Disclaimer: Hey guys! I'm back with another awesome chapter of The Spy and The Saber! This chapter we're get to see what Ash can do, and Shadow gets to fight. Haven't seen that in a while, have we? Anyway, on with the chapter!

I followed Ash outside of the ship and I waited until he stopped running. He turned back to me and stared at me with ruby red optics.

"Haven't seen you in a while." Ash finally said.

"Same goes to you." I said as I unsheathed my wrist blades.

"You still fight with those?" Ash asked as he took out his sickle. "Looks like you've kept them in good condition."

I raised an optic ridge and said, "I don't remember you talking this much."

"I don't remember you being sarcastic." Ash retorted.

I smirked slightly before running towards him. I swung my blade and he blocked it with his sickle. I jumped back as he swung his sickle at me, controlling it with the chain attached to it.

I ducked and threw up my blades to block the sickle and I just barely avoided having my helm split in two. "So you're trying to decapitate me now, huh?"

"Can't have a pretty little spy running around ruining things for the Decepticons." Ash shrugged before swinging his sickle again.

I dodged to the side, but Ash had been expecting it. He suddenly changed the direction of his weapon and the chain was wrapped around my leg. I grunted as I hit the ground. Ash dragged me towards him and he put his hand around my neck before lifting me up off the ground.

"Now, I really should take you back to Megatron. I really should." Ash frowned, like he was having an inner battle or something. "But I'll let you go for now. The other Autobots are weak. I want a worthy opponent. Someone who is strong both inside and out." He unwrapped the sickle from my leg but he didn't let go of me.

"Let me go!" I yelled.

"Why should I?" Ash asked.

"You just said you were going to let me go." I growled.

"I did say that." Ash agreed. "But I didn't say when."

"NOW!"

Ash's optics widened when he saw the giant t-rex running towards us. Ash grumbled under his breath before saying, "Frag." He threw me to the side before transforming in to a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador and racing off.

Grimlock breathed fire in his direction but Ash avoided it and drove away. Grimlock growled before transforming back in to his regular form. I stood up and Ash's voice came in to my helm.

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

What the heck was that supposed to mean?!

"You alright Shadow?" Jazz asked as he ran over to me.

I smiled slightly and said, "I'm alright Jazz. You guys sure arrived at the right time." I turned to Grimlock. "Thanks for the assist."

Grimlock only nodded before saying, "Is the option for Dinobots to be backup still open?"

I grinned and said, "Of course. It never closed."

"We'll be happy to help." Swoop said. He was the only Dinobot that didn't have a speech problem.

"Well it looks like we'll be bringing the boss some good news." Jazz said before opening a com-link. "Yo, it's Jazz. We need a ground bridge."

A ground bridge opened up a couple seconds later and said goodbye to the Dinobots before walking inside the bridge. Once we were on the other side, Ratchet asked, "Well?"

"We found out two things." I said. "One: Dinobots are on Earth and Two: Ash is on Earth."

"Okay, we know who Dinobots are." Sunstreaker said. "But who is Ash?"

"Ash is a Decepticon spy." Prowl answered. "He has the ability to change his paint job so that no one can ever recognize him."

"How did you recognize him?" Sunstreaker turned to me.

"Ash and I have a history." was all I said.

"You have a history with all the 'Cons!" Ironhide exclaimed.

"On the bright side, we kind of formed an alliance with the Dinobots." I changed the subject. "They'll be our backup in case there's a situation that we can't handle. Always helps to have a gigantic t-rex on your side."

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

Oh Primus, I hope I don't hear that all day. I think I had a look on my face because Nightshade asked, "Sis, you okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I lied.

"Oh I don't know. You've just got that look on your face that you get when something's bothering you." Nightshade said sarcastically.

"I'm fine Night. Really." I said.

Nightshade raised an optic ridge. He wasn't convinced. I just sighed before walking to my room. Once I was inside, I laid down on my bed before grabbing the datapad Wheeljack gave me. I stared at it for a minute before turning it on. The screen was blank for a second before I saw Jackie's face.

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

"Hey 'Jackie." I smiled weakly. I swear if that voice doesn't get out my helm...

"Um, hi Wreckin' Gal." Wheeljack said, surprised. "Didn't expect you to actually use the thing."

"Well, there's a first time for everything." I chuckled slightly before asking, "Do you mind, um, meeting me somewhere?"

Wheeljack looked around before saying, "If somewhere is the Amazon Rain Forest, then sure. Come on."

"I'll be there in a minute." I smiled. "Thanks 'Jackie."

"No problem Shadow." Wheeljack smirked before the screen went blank.

I walked back to the main room and went over to Ratchet. "Hey doc, mind if I use the ground bridge?"

"To go where?" Ratchet raised an optic ridge.

"I just want to go for a drive in a place that's not Jasper." I lied.

Ratchet stared at me suspiciously before saying, "Alright."

I smiled and walked over to the ground bridge. I typed in the coordinates before I pulled down the lever. The ground bridge swirled to life. I deleted the coordinates before transforming and speeding through the ground bridge. No point in sneaking away with Wheeljack if they could find me again.

I transformed in the Amazon and I looked around before locating Wheeljack's signal. I walked in his direction and it didn't take me long to find him. He was standing in a clearing leaning against a tree. He smiled at me when I walked towards him.

"Hey." Wheeljack greeted me.

"Yo." I responded.

"So, why did you call me out here?" Wheeljack asked.

"I just needed some time away from base." I shrugged.

"What happened?" Wheeljack frowned.

"It's nothing." I shook my helm.

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

I gritted my denta together to keep from growling as Ash's voice rang in my helm. Why was it affecting me so much?

"You sure it's nothing?" Wheeljack raised an optic ridge.

"Really Wheeljack, I'm fine." I smiled reassuringly. "How about we just hang out you know? Just like old times."

Wheeljack didn't seem convinced but he sighed and said, "Sure. Why not?"

Wheeljack and I just walked for a while. He'd tried a couple of times to slip his hand in mine but everytime I turned him down. For some reason, it hurt whenever I did. I felt my optics drooping after a while and I yawned.

Wheeljack turned to me and said, "Come on! Not even an hour and you're tired."

I swayed slightly and Wheeljack yelped before catching me as I nearly fell. I said sleepily, "You wouldn't have any energon, would you?"

Wheeljack narrowed his optics and growled. "Do not tell me you've been skipping out on energon today."

"I forgot." I mumbled tiredly.

Wheeljack's growl got even deeper. I shivered slightly. No wonder I fell for him. He's beautiful, plain and simple.

"You're going to be the death of me." He growled as he picked me up and put me over his shoulders.

I wrapped my arms around his neck. I yawned again. "Hey 'Jackie?"

"Yeah?" Wheeljack answered.

"Do you ever think about me?" I asked.

Wheeljack tensed before saying, "I'm pretty sure it's just your sleepy mind talking. You never knew what you were saying when you were low on energon."

My optics drooped even further if that was possible. "No it's not 'Jackie."

Wheeljack sighed before he decided he might as well enjoy it while he had it. "I think about you all the time."

I giggled. "You're beautiful, you know that?"

"Okay, now I know you really are low on energon!" Wheeljack exclaimed as we walked inside the JackHammer.

He sat me down before walking off somewhere.

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

Why do I keep hearing that?! Wheeljack came back with a cube of energon in his hand and ordered, "Drink up."

I took the cube and finished it in less than a minute. I could practically feel the energon flowing through my systems as any sleepiness I had left me. I grinned at 'Jackie and said, "Well that feels good."

Wheeljack smirked and said, "Do you know you talk about me when you're low on energon?"

I tensed and asked, "What did I say?"

"You asked me do I think about you and then you told me I was beautiful."

I groaned and buried my face in my hands as a blush spread across my face. "I said that?"

Wheeljack chuckled and said, "Yeah, you sure did 'Wreckin Gal."

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

My optics widened before I shook my helm and said, "Hey I'll be right back alright?"

"Where are you going?" Wheeljack asked.

"Just for a walk." I lied before running off.

I soon came back to the clearing and I stopped. Why did I keep hearing Ash's voice?

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

Someone who is strong both inside and out.

"SHUT UP!" I screamed as loud as I could. "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Tears started streaming down my face.

"Okay, now I'm concerned."

I heard Wheeljack behind me. I placed my hands over my mouth to try and muffle the sounds of my crying but it didn't help as much as I thought it would.

"Hey, you okay Shadow?" Wheeljack placed his hands on my shoulders gently as he stepped in front of me. "Who's in your head?"

I don't know what snapped, but I just broke down. I soon found myself in Wheeljack's arms as he held me tight.

"It's okay. It's okay." He just kept repeating that.

After I'd finally calmed down enough to speak, he asked again, "Who's in your head?"

The words flowed out of my mouth easily. Everything was always easy when it came to Wheeljack. I didn't have to hide anything from him. Sure, I didn't have to hide anything from the others either but I just hated the looks of pity I received from them. Wheeljack never gave me that look.

Wheeljack looked confused when I finished explaining. He asked, "Um, if someone calls you strong shouldn't that be considered a compliment?"

"Not if you're not strong." I said sadly. When Wheeljack started to protest, I continued. "I mean, look at me. I'm practically an emotional wreck! People know when they're at their breaking point and I'm at mine." Wheeljack looked shocked now. I said, "Face it 'Jackie. You know it, I know it. I'm not strong at all. It's just a facade."

Wheeljack simply stared at me before I saw him angrier than I'd ever seen him before. Wheeljack had me pinned against a tree in under a second.

"Shadow, that's probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say in the time I've known you." Wheeljack growled. "Sure, you've got a little trouble handling your emotions, but for frag's sake take a look at all you've been through! Your parents died, your brother just barely survived, and you get injured more times than I can count! You being strong is not a facade." Wheeljack's optics softened as he said, "You're strong, brave, loyal, crazy smart, and you're the most beautiful femme I've ever met. I've figured out by now that your love is with Prime, and I've got no chance with you. For the first time since I've came to Earth, that's okay. Do I still have feelings for you? Of course. But I'd rather be friends with the strong femme before me than try to force a relationship I broke long ago."

I stared at Wheeljack. Tears welled in my optics as I whispered, "You really think that?"

"I know it." Wheeljack responded.

I just stared at him and soon my optics fell on his lips. How long has it been since I kissed him? Wait, what am I thinking?! I love Optimus!

Don't I?

Of course I do. I wouldn't have accepted his proposal if I didn't! Why am I having doubts now?

"Hey, you okay? You're being pretty quiet." Wheeljack's voice brought my attention back to him.

"I'm fine." I said. "Thanks Wheeljack."

"No problem." Wheeljack smiled. "You know you should probably be getting back. It's getting dark."

I finally realized what time it was and I let out every curse I knew. Wheeljack chuckled before walking back to the Jackhammer. He waved at me and I waved back at him before I opened my com-link. "Hey, I need a bridge."

"Just where have you been?" Optimus asked.

I winced. Oh I am so screwed. "I've just been out."

Optimus didn't reply but the ground bridge opened instead. I chuckled nervously before walking inside. Everyone but Optimus was asleep if I had to take a guess since he was the only one in the main room.

"What are you doing up so late?" I asked.

"Waiting for you." Optimus said.

The silence was awkward and I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

"Were you with Wheeljack?" Optimus asked.

"No, why would you think that?" I lied.

"Because when I searched for your signal, you were near his." Optimus responded.

Well, frag.

"Okay, so what if I was with him?" I said.

"Why were you with him?" Optimus asked. I looked him in the optic and I saw he had that look when he was suspicious.

I growled and said, "What, so I can't spend time with a friend now? If you're jealous, just tell me."

"I'm not jealous." Optimus said.

"If you're not, then what are you..." I trailed off as a thought came to my mind. Hurt flooded through me before I asked, "You think I'm cheating on you, don't you?"

"What?" Optimus asked. "Of course I don't. I know you would never do that."

"Then what is it Optimus?" I asked angrily.

Optimus was silent and I shook my helm angrily. "I can't believe it. My own sparkmate doesn't trust me."

"Shadow, that's not it at all." Optimus pleaded.

"Then what is it?" I asked.

"Shadowstalker, I trust you with my life. I am not jealous, mad, and I do not think you're cheating on me." Optimus said firmly. "It's just..."

"Just what?" I snapped. When Optimus didn't answer, I growled and said, "Whenever you get your helm on straight, just come and find me."

I stormed off to my room and tears came to my optics. I slammed the door behind me before sitting down on my berth. I buried my face in my hands and let the tears fall. Why? Why did this have to happen to me? Optimus and Wheeljack floated in my mind and I cried even harder. I was for sure I loved Optimus. I knew I did! But then Wheeljack came back and my processor just became a jumbled mess. I don't want to be one of those femmes that love two people at the same time and then they don't know who to pick at the end.

"Who do I love then?" I sobbed.

And that is the end of another chapter of The Spy and The Saber. Shadow's a lovesick mess and is now in the middle of one fragged up love triangle. Hmm, I wonder who she'll end up with in the end...Until next time, I'm out!