CHAPTER 14

The three had to duck down to avoid flying debres from the stasis pod explosion. As Inferno threw himself onto his stomach a piece of the pod flew only inches from where his head had been only seconds before. If he'd been standing he would have been killed. Silverbolt, who was a short distance away, spotted the explosion and ran toward it, curious about what caused it and and hoping that nobody got hurt. When he arrived he saw three figures on the group with their arms over their heads. Before he could ask what happened he spotted something else and any words he was about to speak stayed in his throat. What in the Matrix?

Rampage lifted his head out of the ground and also spotted the figure. He stared at it, open mouthed, as he slowly got to his feet. What is this... Or should I say what is she

A young woman stood in the spot where the pod had been. She had short greenish colored hair, big red eyes that held a blank expression and skin that had an unnatural tint to it. The skin looked like a mixture between green, yellow, and caucasian. She wore a green bikini type top and an extremely short green skirt, on her one arm hung a sleeve of the same color but the other arm had no sleeve. She stared at the two with a child-like expression.

Silverbolt was the first to find his voice. "Uh, hello," he said, taking a step toward it.

By then Inferno and Tigatron had also gotten off the ground. The two stared at the girl with unreadable expressions, though Tigatron's mouth hung wide open.

Rampage's expression changed to one of great interest. Something about her felt familiar. He felt that he could relate to her somehow. She was no longer in pain so that wasn't what he was feeling. She looked at the four former transformers with child-like interest, her vacent looking red eyes focusing on each for the same amount of time. She never spoke, just stared. It made Tigatron nervous.

Rampage was always bold. He stepped closer to the strange girl. "Hello," he said to her.

She looked back at him. Her expression turned slightly fascinated as she took him in again. The look made him feel strange but he couldn't understand why.

"We're your friends," Silverbolt said suddenly. She looked at him. "Do you understand?"

She cocked her head.

Rampage glared at Silverbolt. The canine turkey man was stepping closer to the woman, his hand out as he spoke softly to her. "We're not going to hurt you. We're going to take you back to the Axalon. Optimus will be happy to see you."

Rampage reacted to that. "No!" he shouted, causing the woman to look back at him. "He's lying! If you go there they'll only judge you!"

"You're the one who's lying!" Silverbolt shot back, looking over at the other man. "Optimus will not judge her! He'll welcome her."

"He will not!" Rampage snapped, stepping closer to Silverbolt. He glanced at the woman and started gesturing. "He's lying to you! That Maximal won't welcome you! He'll just treat you like a freak!" he put out a hand to her. "Come with me. I won't judge you. I'm your friend."

She looked at him with that expression again and put out her hand. A pale thing with five fingers and long claw-like fingernails. "Friend?" she said slowly, her voice still sounding slightly robotic even though she was organic. The sound was low yet femanine.

"That's right," Rampage said, smiling slightly. "I'm your friend, your only friend."

"You're lying!" Silverbolt shouted. "I'm her friend!"

The woman started to look confused. She looked like she wasn't sure who was her friend and who wasn't. She put up a hand and started to say something.

That's when Inferno snapped out of it and reacted in the only way he knew how. He lifted his flamethrower and fired at the woman.

Rampage watched the ground explode in front of her. "No!" he shouted, before turning on Inferno. "What in the Pit did you do that for?!" he demanded angrily. He took a step toward Inferno. "I'll rip out your antenai!"

Inferno turned his gun on the other man. He was about to fire but a loud screeching sound stopped him. "ARGH!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands over his ears. "What is that?!"

Tigatron, who had also covered his ears against the noise, looked toward the spot where the woman had been standing. She was still there. Now she was standing with her mouth open. She looked like she was singing. "It's her," he ground out.

"The female?" Inferno asked, falling to his knees. "She's making this awful sound?!"

"It seems so..."

Silverbolt was affected more then the other two because of his sensitive hearing. He was on the ground, his hands on his ears, totally immobilized. "But why.." he managed to ask. "What have we done-" he glared at Inferno, remembering when he'd shot at her. "YOU!"

"Don't blame me for this!" Inferno said wincing.

"It's your fault," Silverbolt said. "If you hadn't shot at her-"

"ARGH!" Inferno screamed, his face a picture of agony. "Make her stop!"
Once everyone was lying flat on the ground with their ears covered she finally did stop. She stared at them a moment then fell over.

Rampage was the first to recover thanks to his ability to heal fast. He got off the ground and went over to her, picking her up in his arms and running off with her. "Wait!" Silverbolt shouted after him. "Come back! You can't have her!" then fainted.

It was morning and Cheetor and Waspinator still hadn't gotten back to the Axalon. Waspinator knew where it was but going was harder because he couldn't fly. To make things worse Cheetor was starting to complain. Usually Waspinator would be the one whining but the table had turned since recently.

"My feet hurt," Cheetor moaned. "I can't keep walking. Can we take a break?"

Waspinator stopped and turned around, putting his hands on his hips. "Cat-bot hazz become a big fat whiner!" he stated. "Can no longer call Waspinator whiny no more."
"I'm not whining," Cheetor protested, slowly sinking onto a large rock behind him. he took off his boots and started rubbing his sore feet.

"Yes Cat-bot is."

"Am, not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

Waspinator glared at him. "Cat-bot is a liar! Waspinator is getting sick of hearing Cat-bot whine. Waspinator has half a mind to leave Cat-bot here and find Maximal base on his own."

"You wouldn't dare!"

The Predacon smirked. "Cat-bot doesn't know that," he stated. "Waspinator wouldn't feel bad if Waspinator left Cat-bot here. Waspinator is a heartless Predacon after all."

Cheetor knew Waspinator was hinting at something but he had no idea what it was so he said nothing.

Waspinator was disappointed. He would have prefered an answer over silence. Now it seemed that he wouldn't get any. He frowned and walked a short distance away. Testing out his wings, he discovered that they were almost completely healed. Deciding to test them out he started to make them move. At first they refused to co-operate but then they started moving rapidly and creating a low humming noise.

Cheetor looked up from his brooding when he heard the sound. He spotted Waspinator hovering s short distance above the ground. "You can fly!" he exclaimed.

Waspinator smirked at him. "Ofcourse Waspinator can fly," he said. "Waspinator did not become fleshy-bot with wings just for show."

"Well if you can fly you can see how far away from the base we are!" Cheetor said, getting off his rock.

"Waspinator will look," the Predacon said. "But only because Waspinator wants to. Not because Cat-bot said so."

He then turned and flew above the tree line.

Terrorsaur was starting to realize he had a slight fear of heights. He'd never thought about it when he was a robot because he knew that, even if he fell from a great height, he wouldn't get damaged too badly. In this organic body, if his wings happened to stop working for whatever reason, he'd fall and probably die. To get his mind off that possibility, he thought about Airazor. He still wanted to ask her some questions about what she'd said to him back at the base.

She was acting strange. That's all I understand. he thought. I don't know why she should be. It's not like there's a difference in anything now. We're still enemies... he'd never understand Maximals.

He turned his gaze earthward. Not too far below he spotted a figure in black and orange clothing with large black wings lying down on the side of a mountain. That's her, he thought, banking and changing course.

He landed on the cliff and stared down at the female Maximal. She was lying curled up on the ground, her arms under her head like a pillow. She was sleeping so peacefully Terrorsaur hesitated in waking her. You can't just stare at her,he told himself. You didn't look for her this whole time to stare at her. Wake her up. Kneeling down he put his hand on her shoulder and shook her gently. "Airazor," he said. "Wake up, Maximal."

Airazor woke with a start, her body reacting the way it was used to. She sat up and, since she had no gun, her hand shot up instead and she slapped him hard across the face. Terrorsaur made a surprised sound and fell back, holding his face.

Airazor's eyes grew wide at the sight of Terrorsaur. "Oh Primus!" she exclaimed getting up and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you!"

He rubbed his cheek and glared at her, saying nothing.

She looked at him curiously. "Is there something wrong?" she asked.

"No," he snapped, ticked off that she'd slapped him.

"Then why are you here?" she wanted to know.

He admitted. "I was looking for you."

The Maximal female blinked. "For me?" she looked confused. "Why were you looking for me? Did something happen?"

"No." He didn't meet her eyes as he said. "I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

He stopped rubbing his face and sighed. "It's not important anymore," he said.

Her expression changed. She took her hand off his shoulder and turned away. "It must have been important if you had flown all the way from the base just to talk to me," she said, not looking at him. "Otherwise there would be no reason." she met his eyes. "Are you sure nothing has happened?"

"Yes," he replied. He gestured at himself. "Does it look like anything has happened?"

She guessed by that question that he meant does it look like they had become robots again. She knew they hadn't. She would have felt a difference if she had. "Then what do you want," she asked, turning fully back to him and folding her arms.

"I wanted to ask you something," he said slowly.

"What?" she asked.

"What did you mean by what you said before?" he wanted to know.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You said you felt you should be nice to me since... you never finished your sentence," he replied.

"I'm not important anymore," she answered. "I don't even remember what I was taking about."

You're lying. I can tell. he thought but didn't say. "If it was because of what happened with Rampage there's no point in worrying. I'm fine."

"It had nothing to do with that," she informed him. "I know for a fact it wasn't about that."

"Then what was it about?" he demanded. "I don't like not knowing."

She smirked. "Maybe it's best if you didn't," she said.

He glared at her. Why does she have to be that way?!

"Silverbolt, Silverbolt," a voice called, bringing Silverbolt back into consciousness.

He opened his eyes and found Tigatron and Inferno standing over him. Tigatron had a worried look on hia face and Infenro wasn't even looking at him. He had his hands on his hips and was staring into space. Tigatron's expression changed to one of relief when he saw the other man had finally woken up.

"W-what happened?" Silverbolt asked, sitting up with the help of his comrade.

"You passed out," Tigatron replied.

"But... why...?" Silverbolt looked around himself. "The protoform!" he exclaimed, remembering the strange woman. "Where is she?"

"Rampage took her somewhere," Tigatron replied. He helped the man stand. "I think it would be a good idea to return to the base and tell Optimus about this. He needs to know."

"I'm not going back to the base," Silverbolt said firmly, wrenching his arm away from Tigatron. "I'm going to find Rampage and the girl before he does something to her." he tried to walk away.

Tigatron stepped in front of him, blocking him. "I must advice against this," he said. "If you go off by yourself and try to save her, he'll kill you."

"I don't care," Silverbolt said. "He tried to kill me and Blackarachnia before. I won't let him harm her as well."

"But-"

"Let him go," Inferno cut him off. "If he wants to be foolish let him."
Tigatron glared at the Predacon. "I cannot allow it," he said, looking back at Silverbolt. "It would be reckless."

"Reckless or not I will not allow him to harm another," Silverbolt said, folding his arms. "Now please move out of my way before I am forced to move you."

Tigatron stared at Silverbolt a little longer then slowly stepped out of the man's way. He shook his head as the winged Maximal walked off. "I don't like this," he muttered. "I don't like this at all."

Inferno heard him and laughed. "At least this will end my problem," he said.

Tigatron stared at Inferoo. The man was smiling with an insane light in his eyes. "Maybe I'll follow him,." he said thoughtfully. "I'll enjoy watching the man who tried to kill me get what he deserves." he lifted his gun and started to follow Silverbolt.

Tigatron reacted instantly and grabbed the Predacon by the arm. "Don't you dare," he snapped, meeting the other man's eyes.

Inferno frowned at him. "You do not order me, Maximal," he said. "If I want to follow them I will."

"But what if Megatron is back at the base?" Tigatron asked, purposely bringing the Predacon leader into the topic. "I'm sure he's waiting for you to tell him what you need to."

That got Inferno's attention. "Yes," he said, nodding. "I still must speak with the Royalty." and he forgot about Silverbolt and the other two. "All right, Maximal, let's go. The Royalty is waiting."

Inwardly Tigatron smiled. It had worked. Just one mention of Megatron and Inferno would do anything. I just hope nothing happens to Silverbolt, he thought, glancing back at Silverbolt's shrinking figure before he followed the pyromaniac back to the base.

Scorponok found that he liked human food. He hadn't thought he would since he was so used to Energon and taking too much of that gave him a buzz but it never really had any flavor to it, not that robots cared much about flavor anyway. When Rattrap had handed him what looked like an apple he'd made a crack about wild bean vines. Scorponok did not think the joke was funny, remembering the first and only time he'd encountered that particular food. The memory still gave him nightmares.

He'd finished the apple like he'd never had anything to eat in his life. Rattrap had watched him with great interest, an amused look on his face. The Predacon second in command didn't appreciate the look but he was grateful for the food none the less, though he wouldn't admit it, not while Megatron was within hearing distance.

"Where did you get this anyway?" he asked, looking at the core when he'd finished the rest.

Rattrap shrugged. "Eh, we've had that for awhile. Sometimes we go out and collect it just because we have to," he replied. "The Energon in the area isn't exactly stable, ya know. We had to use something else for a power source, though it doesn't always agree with us." he giggled at his last remark.

Scorponok frowned. If you mention bean vines one more time... he thought.

"Anyway," Rattrap said, patting a crate of fruit beside him. "If ya get those monsters roaring inside ya again just come here and help yourself." he snickered.

"Watch it," Scorponok said.

The Maximal stared at him. "Ya don't like being made jokes about?" he asked, his mouth turning up in a smirk. "Well I can't blame ya. I bet you're the butt of many jokes where you come from, just because you're so loyal to Megatron." he laughed. " 'Course nobody can insult old Blender-butt about that. He'd roast them."

"I get enough of that from my fraction already, Maximal," Scorponok said coldly, his yellow eyes hardening as he threw the apple core onto the floor. "I don't need it from you."

Rattrap heard Scorponok clicking his teeth together. He still had that nervous habit it seemed only now it was his teeth and not claws that he clicked. The Maximal put his hands up. "There's no need to get violent," he said quickly. "Sheesh, you offend easily."

Scorponok stopped clicking his teeth and turned from the smaller man. Without a word he stomped out of the room.

Rampage found a nice isolated place to set down the new female. While he walked he'd talked to her about things and she'd listened, not making any comments, her face a blank. He wasn't even sure she understood him but it didn't matter. He felt connected to her. Connected in a way he never felt about anyone before. But why? He wondered. What is it about her that makes me feel this way?
He gently set her down. She removed her arms from around his neck and let them fall to her sides as she continued to stare at him. He saw trust in her eyes. The look made him feel uneasy. Why would she trust him? Why would she stare at him like that?

If only she knew, he thought, looking away from her gaze. If she only knew what I could do to her. What I could enjoy doing to her. But something told him that, even if she did know, she wouldn't understand or care. "Don't worry," he said to her. "I won't let get their hands on you. You're not going to go through what I had to go through. Never. Never again!"

The woman sensed he looked very upset about something. She just couldn't understand his feelings. Friend sad.. What is wrong, friend? she lifted her hand and gently put it on his shoulder. He looked at her with a slightly startled expression. "What are you staring at?" he demanded, wrenching away from her.

Her expression looked hurt and he felt he had to apologize. "I'm sorry," he said. The hurt expression left her features. A slight smile crossed her face.

Suddenly she fell into him and gave him a weak hug. "Friend," she said. "Sad. I make friend happy. Not worry."

Rampage relaxed. "I'm not sad," he said. "Don't worry about it."

She didn't even know what worry was, not really.

He found himself smiling. She didn't know anything about him and he wasn't going to give her any details. The trust in her innocent eyes was enough. For now. His only problem was refraiming from doing anything bad to her. For once he didn't want to. He didn't want her to be hurt in anyway. No, not this time.

Optimus Primal was interested in the news of the new protoform. Tigatron and Inferno had told him and Megatron, who'd been following him around the past few hours, talking about nothing of importance, the whole story, interrupting each other quite a few times while doing so. When they explained what she'd done and that Rampage had run off with her, the Maximal frowned. "Why would he do that?" he asked.

Megatron gave him a look. "That answer is quite simple, yes," he said. "He's going to do to her what he's been trying to do to everyone else."

Tigatron shook his head. "I don't think that's it," he said.

"What do you mean?" Optimus asked, curiously.

"He told her he was her friend," the man in white explained, spreading out his hands. "He didn't want her to come back with us. He said you'd judge her."

"Why would I do that?"

"She isn't exactly 'all there' if you know what I mean."

Megatron grinned. "Well well well," he said. "This is interesting, yes. It seems even you Maximals get desperate sometimes and will use anybody."

What are you insinuating? We don't do things like that. Optimus glared at him. "Shut up, Megatron," he snapped, no longer feeling patient with the Predacon.

Megatron said no more but he kept on grinning.

Optimus took Tigatron aside and walked out of earshot of the two Predacons, just a short distance down the left hall. "If what you're saying is true then we'd better get her away from Rampage," he said. "I don't know why he's so interested in her but we can't let him keep her. He might just be using her to satisfy himself."

"What do you mean?"

"You said she's not exactly all there," the Maximal replied. "That she's got some kind of problem and pain. Rampage feeds on fear and pain. He enjoys it."

Tigatron's eyes grew wide. he hadn't known this. "So you're saying he might have taken her just to keep himself satisfied?"

"Exactly," Optimus said, nodding. "We can't let him do that. If he'll eventually find her useless and kill her. We have to get her away from him before that happens."

The tiger humanoid nodded. "I understand," he said.

"Good," his boss said. "Now I think we'd better go. Time is critical."

Tigatron nodded.

The two headed back into the control room and toward the elevator.

Megatron watched them. "Where are you going now, Primal?" he asked.

"None of your business." Optimus said, turning to him. Not now.

"Fine," Megatron said, putting up his hands. "Don't tell me. I don't care, no. But if you're going to look for Rampage I might be able to help you."

"How?" Optimus asked his voice suspicious.

Megatron smirked. "Let's just say I have a hold over him, yes."

"Fine," Optimus said. "If you think you can deal with him while we get the protoform come along."

Megatron's smirk turned into a superior smile. "You won't regret this, no."

I get the feeling I already do.

He was still lost but he had a feeling he was getting closer to his goal. Now that the sun was up he could see where he was going. With a mighty leap he landed on a high branch of a tree and turned his attention to the sky. Not too far away, on a cliff slightly higher than the top of the tree, he spotted two figures. One in red and one in black. Though they were organic, he could still recognize them, especially the one in red. With a signature smirk of a smile he leapt from the branch and slowy shot up toward his goal.

A/N

I took too long updating this fic so as it is. So yeah I'm gonna stop here. I hope this was okay. I always get distracted while I'm writing and then I have no idea what I was doing when I get back. I hope this made sense. I'll try to update faster next time.

Question: Am I just wasting my time with this? Answer me honestly because lately I've been feeling kinda down and I keep thinking I'm wasting my time writing this. Am I?