forgot that feeling that a good mattress gave her aching form.

She felt a gentle touch at her hip and then run slow along her side, making her shiver lightly. There was also a similar touch at her neck, stroking up to her jaw and rubbing at some of her hair behind her ear. There came the sound of a voice vibrating against her body, but couldn't make out words. She put up her hands to try and move away, as it was now only beginning to freak her out. Her hands met a form, and felt the movement of breath, and the strong build of muscle. There was no tenseness or hesitation, but it was relaxed and warm to her touch.

"…Annabelle."

That voice, she knew that voice. Who the hell was this with her? It couldn't be…

"Relax, Annabelle…it's only me…"

It couldn't be him, no. What the hell was going on? Why couldn't she just get away? Wake up, she urged, wake up!

There was the feeling of soft, gentle lips against the other side of her neck. Warm breath so close to her skin made her shiver again, and another movement of a hand at her side made her moan small. She compulsively half-closed her eyes as the lips then gently kissed at her neck, then again as it moved further up to her jaw.

"It's alright, Annabelle…please…relax."

N..No, no! I gotta get away, no! Please I don't want to!

"I won't hurt you, Annabelle I promise…it's okay."

Please I wanna go home..! I wanna go home now, I can't stay here!

"I need you…I would never hurt you. You're safe here…"

…

"I'm here…I'm here…"

Her hand came up to feel short, rattled hair, running her fingers through it. The kiss came again, and she moaned quietly again as she picked up a knee, feeling it brush against the other form over her. Every movement began to feel right; feeling more and more comforted and safe as she did so. She felt someone's forehead against her own, and she opened her eyes fully to see the face of this familiar figure.

His rusty red and brown eyes were filled with reassurance, gentleness, and comfort. He smiled softly down at her, his one hand moving from her hair to caress her cheek. He stared at her quiet for some time, as if he was drinking her all in and enjoying every last detail of her.

"I would never hurt you…I love you."

She shut her eyes as he met their lips, shifting himself better over her as the white sheets wrapped around them more. She heard herself gasping and moaning quiet and relaxed, and his gentle urges and actions towards her. The brushing of their legs…the holding of their hands…the lips to her jaw…her arms around his neck.

"Annabelle…"

They clung onto each other tighter.

"Annabelle..!"

Both of their heads rolled back, sighing or gasping. The room was getting blurry now.

She felt the sting of cuts. He began to growl sharply. There was red smeared on them both.

She heard her screaming somewhere.

"ANNABELLE!"

-X-

The sweating teen bolted upright with a cry, gasping and coughing as she woke from her deep dream.

"Girl?" Air-Warrior came in once he heard her scream, looking to her with a frantic and worried gaze. "What is it, girl? What's wrong?"

Annabelle was gasping, slowly calming herself down once realizing it was just a nightmare. She coughed a few times again, quickly taking a few drinks of water to help her settle down better. Once she had a few moments she relaxed enough to speak to the worried seeker. "It…it was just, a bad dream. A really strange, bad dream…"

The seeker stared again, wondering what may have caused such distress. "Are you alright now, though?" The girl just nodded, still trying to drink some water to settle herself. "Chopside and Thrust have returned with the needed supplies. Come, I'll show you." He watched as she awkwardly got up out of her makeshift bed, but had trouble finding her feet as she staggered a bit with her first few steps. He put a claw forward to carefully catch her from falling over. "May I assist you in another way?" The seeker turned his said claw over palm up, an invitation for her to climb up. After she carefully seated herself within the sharp talons, Air-Warrior carried her outside, seeing her squint at the sudden sunlight in her eyes. "I assume you would appreciate a bathing about now."

"Yea that would be just dandy but…" Annabelle dragged off a bit, once she saw what he meant. Trample and Chopside had moved aside to show her a simple, jerry-jigged version of a shower. Attached panels of tall wood wall wrapped in a circle with a small sheet of metal for a door, a small showerhead hanging above with a pipe leading to a large tank filled with fresh clear water, and opened at the top to be warmed by the sun and heated metal, and to be helped filled by any coming rain. A drain came from the back and lead down the hill to the river below, used with a few series of more pipes.

"Oh my God," she murmured in disbelief, "Did you guys make that?"

"Trample took it from outside a human outpost, and scanned the area to find other parts to complete it here." Chopside answered for the smaller mech, crossing his bulky black arms. "I managed to find the broken tank near the lake, and filled it what I could to carry most of it back. The seeker helped connect it as simple and effective as possible."

Annabelle looked to them all as Air-Warrior set her down to check out the hand-made shower stall. "Thank you, guys. This is great. I don't know if you guy really know how much I needed one of these."

"Oh believe us, we noticed by the smell building up on your fleshy form." Chopside huffed, but smirked nonetheless at his comment.

Trample eagerly crouched down to her, and dropped a few items into her arms as she fumbled to catch them in her surprise. There was a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, a few bars of soap, and even a small pack of cheap razors. He had taken the time to even find some bathing items.

Annabelle couldn't help but laugh in her thankfulness. "Thanks, Trample. These will come in handy for sure." She reached up to rub at one of his claws in a grateful action, smirking as he flicked his audio plating again happily in return. She turned to open the stall door, then remembering something she looked to the three again. "Hey I have an extra pair of clothing, from when Megs and I went into a camp and I had to steal some guard's uniform. Could you brings those over here so I have something cleaner to change into?" Trample nodded and quickly went to go fetch them, the other two mechs shrugging.

"We will give you your privacy, girl." Air-Warrior replied, flicking his wings. "We will be nearby, so call if you require anything else."

With a nod, Annabelle stepped into the shower, staring up at the open top and its hanging showerhead. To start off she stripped herself of her clothes, confident none of the mechs would come peeping. She spotted a chain cord dangling near the showerhead, going on ahead and tugging it down. The water quickly came down on her, the first few seconds of it being shockingly cold and making her yelp briefly. She laughed afterward, and taking a bar of soap in hand began scrubbing herself down. The water gradually got warmer, and she hummed in contentment as she took in the almost forgotten sensation of having a relaxing shower and the feeling of her skin being clean. Taking a new razor she began to shave her now hairy looking legs, ignoring the stinging cuts she made in the process, as she was eager to rid herself of the sight of her Yeti legs. She then slowly scrubbed her now longer hair with the sudsy shampoo, making sure to get it down deep and take the time to enjoy the feeling of a clean head of hair. Once done with using the conditioner as well, she rinsed out every last bit of soap and hair care. Once she had the necessities done, she took another good while to enjoy just the feeling of warm water running over herself, down her back and neck, taking in the soothing feeling of it all. Damn, she really missed that.

Using the less dirty part of her black long sleeve shirt, Annabelle carefully dried herself off. Trample had dropped off her cleaner clothes earlier and she began changing in the stall. Feeling it would be a good idea to have one of each pair, she took the guard pants and ripped it at the knee, making them a pair of shorts and leaving her own pair as long pants. The teen then slipped on the green long sleeve, tearing off the sleeves to make them a sort of tank top. There, now she had a more heat-suited outfit for the local African weather. She left her hair to air dry, which shouldn't be long considering the hot air and sun, combing it down and back with her fingers.

When she stepped out of the stall, Annabelle saw Chopside and Trample gone but Air-Warrior atop the rock shelter. He stooped like some eagle-like predator peering out far into the distance in alertness. "What's going on?"

"That's a bit odd." He mused in suspicion. "The far east quadrant has no one over there. One of the other seekers should be on lookout there." The seeker watched a bit longer before he comm'd the nearest seeker, not looking away from the area. "Divebomb, which one of you is supposed to be on the far east sector?...You sure? I haven't seen him in almost a few cycles, I thought he might be with one of you…" The seeker now seemed to be on edge, now flicking his gaze about in building tension.

"What, what is it?" Annabelle pressed. Something was definitely wrong. She flicked her head toward the back of the shelter when hearing a sharp click.

Air-Warrior suddenly shrieked in agony, convulsing in a visible electric overload, collapsing off his perch and on the ground. "Air'!" Annabelle went to go run to his aid, but shrieked in shock as another seeker form stepped in her path. At first she assumed it was the troublemaking Dirge, but upon quick analysis it was not. The design was similar to that of Air-Warrior instead, but with grey and tan shaded armor. The armor around his neck looked welded and patched up, as if he had gotten severe damage there at one point.

"Who-who are you?" Annabelle managed to demand out, shuffling back on her behind as she stared up at the fiery red optics.

"Oh, don't tell me my dear Lord and Master has finally achieved a human pet during his boredom days in this Pit-forsaken Earth desert! And a femme one at that!" The seeker hissed, spitting fluids down at her as he spoke.

Feeling something bump her hand, Annabelle instinctually grabbed it for defense, but groaned small in defeat as she held up a broken but sharp piece of pipe that the other two mechs had found. She held it out in a sword-like posture. "You stay away from me! You hear? I've been with Megatron long enough to know all your guys' weak spot!"

The mech laughed in twisted amusement. "Now a little insect plans to threaten my life. How daring your kind has become this last solar cycle. Hmmhmm.." He chuckled to himself as he approached her more as she tried to shuffle back and possibly to her feet. "Oh don't be so worried, fleshy. You seem headstrong and stubborn enough, and I must admire you survive my master for this long. I'll be sure your death is more quick and honorable…for an insect that is."

Annabelle looked quickly all around as she backed up. Where the hell were the others? Did this whackjob knock them all out or did they not know of the danger she was in? She would scream for help but he may just kill her right then. She had to hold her own, make time if she could.

"You-you didn't answer my question!" Annabelle sniped back, forcing her dauntless voice again. "If you're gonna kill me, or I kill you for that matter, you should at least tell me your name! Then I can put your name down for flattery sake!"

The mech pondered mockingly. "Hmhmm, you have quite the bearings for an insect. I have plenty of time on my hands, so I suppose I can spare you the pleasantries. Though I will suggest once we greet each other on such terms, you would be wise to run and pray to your little fleshy Creator I don't find you."

Annabelle swallowed hard but stared down her looming and intimidating opponent. He was nowhere close to the imposing, frightening, and vicious stature and nature of Megatron, but that didn't mean she would want to mess with him any less so. This seeker obviously had the look about him that he had some scores to settle with her kind, and with her on Megatron's turf she wouldn't be surprised if he would make her his first settled score.

She held out her spear-wielding pipe in readiness. "So who are you, since you love to hear yourself talk?"

The seeker flexed his claws, flicking his wings to show off the many Cybertronian symbols engraved and painted along them and the rest of his armor. "You, feeble insect, are honored to now die by the claws of the one true Decepticon second-in-command: Air Commander Starscream!"