A/N: I still don't own Transformers. Are you surprised yet?

"And I'm so glad
I knew you before you met her
So I know
How guys are before they get her" – Meg and Dia

--

The rest of the morning went by quietly, to Data's surprise. Megatron had left strict orders to guard the base while he went through the space bridge on undisclosed business.

Data was expected to stay within the base at all times- more specifically, her quarters, which had been untouched for a time. They seemed tiny and impersonal now, but she had to stay there- she was too afraid to disobey now. Falling backward on her bed, another dream came to her, though this time only words.

"Hey, it's you!"

"Lost again, I presume?"

"Nope, I'm waitin' for my sister! She's a seeker too!"

"Is that her there?"

"Oh, yes! Bye, sir!"

Data groaned as the door opened.

"Hurry up! Megatron's coming back," huffed Starscream.

"I-I'm not supposed to leave—"

"Whose side are you on?" Data got to her feet.

The bright lights of the space bridge were not Data's idea of a visual spectacle. When they cleared, Data's optics widened curiously.

"Is that another femme, sir?"

"Considering how she's practically hanging from his arm, I believe so." Everyone continued to watch in great interest, mostly in the new femme. As they approached, Megatron narrowed his optics at Data, who stepped back feebly.

"Blacktorch, have you met Data? She's quite the little rulebreaker."

"L-Lord Megatron, I-I—"

"Maybe she just favors my leadership over yours, mighty Megatron," sneered the seeker, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Pay no attention to him."

Everyone had begun to return to the base, Data thoroughly embarrassed. She wanted to know more about the femme, almost desperately. More than that, she wanted to know if she was the one replacing her. Gossip- entirely speculation- began to circle throughout the base. Most expressed anger that the first warrior femme they'd seen in ages (Data was apologized to, but she didn't mind) was already taken the moment she arrived.

It was also rumored that she'd just graduated, a very talented student and promising warrior. Data shuddered as she listened to the others' guesses about the new recruit. Waiting seemed like the only way to find anything relatively reliable.

"Maybe there'll be a party!" grinned Frenzy. "He does that when he recruits new guys- get 'em smashed and they'll tell their secrets!"

"I… I think she's fairly loyal. D-Didn't you see how she was hanging onto his arm?" Data grimaced, almost pitying her. Disappointed at the lack of a possible party, the twins took off from Data's quarters, leaving her peacefully alone.

"Guess which idiot wants to see you?" Data looked up at the seeker in the entrance with a frown.

"A-Again?" she shuddered, trudging out of the doorway.

"Sir, I-I'm here."

"I see that. Now…" Megatron glanced over at the new femme at his side. She was almost as tall as him, much different than Data, who came nowhere close. Her violet optics watched Data in amusement, arms crossed.

"Blacktorch will be accompanying you around the base from now on. We can't leave any incompetence unrecorded, can we, Data?"

"N-No, sir."

"Blacktorch, escort Data to the databases. Remember your orders."

"Of course, almighty Megatron," grinned the slender femme, sashaying to the door as Data followed.

"Data, huh?" Blacktorch smirked.

"Y-Yes…"

"Interesting." Blacktorch looked around as Data plugged herself in, wondering what else she could possibly learn, and why she needed supervision.

"I've heard you were an Autobot."

"I-I was configured to be at one point, but I-I was originally a Decep—"

"So you are?"

"N-No! I-I don't want to be an Autobot."

"Why not?"

"B-Bad experiences."

"Like what?"

"D-Did he ask you to do this?" Blacktorch's optics narrowed; A giant torch jutted from her arm, with flames matching her optics.

"Listen," she snarled, "You'd better tell me."

"N-No," Data shivered, feeling the cable ripped from her side as Blacktorch pulled her forcefully by the arm, quickly walking toward the exit.

"Come in, Blacktorch," spoke an all-too-familiar voice over the communicator in her arm.

"I've got her now, Optimus."

"N-No!" cried Data, scorching her arm on the flames as she struggled. Growling, Blacktorch reached over to Data's throat, gripping it tightly.

"Starscream," Data croaked just before her voice box was crushed, rendering her silent as she wept with pain. It soon consumed her, causing her to pass out.

The first thing Data noticed when she awoke was the overwhelming frigidness. Without thinking, she tried to wrap her arms around herself to warm up, but stung her wrists as she realized they were bound together. She could not see a thing, only knew she was trapped in the freezing darkness.

"Starscream?" she tried to cry, but only heard a whirring of gears in her throat. Just then, two pairs of optics came into her view.

"Excellent, Blacktorch." A dim light turned on; Data could see she was being caged.

"You want your voice back, huh?" asked the mech, who Data didn't recognize. Data nodded painfully to him.

"Then you'd better promise to tell us all you know about the Decepticons," growled Blacktorch.

Shaking her head, Data curled up on the cold, damp floor. Something fastened tightly around her neck sparked, sending her into fits of pain, crumpled into a ball.

"That and no Energon for a while should make you talk." Data turned off her optics, unable to make a whimper.

Her voice almost sounded familiar.

--

"When you're insecure, they'll find the fuel to start a fire
They're bitter pricks with only hatred to inspire
Level heads prevail, revenge will make it better
Trust your instinct like you trust what's in the mirror" –Billy Talent

Candy Stars: Yay, a new chapter at last! Please review; it'll make me a happy girl. Tell me what you think, honestly! I won't freak out about it; I like to hear your honest opinions. C: