A/N Thanks everyone for all the great reviews! It makes happy that so many of you like the story! We've got another dark chapter here for Rachel. Our sweet mousy scientist is forced to start making decisions that will impact the her future. Can she keep a hold of her optimistic innocent self? Read on to find out!

Reviews and constructive criticism is always welcome!

Story Arc 2

Chapter 14

Starscream was moaning and bitching up a storm, "Megatron is such a fragging idiot. That aft-kissing pissant Soundwave probably couldn't get the information from the femme, that's why he blamed me! It's not fair! I'll get that slagging fool back. I'll melt down that piece of scrap and send him to the bottom of the ocean! I'll get them both back." The ranting Air Commander stumbled and groaned.

Thundercracker helped him back up, "Yeah, yeah. Save it, Screamer. We've heard it all before. You'll get everyone back once you're the leader of the Decepticons, et cetera et cetera." The blue Seeker sighed heavily. "You're probably right about Soundwave, though. The femme put up a serious fight, not like any of the other humans Megatron has let him play with."

Skywarp looked at the offlined human in his hand as he listened to the others. She was pretty good at insulting Starscream, maybe she was able to fight off the psychic probe. He shivered at the thought; he'd been on the receiving end of Soundwave's telepathy before. He was so intent on watching the femme that he didn't realize they had made it to Hook's lab and he walked right into the backs of his wing mates, "Ooops."

Thundercracker gave him an irritated look, "Don't hurt the human any more then she is, 'Warp. I don't want to be the one to tell Megatron that we killed her."

"I'm not gonna hurt her, TC. Anyways, Screamer always gets blamed, not like we have to worry about getting shot at," he gave Thundercracker a mischievous grin.

Starscream tried to turn and smack him, but Thundercracker intervened, "Stop it, you two. We're in enough trouble as it is." He knocked on the heavy door that led to the lab.

Starscream scowled at the both of them before letting out a long sigh, "TC, can I borrow a few credits? I don't have enough to pay Hook for repairs.."

This time Thundercracker sighed, "Again? Do you have any idea how much you owe me already? What do you do with all your credits anyways since you always seem to be broke?"

The Air Commander slouched down and muttered, "I end up spending them all here."

The blue Seeker rolled his optics, "What about paying with your high-grade rations? Hook accepts those too."

The red Seeker turned and gave Skywarp a murderous glare, "Someone keeps raiding my rations even though I keep them locked up."

Skywarp grinned back at his wing mate, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Thundercracker just shook his head at the two. "What's taking Hook so long to answer?" He knocked again and shifted Starscream's weight, "How come I'm the one carrying you?"

The black mech shoved the hand that held the femme in his face, "Because you're too scared that the human will empty her fuel tank on you, too."

Thundercracker sighed again, why me? He thought to himself. He could hear footsteps coming toward the door, "Finally."

The door opened revealing a groggy and scowling green and purple mech, "Slag it. Why are you three darkening my doorstep again?" He looked the Seekers over and gave an exasperated sigh, "Starscream, I'm not fixing your wing, you owe me from the last three repairs I've done on you."

"I'm paying this time, Hook," Thundercracker edged past the grumpy mech with his Air Commander in tow. "Plus we brought you a present."

Hook's optic ridge went up, "What kind of present?"

"Show him, 'Warp."

The black and purple mech held his hand out for Hook to see. Hook shook his head, "Oh goody. A human. Just what I always wanted."

Skywarp frowned and brought the femme up to his optics, "She's not that bad. Plus, she told Screamer to shove it AND emptied her fuel tank inside him on the way back to the base."

Hook was still unimpressed, "And your point is?"

Thundercracker helped Starscream up onto one of the tables before turning to face the other two, "She's the one who can make the nanites that Megatron has been going on and on about."

Hook looked back at Skywarp's hand, "That human made the nanites? Hmm, ok. That does make it a better present." He tried to pick the human, but the black mech swatted his hand away.

"We have to keep an eye on her and report to Megatron the moment she wakes up."

Hook rolled his optics, "Fine." He looked at the Air Commander, "I guess I'll fix your sorry aft up. But this is it. No credits, no more repairs. Not even if you sucker your wing mates into paying for you, you got it?"

Starscream turned away from the others and pouted. It wasn't his fault that he was Megatron's favorite target. Thundercracker and Skywarp leaned against the wall while Hook repaired Starscream's wing. The red Seeker stared at the wall sullenly while the engineer worked. The black mech's attention was still on the human in his hand.

"You can't keep her as a pet, 'Warp."

"I bet Megatron would let me keep her. Especially if I can get her to insult Screamer again in front of him," he grinned at his wing mate.

"Whatever. I don't know why you would want a human in the first place."

"She's funny. And she told Screamer to –"

"Yes, I know, 'Warp. I was there when she told him to shove it," Thundercracker let the back of his head hit the wall with a soft thump. He wondered once again why he was stuck in a triad with the momma's mech egotist and the one-track mind sparkling.

The door to the lab opened and two sets of heavy footsteps pushed the thought out of the blue mech's mind. He straightened up and sent an elbow into his wing mate, who finally looked up from the human. Hook turned away from Starscream, about ready to give a lecture to whoever entered his domain without knocking, but changed his mind upon seeing who it was. He turned back to the Air Commander, "Can I do something for you, Megatron?"

The Decepticon leader walked over to the two Seekers by the wall, "Well? Has the human awoken yet?"

"No, sir. Shall I try to wake her up?" Skywarp looked straight ahead while he saluted Megatron.

"Yes. I have a surprise for our human guest," he exchanged a knowing glance with the other mech with him.

Soundwave nodded in assent.

Skywarp hated the communications officer as much as his wing mates did. He knew the blue mech had it in for all three of them. He wondered what the aft-kisser had done to please Megatron this time. The black and purple mech pushed at the human in his hand with a finger, "Hey femme. Wake up."

She made a groaning sound and he prodded her back with his finger again, "Wake up, human." She sat up groggily in the palm of his hand and looked around the room before her eyes landed on Soundwave. Skywarp held back a snicker as the femme hissed at the mech. He definitely was going to ask Megatron if he could keep her as a pet.

---------------------------------------------------

Something was interrupting the comfort of the black nothingness. It kept poking me in the back incessantly and made me give up on the darkness. I opened my eyes and realized that my head was still killing me. Where was I? Starscream was on a table getting his wing fixed by another mech. When did he get wounded? I looked around the room and saw the dark blue mech. I clenched my fist and snarled at him, he was the one trying to peer into my private memories. I suddenly wished for a gun to incapacitate him.

Megatron's face came into view with a malicious grin, "I have a present for you, human. Something I think you will enjoy seeing. Skywarp, follow us to the brig." The Decepticon headed out the door with the dark blue mech on his heels.

We headed to the brig; Megatron and Soundwave leading, while I was carried in Skywarp's hand with Thundercracker walking beside him. The two Seekers conversed quietly, wondering what was going on. They were confused by their leader's announcement of a 'surprise' and wondered exactly what was happening. The brig was a few floors down from where we had been, and we took a very silent elevator ride to get there. We entered a hallway with cells lining both sides. Only one was being used, its energy bars making a faint crackling noise.

"Skywarp. Will you introduce our guests to each other?" Megatron had turned and smiled evilly at me as he gestured towards the live cell. The black mech carrying me stepped in front of the cell and balked, "Fragging Primus! Where did he come from?"

Jazz sat against the far wall of the cell, bound and unconscious. His visor was cracked and the normally bright azure light behind it was a dull blue. Armor was torn and beat up, with small pink energon leaks dripping down his chassis. His right leg looked horribly mangled and the shoulder that I repaired was ripped open. I couldn't believe my eyes. My throat tightened and I could feel hot tears welling in my eyes. He had come for me and ended up like this.

Megatron laughed coldly. "I take it you two know each other already?"

"You bastard! Let him go!" I spat at the laughing Decepticon.

"Oh, I will, human. I'll let him go when I decide it's time for him to die and rejoin the Matrix. But as wounded as he is now, he could join the Matrix at any time," he looked at Soundwave and laughed again. "He fought so hard to get in," his voice lilted evilly. "All for a pathetic flesh creature. And now look at him."

Megatron turned to face me, his blood red optics leaning down to my level, "How does it feel, human, to watch your Autobot friend die slowly?"

I spat in his face, "Screw you, bastard!"

His optics narrowed as he stood up, "Insolence!" He faced the cell and leveled his cannon at Jazz. My eyes widened in horror and I screamed as the gun powered up and shot through the cell and into Jazz's arm; his already limp body shuddering before sliding to the right with a groan.

Megatron lowered his cannon and looked at me again, "Looks like you just hastened his death and made it all the more painful."

I pounded my fists into the black hand that I sat in, tears streaming down my cheeks, "Let him go! It's me you want. Just let him go, please!"

"Why should I? You've refused to build the nanites. Why would I let this Autobot scum go, let alone live?"

I looked into the cell again. Energon was pooling around Jazz faster. I sobbed loudly. I'm so sorry, Jazz. I can't let you die. I'd rather die than let them kill you. "I'll make you the nanites," I sobbed as I looked up into the cruel red optics, "Just let him go."

"Oh, I will. After you build the nanites."

"But he'll die. The nanites take a while to build!"

"Then you better work quickly."

"At least let me get him stabilized! Please!"

He broke into a wide murderous grin, "I'll have one of Hook's men look at him, but I can't waste precious resources on the dying."

"I won't make the nanites unless you let me stabilize him."

"Then I will kill him right now," he lifted his cannon and took aim again.

"NO!" I cried choking on my tears, "I'll do it. I'll make the nanites. Just don't hurt him anymore, please!"

"Good. Take her back to the lab, Skywarp. Make sure Hook knows he is to assist the human in the building. And I want you two and the fool Starscream to keep guard over her."

The two Seekers saluted Megatron and turned back towards the elevator. I gave a last look to Jazz and sobbed again. I'm so sorry, Jazz. As soon as I can, I'll be back to get you. I promise.

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The elevator doors closed and Megatron smiled at the communications officer, "Good work, Soundwave." He leveled his cannon again at the figure in the cell and shot it again. The holographic image of Jazz wavered before disappearing, leaving only two black scorch marks against the wall.

"We will have the nanites shortly and I will become invincible. Optimus Prime and his useless Autobots will then feel the full fury of Megatron!" he grinned manically. "Prepare to launch an attack against the Autobot base as soon as the human completes building the nanites."

Soundwave bowed, "As you command, Megatron."