Hi all, sorry it's gone quiet, I've had some big stuff going on and some urgent forms to fill out, so fun stuff had to take a back seat. But here is chapter 25! Hope you enjoy it. I saw the Doctor Who special in a cinema at the weekend, it was amazing, I even had a little tear in my eye at one point! Magic :P

Chapter 25

A group emerged from the main doors, striding down the ramp. Above their heads, squadrons of drones were already wheeling into the sky. Skywarp walked beside Starscream, his head bent towards his wingbrother as he was briefed.

'One refinery at a time, Skywarp. Soundwave will take care of shutting down communications. Take what troops you need, but remember, no theatrics. I want these takeovers to be swift and inconspicuous. Do you understand?'

'Not our usual style, brother!'

'No, but if you recall, we are not here to show our dominance. We are here to turn the tide and manipulate the masses to our cause. You're going to have to strategise. Thundercracker will join you presently, but I want him to report back on your results, so no waiting around for him to turn up and do all the work.'

'Got it, Screamer,' said Skywarp, saluting smartly. 'I won't disappoint you, I promise!'

Starscream looked round, spotting Arcee. He beckoned her forward. 'Are you with us, Arcee? Time for you to decide.'

'You tell me,' she replied coolly, heading over to him. 'I've been waiting to hear your plans for me.'

The two enemies faced one another, the smaller form of the femme frowning up at the Decepticon leader. Starscream smiled and dipped his head.

'It seems we have three options before us. We can lock you up, carrying on our two sides' tradition when dealing with each other, or you can slip away and resume your activities, alone. Or you can work with us in carrying out my plan, pooling our knowledge. Now, I'm in favour of option one, but common sense tells me option three is the most favourable. You can expect a truce, and assured protection, whilst you remain in my... care.'

'Whilst I'm useful, you mean,' replied Arcee coldly.

The jet tsked in annoyance. 'Oh, my dear, technically your usefulness ran out when you spilled all your research earlier. What you see right now is my attempt to recognize that not all Decepticons loathe you as much as I do.' His gaze moved past the autobot to where Thundercracker was organising the seeker-class mechs into their groups, and then settled on Alexis, who was having her weapons checked by Blackout. She was watching them anxiously, out of their earshot. 'Alexis is fond of you. She admires you very much.'

'It's mutual,' said Arcee, looking over at Alexis, who gave them a small, enquiring smile. Starscream nodded in acknowledgement, and Arcee watched her relax and looked away, smiling at something Blackout was saying to her.

'She's taking the change well,' murmured Arcee. 'That doesn't mean I think it's OK, what you did to her. If she comes to any harm, I'll murder you, on behalf of her father and her friends back home.'

Starscream's facial expression did not change, conscious that Alexis could still see them. 'Ah. You think I don't care for her?'

'I think you have a hard time putting anything or anyone before yourself, Starscream, even if you have fooled yourself otherwise.'

Starscream smiled smoothly, refusing to take the bait. 'I'm putting you with Skywarp. You can go along and supervise the start of the takeovers.'

Arcee stood her ground, ignoring the brush-off. 'You may think it's just a game, putting her in this shell, when you would never, ever contemplate going through such a thing for her. It's always been a game to your kind, hasn't it? Right back with poor Spike, and then Frenzy. Now her.'

He smiled wider, a smile of casual amusement, noting with satisfaction the rising anger radiating from the femme. 'Do carry on assuming that you know me, that you hold the moral high ground, autobot, if it makes you feel better. I don't need your approval, and I don't need to waste energy convincing you of that girl's worth. If you want to think my motives are purely selfish, go ahead. You think I value your opinion of me? Cute.'

'Oh, and in case you were wondering,' he continued blithely. 'This little thing with you and my wingbrother? I don't like it. I merely tolerate it at present because the last thing I need is a second-in-command… pining. Watch your step, Arcee.'

'Nothing is going on,' she growled, clenching her fists. 'Has it ever occurred to you seekers that not everyone thinks you're wonderful? Primus, you are an insufferable, arrogant prick.'

'Resorting to human insults, now? I see I have touched a nerve.' He laughed mockingly. 'Whatever. Luckily I don't have time to think about your complicated relationship problems. Use your spell in the Decepticons to lighten up. Welcome to the fold.'

'I'm not a Decepticon,' she spat as he turned away.

'Not yet,' he called back over his shoulder. 'But we have time.'

Blackout stepped back. 'All done, Alexis. Now for the other arm,' he said gruffly. Alexis had known Blackout since her days on the Starscream's base back in the occupation, and she felt glad that it was he tending to her weapons checks. Although she wouldn't describe their relationship as a close one, she had always rather liked Blackout despite his frequent bad moods. How he felt about her was a bit of a mystery, but his gruff, brusque manner was always rather comforting, it indicated that he held some sort of respect for her, as opposed to the cringing subservience she'd noticed from other mechs, whom she suspected only treated her thus because of her proximity to Starscream.

'Thank you Blackout. You always did a terrific job for me back as a human, and today is no different. I knew I could trust you to help me.'

'So fragging polite,' growled the armourer, running a scan on her null ray. 'It's not necessary, you know. Just unsheath the whole barrel for me, would you?'

Alexis frowned, staring at her forearm and willing it to co-operate. At her hesitation, Blackout looked up. 'Try a small, spoken command, just discreetly. Until you get the hang of it,' he muttered.

'Um… okay… like… null ray out?' she said quietly, feeling foolish. But sure enough, the null ray emerged sleekly and immediately, humming on the edge of hearing. She sighed in relief. 'Oh, thank you Blackout. Am I doing okay? Because I still feel like a total outsider like this. Funny, hey? To think I'd feel more at home amongst you lot as a human!'

'Trust me, you're fine,' answered Blackout shortly, shrugging off her thanks as he ran diagnostics, and she beamed. Coming from Blackout, that was reassuring praise. 'You never saw Frenzy after he got put in a meat sack. It weren't pretty.'

'Did someone say my name?'

Alexis looked down and gasped. Frenzy stood with his arms held wide, a huge grin plastered across his face. His armour gleamed, without a single scratch or dent. He nodded at her stunned, pleased expression. 'Oh yes. Frenzy got promotion, baby! For vital assistance provided to Priority One! That's you, by the way. And I got neat little gun upgrades. Rumble's gonna be sick as a space-hog when he sees this!'

'Wanna practise on him, put a few dents in his armour?' growled Blackout, and she laughed. 'Oh, be nice, he looks great!'

'Be nice? It was me that did his upgrade! And I told you to stay in the fragging recoup booth to let the finish settle!' Blackout snarled at Frenzy.

'Sorry Blackout, that's valuable showing-off time I don't wanna waste in some booth. See you later fleshie!' Frenzy whooped and strode off, a new swing in his step.

Alexis tilted her head back, observing the dark orange sky, now tinged with a sickish green hue: the forcefield encircling the planet. Every now and then she spied a tiny dot of a far-off ship approaching, only to wheel away. It seemed others were starting to discover they couldn't leave.

Starscream appeared before her, and Blackout immediately stopped grumbling and saluted smartly, stepping to one side. 'My lord.'

He stepped forward, his optics roving over her face and down her body. 'She is stunning, isn't she, Blackout?'

'Wonderful, my lord,' Blackout agreed promptly, and Alexis felt a strange flush to her cheeks, a cold, prickly feeling that would vanish only to reappear a few seconds later. She dipped her head, a bashful smile on her face. Starscream watched her quizzically. 'What is it?'

'Well, I appear to be blushing, but that can't be right,' she said with a laugh.

'Possibly your neural feedback is responding as it would have done in your old body. The phenomenon of blushing is uniquely human, and if I may say, rather a pointless one. The human body has many ways to betray its owner's feelings. Just one example of your species' flaws.'

'Now that is more like you. Stop… paying me compliments! It feels strange!'

'But I want to,' he replied, a smile curling the corner of his mouth. He reached down, taking her hand in his. 'You are beautiful.'

She looked up, her mouth falling open. 'What did you say?'

He merely smiled. 'You and I are going on a journey. Together. I'm taking you to Zzarek-Souin, it's what passes for a capital on this planet, I suppose. My scouts report back that there are dark energon traces there. We're going to search for it, or a mech that is consuming it. We need to pick up the pace in our inquiries. It's a short flight. Are you ready for something like this?'

'Yes,' she said immediately, and he smiled wider, transforming in one fluid movement, rising into the sky above her. She shut her eyes, inwardly praying she wouldn't experience the same difficulties back at the bar. Remembering Blackout's advice, she spoke out, her voice firm and clear. 'Transform.'

Ahead of them, towers and spires stretched impossibly high into the sky. Back on Cybertron the architecture was smooth and polished, but here the huge structures looked thrown together, precarious. As they lowered, she spotted bursts of fire beneath them: small altercations breaking out in the streets. Above and around them wheeled other aircraft. This city was shrouded in a blanket of unease, early simmerings before a more violent eruption. She unfolded from her jet form, and dropped to her feet, Starscream reaching out to steady her. Wasting no time, he strode towards the tangle of buildings. She hurried after him, having to concentrate to match his pace. As they entered the streets, she looked up, through a criss-cross of bridges and overreaching pipes, to the forms zipping above them. Someone jostled her and she turned her attention back to the ground. 'Is it me, or does it feel really tense?'

'Indeed. Panic is setting in, no doubt due to the forcefield. I visited this sector shortly after our arrival – it was decidedly different then. Be on your guard and stay close to me.'

They passed an energon bar, the doors open. Alexis caught a glimpse of a huddle of mechs shouting at one another furiously, their hands flung wildly as they argued. Starscream paused, taking hold of her wrist. His optics narrowed slightly and he nodded, beckoning her to follow him.

They crossed the threshold. One tall grey mech looked up. Instead of a face he had a single, glowing round light. 'We're closed. Get the frag out.'

'If you're closed then you ought to shut your doors,' replied Starscream coolly.'I won't take up much of your time. I merely want to know where one can get hold of dark energon round here.'

The mech laughed mockingly. 'Not in this bar. You're lucky if you can get hold of any normal energon. I've been drunk dry and my latest shipment is late. Something about the refineries being shut down. There are rumours of slave mutinies springing up. Some bright spark is slashing prices and causing chaos. And no one can get off this rock 'cause of that.' He jerked a thumb towards the ceiling, indicating the forcefield. Beside him, Alexis emitted a quiet gasp. Skywarp had shut down at least one refinery… already?

The grey mech was still ranting. '…So at the moment, no offence, but I got enough problems without finding you and your girlfriend a drink.'

'You've been most helpful,' said Starscream, inclining his head. He turned, striding out, Alexis following him.

'Skywarp works fast!'

Starscream chuckled evilly. 'Yes he does. Sometimes amidst the sea of incompetence he really shines through.'

Running footsteps drew alongside. 'Hey. Wait a klik!'

A small mech ran in front of them both. His armour was so dented it was almost impossible to see his colour or markings. His square head reminded Alexis of Pillage. 'I know a place where the Empties go. One of them might be able to tell you where you can get dark energon. Though I gotta say, one look at an Empty is enough to put me off drinking that stuff, I don't care what anyone says.'

'Where?' demanded Starscream.

'It's deeper in, you carry on this way.' The mech looked up. 'How come you want to find dark energon? You two want to drink this? You might change your minds after you…'

'Did anyone ever shoot you for asking too many questions?' asked Starscream coldly. The small mech held up his hands. 'Okay, sorry, sorry. There'll be a price, of course. Payment for showing you the way.'

'Naturally. Name the cost.'

'One thousand credits.' The mech's small dull optics flicked across their faces like the eyes of a cornered rodent, bracing himself for a brutal haggling session. Starcream snorted disdainfully. 'A pittance. Half now…' he tapped his comlink, '…Half when the job is done. Lead the way.'

An almost comical look of astonishment crossed the mech's face, followed swiftly by a look of regret at not asking for more. He turned, beckoning them to follow him.

Alexis jumped in alarm as her wing scraped the side of the wall in the narrow alley, sending sparks. Her size was making this route difficult for her, as it was for Starscream, who was bigger. He growled as he had to turn sideways, stamping down on a crate blocking their path, splintering it to pieces. 'How much further, you idiot?'

'Not far,' their guide replied. 'Just through here…'

They emerged into a filthy yard piled high with scrap. Huddled amongst the rubbish were a few tatty mechs, their optics vacant, tell-tale dribbles of dark liquid trailing from their mouths. Alexis stepped forward, her processor immediately counting five of them. 'This is it, Starscream. Dark energon.'

'About the rest of the payment…' said the dented mech, glancing up at Starscream. The jet touched his comlink once more, dismissing the diminutive guide with an irritable gesture. He hurried off back the way they had come. Alexis glanced at Starscream, who was watching him go thoughtfully.

'Don't even think about it.'

He started and turned to her. 'Think about what?'

'Killing him, of course. I can read you like a book.'

He shrugged and smirked. 'Don't know what you're talking about. Waste of firepower.'

They both approached one of the 'empties'. Alexis crouched down in front of the pitiful figure. Strange protrusions covered its body, just as they had with Starscream when he had gorged on dark energon back on Cybertron. She glimpsed a dusty, faded insignia on his front: three arrows over a moon. The optics were black, and dark liquid oozed from his mouth, vents, and holes in his armour. He didn't move as Alexis tentatively reached out a hand. 'Can you hear me?'

The mech made no sound, one optic twitching. She looked up at Starscream, who watched through narrowed optics, his arms folded. 'Is this what I looked like?'

'Yes,' she said quietly. She turned back to the addict, laying a hand on his knee. 'Can I talk to you? Are you still in there? What's your name?'

'Are you talking to the mech, or the dark energon?'

'Not sure,' she muttered. 'Can you run a scan?'

'I can, but I don't see the use. It doesn't show up on scanners, remember?'

'We might be able to measure life signs, or processor activity. I'll try com-linking him.' She touched her helmet, concentrating on the mech's face, trying to open a feed. Hello? Can you hear me?

Nothing. She dipped her head, trying to think. A few yards away, another Empty moaned and stirred, a rusted hand clawing at the air. She looked up as an idea occurred to her, staring straight into the blank optics.

'Okay. I know you're there. I have a different shape to the one I had the last time we met, but it's still me. And I want to talk to you. So come on, answer me. I had the power to command you, once. You cowered in fear before me, and before him.' Starscream raised his eyebrows, his voice sounding in her head. What are you doing?

Just bear with me a moment. 'I know you can hear me. We won't give up, you know. We will chase you all over the planet if we have to. You are a collective entity, right? That should mean you have memories of what happened to your brethren on Cybertron. Before they dispersed.'

The effect of that last word was instant. One wasted hand suddenly shot out, grabbing her wrist. The head snapped up, then tilted, dark energon dribbling afresh as the possessed mech met her gaze. Behind her, Starscream cursed and charged his weapons, but she gestured behind her urgently. 'No!'

'The organic girl in a brand new body.' A thousand, scratchy voices emerged from the mouth in a poisonous hiss. 'We remember you.'

Starscream knelt down beside her, his hand on her shoulder, teeth clenched and optics blazing.

Alexis felt a huge pounding in her chest, her spark pulsating, yet she remained still, refusing to look away from the hellish black stare. 'We've got some questions for you.'

The thing chuckled, a horrible, high-pitched giggle. 'And why should we deign to answer?'

'This is your home planet, yes? How did you get to Cybertron? And why?'

'A favour.' The mech's body convulsed, more black filth oozing from the vents on the helmet. Alexis repressed a shudder.

'A favour? What do you mean?'

'We were sent to harvest your best, as a favour to one of his servants. The mouthpiece of our master. The core waits for you.'

Alexis glanced at Starscream. 'A servant? Who? And why would they have a grudge against Cybertron?'

'You failed in your task,' hissed Starscream, venom dripping from every syllable. 'You failed, and you were vanquished.'

'We will never be vanquished,' the voices replied, the black, lifeless gaze moving to Starscream. 'You have stepped into a trap, and the door has closed. Soon He will be ready to rise. We will…. Ugh…'

The mech slumped forward. Alexis reached out to steady it, pushing it back. 'Tell us who sent you!'

'He doesn't like us talking to you!' the voices whined. The head shook agitatedly.

'Who doesn't?'

'No, no no no! Stop!' He began to rock back and forth. Starscream pulled her away as the mech arched its back, emitting a silent, agonized scream. Alexis watched in horror as it suddenly disintegrated, body parts clattering to the ground. The jaw fell away from the face and the head rolled forward, lost under a violent gush of dark energon, spewing forth from the ruined body and rushing in a wave towards them. Before she could blink Starscream scooped her up, her legs slung over his arms, holding her close to him as the filthy tide surged around his feet. Horrified, she hid her face, shaking all over.

A sound make her look up. The other Empties were shakily getting to their feet, black stares turned in their direction as they began to stagger forward. The scene numbly reminded her of one from a zombie movie, only this was real. 'Let's get out of here,' she whispered.

A short time later Starscream emerged into the wider streets, setting Alexis on her feet. He turned back and fired his cannon, sending the surrounding shabby buildings crashing down, presumably burying the lurching, possessed transformers under rubble.

Alexis held up her hands. They were shaking. Starscream moved towards her, gathering her into his arms. 'It's alright, it's alright. Primus, you were incredible back there.'

'I'm frightened,' she said shakily into his chest. 'I'm so, so frightened, Starscream. We learned nothing.'

'Nonsense, nonsense,' he said soothingly. 'We learned more than you think. Someone waits for us at the core. We must get there. We have a core key. As soon as we manage to reduce activity on the surface, we can start to mine our way down. And you can stay on the ship, if you want.'

She shook her head. 'No, no. We've come this far together. It stays that way.'

She looked up at him, searching his face. 'Aren't you even a little bit afraid of what lies ahead?'

He appeared to think about it for a moment. 'I have faced danger many times. After a while one becomes a little blasé about these things. One of my character flaws, I suppose.'

'I wish I had that flaw right now.' She felt a sudden surge of homesickness, a yearning for home, her real home. 'I hate this place. Maybe we should never have come here. After all, we managed to beat the beta… I mean, dark energon back on Cybertron. Have we been foolish? Maybe we should have stayed and focused on defence there?'

'Maybe. But we didn't. And now we know what to do. Have courage, Alexis.'

A stooped mech walked past them, head down, pushing a battered cart. One pale optic glowed in the corner of Alexis' vision. She nodded, managing a small smile. 'Don't get scared, get mad.'

He laughed. 'Quite. And don't forget, we still have the formula for Arcee's virus. The creatures seem to fear it still, if their reaction is anything to go by. It could be a crucial weapon. Our ace card.'

She broke away from him, turning to stare down the street at the bent figure pushing the cart, heading away from them. Starscream frowned. 'What is it?'

She began to walk, breaking into a run. The mech turned into a side street.

'Hey. Hey!'

The alley was narrow, and she cursed, raising her gun without even thinking, blasting at the gap. She shot forward, lunging at the figure, pushing him to the ground. The wasted, frail limbs yielded easily and she pinned his arms down. The familiar face looked up at her – the half-melted visage with just one optic. 'I knew it was you. I knew it!'

Starscream appeared in the gap. 'What in the name of…?'

She looked up. 'It's him. The one that destroyed my supplies.'

Without hesitation, Starscream stepped forward as she straightened up, grabbing the mech's throat in one hand and dragging him back out into the wider street. 'Well, well, well. I have been waiting to get my hands on you.'

The frail creature opened his mouth as it tried to stand, but a vicious punch sent him reeling and he fell back.

'Try to stand again and you'll be offlined.' Starscream's optics blazed and his face took on the cold, hard mask of disdain and hatred. Alexis watched the mech as he nodded, both hands on the floor, frozen in an attitude of righting himself.

'You're the one who Alexis met in the mine, yes? And the one seen on my ship's security footage destroying her supplies? Answer me quickly.'

'Yes,' croaked the mech, gingerly easing himself so that he was sitting up. 'Do you mind? Only my joints…'

'Why?' Starscream's rays began to charge as he scowled down. 'Why did you do such a thing?'

The mech sighed, his head drooping. 'Some times I can remember why, other times it slips away,' he said slowly. 'I'm tired, you see. I'm so, so tired, and far from home.'

'Spare me your troubles, they don't interest me, and they're about to get a lot worse. How did you get onboard my ship without being detected? What was your motive for putting her life in danger?'

The mech laughed wheezily. 'If I said it was to give you what you wanted, I take it that wouldn't go down too well.'

He looked up at Alexis, giving her a faint, cryptic smile. 'You look very different to the last time I saw you, but I can tell it's you, little one. Did you find the evidence you sought with the gift I gave you? So brave, and determined. It all turned out for the best. It had to happen, you know.'

She swallowed hard. 'You… wanted me in this body?'

'I could see it would take too long for you to come to it by yourself.'

'Who are you? How do you know all about me, all about us?'

He ignored her question, turning his gaze back up to Starscream. 'I know what you are going to do to me,' he said. 'I can see it in your eyes. Keep my spark after it is done.'

Starscream raised his eyebrows, a look of cold indifference on his face. 'You could postpone your death if you explained yourself a little more.'

The mech winced suddenly, as if in pain, curling forward. 'Curse this weak body… No. I will not tell you another thing. You should not have seen me today, that was careless. I am growing careless, and clumsy. But all will unfold now, as it should.'

'You're insane.' Starscream flexed his fingers. 'Alexis, look away.'

The mech met Starscream's gaze calmly. 'Do it.'

Alexis opened her mouth to cry out, but the blast from Starscream's guns drowned out her voice as he crumpled. With both hands over her mouth, she watched Starscream lean down, wrenching the spark free from the chest. The body twitched once, then drained of all colour. Now that he was dead, it seemed a miracle that his ruined body had ever sustained life. It looked as though it had been dead for centuries. Starscream dropped the spark to the floor, grinding it underfoot.

Alexis looked up, slowly lowering her shaking hands. She expected to see Starscream glowing with relish, as he usually did after dispatching someone, but instead he looked weary. He silently beckoned her to him. 'I too am fast losing my taste for this strange place. Let's go back to the…'

He trailed off, looking down. The spark lay at his feet, but instead of being crushed into powder, it was intact. There was a faint glow … or was it just a reflection of the light? They stared at one another, Starscream charging his ray. 'Step back.'

She watched as he blasted the thing, the white-hot ray blistering and scorching the ground as he held it there for several long seconds.

He sheathed his weapon, and they peered together through the smoke. The ray had done nothing – though the ground was cracked and scorched, the spark sat in the middle like a diamond in a bed of soot, winking innocently. Starscream's optics narrowed, and he reached down, scooping up the small object and staring at it, running a scan. 'How interesting.'

'What does it mean?' Alexis asked, non-plussed. 'He said to keep it. Like he knew it wouldn't go out. What do we do?'

Starscream slowly and thoughtfully closed his fingers over the spark. 'We keep it close. If that thing is capable of assembling a new body, I don't think we should leave it to its own devices.

'What now?'

'The core,' said Starscream firmly. 'As soon as it is practical to do so, that's where we are headed. I'm getting bored of this forsaken planet.'