Just a quick author's note before the chapter starts. If you go to my profile, I have my deviantart set as my homepage. Now, if you want to, you can stop on by sometime, or look at one of my newer drawings that mostly serves as an illustration of Laura. Besides that, have fun reading :D

You know, I actually wanted to get to the point where Unicron is defeated before the second season started, but you can see how that turned out. I'm refusing to watch any of it until I get to that point in the timeline. The thing I'm nervous about, though, is how watching the second season might affect this story. I don't want it to be copy and pasted and all that.

Also, I have one last question…..is this story still interesting, or is it just kinda 'meh' at this point?

Laura knew all too well she was dreaming again. She could tell by the familiar starry void that was all around her, cold and absolute. She was alone, floating in what seemed like endless space. The sight of the stars and nebulas should have been interesting or amazing to her, but for some reason, the young woman felt… trapped.

Unconscious again, I see. Is it part of your race to be so pathetic?

It was that damn voice again. That creepy, spine chilling voice that had spoken in her dreams before. "Oh fuck you." Laura spat out, crossing her arms. "You're a dream. I could care less what you say."

But am I really? You seem fairly intelligent. I'm somewhat surprised you haven't put the pieces together yet. Then again, humans are stupid.

Laura was quiet for a moment, grasping at straws. This was one of the strangest dreams she had ever had, but why not humor the illusion by giving it a name?

"Are you like, a hidden part of my subconscious or something?"

You could say that. It is easier for me to interact when you are unconscious.

"Well, dream man, why do you want to talk to me in the first place?"

Because you are my most competent progeny.

Laura felt genuine confusion. Progeny? And wasn't this voice a bit too responsive to be just a dream? What had the voice said before?

She froze; the voice had told her to kill the Autobots before. Who wanted them dead, let alone was most likely to be the voice in her head?

"You…..You're Unicron the Destroyer?"

How formal; someone actually addressed me by my rightful title.

"How the hell are you in my head?" Laura spat, feeling like an idiot as she yelled at the empty space around her, spinning to look in all directions. Have you forgotten? I've been with you for a very long time.

The tone in the titan's voice made her blood freeze. "You mean my necklace, don't you…" The brunette said, her eyes narrowing. Correct. Dark Energon is of my very essence. "The necklace is gone, so why are you still here? Get out of my head, Decepticon scum!"

She flinched as a deep voice emanated from deep within her mind. I see you've forgotten your own theory. Whatever happened to 'merged with the Dark Energon' idea of yours, hm?

"Oh Primus, don't tell me…!"

Oh, but I will. You are now a part of me, my faithful progeny.

"Progeny my ass! I wouldn't help you for all the kittens in the world!"

Unicron chuckled darkly. We shall see.

The two of them were extremely quiet, one calculating while the other one was panicking. Laura always knew she wasn't normal, but this? She's been a part of a super villain since she was 10?

"Why me, huh? Why not Megatron or someone else?" She demanded, hands clenching into fists. You are the first to bond with it so eloquently. All others of your pathetic race have either died or gone insane.

"Wait, so others have found shards too?"

Yes. Fortunately the little parasites caught Energon poisoning and died. But of course, we can discuss that another time. For now, my dear, I bid you farewell.

"The hell do you mean 'farewell'? Get back here and tell me what the fuck you mean! How am I your progeny? Why is Dark Energon on Earth? Fucking tell me!"

A chuckle was all that she heard before her eyes unwillingly snapped open, waking herself up from he own dream. The brunette sat up immediately, alarmed. Her arms were bound in front of her with rough chains, tightly wrapped and intertwined around her wrists.

She was in a large room with absolutely nothing in it. It was pitch black, not a single light or window, the only accessory being a sturdy looking metal door.

"Fuck." Laura spat, leaning against the wall behind her. She knew she should be afraid, but she felt more screwed over than that. She wasn't afraid; she just knew she was trapped here in the dark, all alone. At least the Decepticons hadn't bothered with her backpack. If she could get it off, she could get some food and her cell phone. Then again, this place was probably jamming any signal she could send out.

With nothing left to entertain herself with, she began to sing a song she sung in situations like this.

"Shunned by the light, I hide in the dark.

Forever alone, alone in the dark.

Still I know that the light is near

So let us join hands and forget our fe-"

Laura stopped, jerking as the metal door slid open, a harsh light stinging her eyes. She recognized the figure stepping in as Soundwave as he shut the door behind him. Her eyes narrowed as the blank face looked right at her. Needless to say she was surprised when something flashed on the faceplate.

'Continue'

Soundwave had only been strolling around the Nemesis when he had heard those sounds. It was a voice with no robotic underlay, something that was completely absent in all mechs of their race. The voice had intrigued him, to put it simply. He wanted to hear more of it, if only to pique his curiosity.

"No." Laura snapped defiantly. "I'm not going to listen to some Decepticon lackey, let alone Megatron's lapdog." At this, the message flashed again. 'Continue'. The brunette merely turned her back to him. "Nope. Kiss my ass."

Soundwave felt a shard of irritancy. He should have anticipated her insubordinate behavior from when she had spat on their leader's face. That was a move no Autobot would have had the spark to pull off. Deciding it wasn't worth his time, the third-in-command turned to leave.

"Autobots rule, Decepticons suck~!"

Soundwave stopped, turning back towards the human who had insulted them in such a sing song tune. The brunette smiled at him cockily. "Well? I thought you were going to leave?" She said with a smug voice. Now she was just toying with him.

Without another message, word, or sound, Soundwave left through the door. "Spineless con!" The human called after him before the door closed.

Laura let out a huff as she against the wall once more. She tried to yank her wrists apart, the harsh chains scraping against her skin. They weren't very tight, though. Perhaps she could get them off? Holding her arms out in front of her, she bent her leg to place the sole of her foot upon the chains. She pressed against the bonds hard, the sharp edges of the rusty chains cutting her skin as they were slowly torn away, clattering to the ground once they had been removed.

"Primus, that hurts." Laura whined, gently rubbing the bleeding cuts. She didn't have any bandages, though, so her brain kicked in to survival mode. Pulling out the knife once more- why the Decepticons had left it with her she had no idea- she carefully cut one of her pantlegs, tearing off a long, single strip, wrapping it around her left wrist. She did the same with the other leg, wrapping up both of her arms and wrists to resemble something like fighter's gloves.

Slowly, Laura stood, surveying the room around her. Her eyes were fully adjusted to the dark now, and she could see every detail of the room. Her face lit up as she saw a metallic square on the farside wall; a vent.

Quickly but quietly, she snuck over to it, dropping to her knees. She slid the backpack off of her shoulder, hastily digging around inside. With a triumphant grin, she grasped what she was looking for and pulled out the flashlight, turning it on.

"How the hell can they makes screws with such enormous hands…?" Laura mused quietly, focusing hard as she mentally uncoiled each one, popping off the grate and setting it beside her on the ground. Apparently the Decepticons hadn't taken her size into consideration, nor her cunning. Sliding her backpack back on, she got on her hands and knees and began to crawl through the vent.

The inside of the narrow space was dusty, her knees slightly getting skinned from being slid across the smooth metal. But Laura didn't complain; she was grateful she had as much room as she did.

"What do you think he plans to do?"

Laura froze, looking ahead of her. A grated opening was on the side of the vent, light streaming in. Quietly, she snuck up next to it, barely peeking around the bend. She recognized the red luster immediately as Knockout, who was talking with another Decepticon on the far side of the room, just far enough so she could see both of them. His companion was a tall, lean silver mech, somewhat scrawny looking. Laura had never seen this bot before, and was genuinely curious.

"You mean the human? I have no idea. He's been keeping it… under wraps."

"He hasn't told you anything? A bit out of the ordinary, don't you think, Starscream?" Laura committed the name to memory before the silver mech responded. "Don't play coy, Knockout. I already know he's spoken with you."

The red sports car smirked, crossing his arms. "I was simply curious it he had spoken with you on the issue, Commander." He sneered back. "But if you're so desperate, I guess I'll tell you. We would've cut her open, taken a look at the inside, but apparently that doesn't work with humans."

The brunette shivered; what were they going to do?

"But luckily, humans have blood. I took a sample while the little scamp was passed out."

Stupid bastard, she thought bitterly.

"I don't understand why Megatron even cares. It would be much simpler to just kill the thing." Starscream growled. " He needs her for something, that's why. Something to do with Unicron, I think. He didn't delve into it much."

"Ah."

It was quiet between the two of them, Laura holding her breath for a moment; hopefully neither one of them had superhu- superrobot hearing. Knockout said something too quietly for her to hear, Starscream merely nodding before leaving the room. Laura decided it was time for her to make a leave as well as the red muscle car took a seat at his desk, thumbing through papers.

Carefully putting one hand after the other, she continued to crawl forward. She had no idea where she was going, but to her, she had better chances then just staying in her cell. At least she would get a head start before they realized she was missing, It was a challenge, she knew all too well. But if all went well, she would get back to the others...

..or die trying.