Cold trail.

A/N this chapter may not be suited for all audiences. You have been warned. Sorry it's short. I needed another stepping stone.

Disclaimer: Hasbro owns Transformers.

The maximum security wing of Black Water prison was reserved for the lowest of the low. People who had done things that would make the most hardened person tremble. Alexa didn't like being here, no agent liked it. She was regretting coming; but something compelled her to walk through these dark halls. Madeline was imprisoned in this soul killing place; and Alexa wanted some info. Primarily, who hired her to take Sari, and who hired Lockdown.

She had gotten the information of her whereabouts yesterday. She let Jazz know she was leaving, and then set off for Wisconsin. She drove non-stop to get here, and wanted to go immediately. This place was almost as bad as what she had seen herself; and it reminded her deeply of it.

Alexa approached Madeline's cell. Madeline sat on her cot until she saw Alexa. She got up and walked to the clear cell wall.

"Well, the big hero herself. You heal fast." The mercenary remarked.

Alexa had her best cold face on. "I find your snippy demeanor unrefreshing."

"You always did. So, what's an agent like you doing in a place like this? Trying to relive your past?"

Alexa clenched her jaw. "I want to know who hired you to take Sari."

"Come now Johnson. Not even the most terrible of situations will divulge that. You as a person can relate to such a thing given your...issues."

Alexa clenched her teeth. "Don't tell me I have issues."

Madeline crossed her arms and smiled smugly. "Don't be mad if you know I'm right. Tell me, how's your suntan this year? Oh, wait, I forgot; you still don't have the backbone to show your own. Afraid your little cyber buddies will alienate you?"

Alexa let out a growl. "If you weren't behind bars, I'd wring your neck for that comment."

"Ooh, a little dark for you isn't it? But then again, you've had darker thoughts, I'm sure."

Alexa narrowed her eyes; her hand instinctively reached for the butt of her pistol. "Before I go, I have one more question; does the name Lockdown mean anything to you?"

Madeline looked confused. "What the hecks a Lockdown?"

'Well, that answers my question.' Alexa thought. "I'll be seeing you Madeline."

"Sounds great. We should chat again. Say, in a billion years?"

Alexa frowned. "Too soon." Alexa then left without looking back.

Alexa was on the freeway thinking about what Madeline had said. Her words had stung. Everything seemed to be falling apart lately. From her vivid night terrors to her breaking down crying in a music club...things were getting out of hand. Her mind recalled the source of a lot of the grief, and how they first met.

-Flashback-

"OW! !" Alexa yelped. "Stupid frying pan." She muttered as she ran her hand under cold water. At almost thirteen, her training was well underway. Weapons training, no problem. High altitude free fall training, easy. Domestic cooking skills, forget it. She had burned everything in sight. She even wrecked cereal. Cooking was not a strong point.

As she ran her hand under the water, Alexa had forgotten the pancake was still in the pan, and had proceeded to combust into flames. She finally noticed it when the flames were three feet high. "Crud!" Alexa grabbed a cup of water and threw it on the fire, only to make it worse. She heard a voice behind her.

"Here. Use this."

Alexa turned around and grabbed a fire extinguisher from a sandy brown haired boy of about thirteen. She knocked down the flames in less that a minute. She returned her gaze to the boy. "Thanks."

The boy smiled. "No problem. I'm Travis Hunt."

"I'm Alexa Johnson." Alexa then noticed his dark blue eyes. They were... strangely alluring.

Travis put his hands in his pockets. "So...uh...would you like some help with cooking? I can make a mean pancake."

Normally, Alexa wouldn't take help; but she couldn't help but give a nod. Travis got to work. He showed her how to do things and explain why it worked. He put half the finished breakfast food in front of Alexa, and put the other half in front of him. They both took a nibble at the same time; Alexa's eyes lit up. "Wow. This is really good! How'd you get to be such a cook?"

Travis smiled. "Don't know. Guess just lucky,"

Alexa smiled again. "I've never seen you before."

"I just transferred in from the Alaskan branch." He replied.

"Alaska...nice scenery. I'm from Maine myself. So, what brought you down here? The mess hall's still open."

"Thought I'd walk around. Didn't expect to see a fire." Travis said with a little humor.

Alexa blushed. "Yeah. Sorry about that. My cooking skills suck."

Travis looked thoughtful. "I've seen worse."

Alexa gave a snort. "I doubt that."

Travis gave a faint smile. "Well, I got to report back to my quarters. Nice meeting you Alexa."

Alexa let a smile tug on her lips. "Same here."

-end flashback-

Alexa got to the base. Jazz greeted her.

"Find what ya were lookin' for A?" He asked.

Alexa shook her head with a defeated look on her face. "Swing and a miss Jazz. No help at all."

Jazz gave a sympathetic look. "Wanna watch a movie?" He extended his servo so Alexa could get on. She smiled as she climbed into his palm and from there, onto his shoulder.

"That sounds nice." She answered as Jazz turned and walked into the base.

Madeline was lying on her bed when she heard footsteps aproaching. It was too late for visitors, and the guard had already walked by. 'What now?' She thought.

Still, she ignored it until a voice addressed her.

"You failed Madeline."

Madeline jumped upright and came face to face with a shrouded figure wearing a trench coat and hat that obscured what the person looked like. They were also wearing a vocal scrambler; making their voice very deep. A silver brief case was in their left hand. Madeline knew who it was though.

"I underestimated her. I'm sorry." She said to the figure.

The figure seemed to loom more ominously. "Sorry doesn't cut it sometimes. The only reason I allowed you to take that job from Powell is because SHE was guarding the Sumdac child! I've now resulted to hiring a bounty hunter, and he is expensive!" The figure yelled to a wincing mercenary. "You were my greatest accomplishment; you were to take my place as mole in the agency when I was gone. Now, that will never happen."

Madeline looked pleading. "I'll do better next time. I won't fail you again."

The figure sighed before putting the brief case down. "I know you won't." The figure then left.

Madeline sighed with relief until she heard a soft beeping sound. The sound got faster and faster. Madeline's eyes grew wide and she ran to the far corner of her cell. She took a pillow and wrapped her arms around it; a tear slid down her cheek before she was engulfed in a blinding flash. It was the last thing she saw alive.

A/N Yikes...sorry for the disturbing content here. But Madeline needed to go.