I'M ALIVE! My muse isn't but i am.

So to be honest, i finally gave up on this chapter and so now i can focus on the next chapter because quite frankly, this one was driving me crazy.

Thanks everyone that's still with me even though it's been 2 freaking months. I'\ll try to get a better chapter next time.

Guest: Sorry for the long wait, lots of stuff going on and i'm in a loosing battle with writers block.

Tildawn: I'm so glad you like it so far. I've always loved Red and Inferno's friendship because someone that twitchy would drive me CRAZY but at the same time, Red's paranoia keeps Inferno's headstrongness in check. And I've always loved Inferno and Firestar so it's a win win. Also, from Axil's POV, anyplace is better then where Red/Eight was so for him to literally get a second chance at life in a better place is huge.

Murican Hero: Yes, here's more. Lousy chapter (cough hack) but it will get better. And like I've said, he gets whats coming to him as for mom, we'll see. Not quiet sure what's in store for her. I do want her to come back though.

What Lies Beyond: LOVE the song, already told you that :) And the idea about Red/Eight literally hit me out of nowhere, i just had to tie it all in. This is after all where all the origins stories come in. Pre-war is so much fun.

Rogue8496: Yeah... ugh... writers block sucks... working... slowly...

AutobotGuy217: I"M ALIVE! AND I POSTED! BONUS! yeesh...

DawnfireJazz: Glad you liked it. I cant wait to write the moment when Ratchet realised just how much Red will have changed.

Skyice98: Yep! Crazy idea and ran with it. Not like I've ever done that before.

Child of Jon Snow: There. I posted.

Carbon did a double take when he saw the hulking, rusted out frame of a single mech mobile drill sitting up on the plateau. It was impossible to tell the original color as most of the paneling had been stripped away and what was left was half eaten away by rust and scraplets. The tip of the massive cone shaped drill on the front had been snapped off and was useless, it was more likely to shatter and terminate someone. He continued giving it an odd look as he drove toward the mine until he froze and transformed in a rush, whipping around as he realised a pair of legs were sticking out from under the machine.

For a moment his spark stopped before he realised that the drill had been propped up at an angle and that the mech underneath was still shifting around and not pinned under its crushing weight.

Cocking his helm to the side he walked over in time to hear a crack, a gush, and a sharp curse. He couldn't help but smirk when Axil scooted out on his back, dark brown hydraulic fluid covering his faceplates and chassis. He sat up with a disgusted sound, shaking the stuff off his servos.

"Yuck." He grumbled, dragging his bracer across his visor and only streaking it even worse before noticing the huge black miner in front of him. "Oh. Hi. Sorry about the mess."

"What is going on here?" Carbon asked, gesturing toward the rusted out machine and the various tools, datapads and machine parts scattered over the area. "Are those Chrome's tools? Cause I swear to Primus you're more glitched than Sterling and I will not bail your aft out of whatever he does to you."

Axil glanced around before subspacing a rag to wipe the fluid from his faceplates.

"No no, they're mine. I got them from a friend of Jigsaw's." He said simply before reaching over and picking up a datapad with the rag. He turned it on, flipping through pages as he muttered to himself and streaking the screen with grime. "Must be an older model. It shouldn't have done that."

"Good because the last time someone took Chrome's tools, and I swear to Primus I'm not lying, he welded them to the wall." Carbon said straight faced. Axil glanced up him in morbid alarm and Carbon shrugged. "Trust me, I'm still trying to figure out how he got Sterling up there."

"Wow. That's… just scary." Axil muttered before glancing back up at Carbon and shaking the datapad at him with a smirk. "Hydraulic fluid should not be dark brown." He said in a matter of fact way before grabbing another datapad. "Then again, that oil I drained out was practically a solid…"

"I wouldn't know. I've never tried to fix one of those things." Carbon replied, watching the mech with amusement. Ever since he'd come back with those weird pink optics he'd been back to normal. A little jumpier and his senses were still over active but his happy-go-lucky attitude was back. "Did Ratchet get you the datapads? I didn't think he was allowed near the Hall of Records anymore."

"Wheeljack gave them to me." Axil said off handily like that would explain everything as he reached for yet a third datatpad. "He said they were a little outdated but I got to keep them. They're still fairly recent, at least recent enough they're helping me figure out how this thing is supposed to work. "

"Of course." Carbon said, rolling his optics before something dawned on him and he gestured at the machine. "But where the frack did you get that? That things probably been sitting around rusting for metacycles."

"I remembered seeing it up at Chainjack's." Axil said with a shrug. "Sterling hauled it down for me. He thinks I'm crazy as well just so you know."

"And just how do you plan on getting it going…?" Carbon asked, looking the rusting heap over again. "There's a reason Chainjack never had it fixed."

"Well, the good news is that I should be able to fix all the mechanical issues." Axil said, folding his legs to sit cross-legged on the ground, his helm cranked back to keep looking up at Carbon. "The bad news is, I have no idea where I'm gonna get a new drill bit. They don't make them anymore. At least not around here."

"Are you even aware how long that's going to take to rebuild that pile of rust?" Carbon asked with a frown. "You could end up wasting a lot of time, effort and credits on it. Those things were breaking down a lot at the best of times."

"Yeah it will take me a while but think about it Carbon! If we get it going, we can get more crystals, who knows, we might make it to another cavern like the one we're working in now."

"Those things aren't nearly as efficient for small mines as you think they are." Carbon explained hesitantly. "They were never used to mine crystal, they create too much waste metal. It was never worth the effort to have mechs haul it away and others to separate the crystal out of the scarp."

"But they were used in Kaon. I though Kaon was a huge energon exporter." Axil asked. Carbon hesitated again, dark memories resurfacing and he forced them down. Axil was one of the youngest in the gang and he'd been spared the worst. Carbon hated admitting his age but he had seen far too much in far too long of a life.

"Yes a lot of energon comes out of Kaon, but there's also a lot of ores that get shipped to Tarn." Carbon said levelly as he gestured toward the machine. "The ore and scrap were mined together and melted down to a liquid. The scrap either burned off or floated to the top and got scraped off, leaving the good metal behind. Depending on what kinds of ore you were mining, the good metals would separate as it melted and you'd end up with layers that had to be carefully drained off."

Images of one of the Masters holding another, smaller miner by the neck cables flashed though his processor and he shook his helm at the mech's pained screams as a second Master forced the mech's arm into the liquid metal echoed in his helm. He'd tried to drain the metal off before it was completely settled and it had come out contaminated. The mech had later terminated from his injuries.

As fast as they had come, the screams were gone and he realised Axil was speaking again.

"-work right?" Axil asked was saying. "You and Longhaul would be enough to get the scrap out. At least it would help break it up faster instead of having to do it all by servo."

"I… guess it would." Carbon replied, shifting uncomfortably. Even just looking at that thing was dragging up things he wished he could forget. "It might break up the crystals but if we can get them faster I don't think it will matter."

"Ha! Told Dusty it would work." Axil said with a grin before he abruptly slid back under the drill. "Thanks Carbon!"

The big mech didn't respond as for a horrible moment he thought the drill shifted, threatening to crush Axil underneath. But again, it was just flashbacks and he forcibly reminded himself that Axil was too smart to make the mistake of not supporting it properly before crawling around underneath it.

"Anytime. Don't spend too much time on it though. You still have a real job." He cautioned, forcing a smirk onto his faceplates despite the mech not seeing him.

"Yeah yeah, I'll be there in a bit. Just want- oops- to get that off. Frag. Hope I can fix that…"

Carbon shook his helm and transformed, driving down into the mine. The ramp down into the cavern always made him twitchy but after a few nano-klick of thinking the walls were closing in on him, he drove out into the cavern. Once again he paused when he saw Sterling laying down on one of the ledges, his legs crossed at the ankle joints and his helm propped up on a bent arm. His heavy armor was off to the side, exposing the burn scars covering his bare chassis.

"You functional?" Carbon asked only have joking. A single white optic lit up before focusing on Carbon and Sterling smirked though it looked more like a wince.

"Jus' takin' ah breather." He said quietly, shuttering his optic again.

"You are alright though?" Carbon asked again.

"Relax mech." Sterling continued. "Ah may beh old bu' Ah still got some fight left in meh. It will take mo' then ah glitched pain grid tah keep meh down. Just… takin' ah break."

"Yeah but can you get up?" Carbon asked with a faint smirk.

"Frag off." Sterling grumbled and Carbon walked over, grinning openly as he stood beside Sterling.

"Come on you rust heap."

"Rust heap yaself." Sterling replied, onlineing his optics to glare at Carbon's offered servo. Carbon cocked an optic ridge at him and Sterling scowled before reaching up to grab his servo. Carefully Carbon pulled him upright and Sterling staggered upright before groaning as his spinal support popped loudly.

"What about not getting old?" Carbon asked good naturally only to receive a low growl from the silver mech. "Ha! You need your armor to hiss at me fragger."

Sterling shoved him away with another growl and reached for his armor still on the ledge. As he turned away Carbon couldn't help but notice the ragged scars covering his frame overlaid by the more recent burn marks. A few in particular stuck out and Carbon gave Sterling a questioning look.

"I've seen that scaring before." He said softly and Sterling stiffened before glancing over his shoulder joint at Carbon. "What did you do to deserve a whipping? I though they only did that in the big mines."

"One o' tah mines Ah was at 'ad ah fo'mech tha' was fond o' whips." Sterling said with the pained smile only someone witnessing a whipping could give. "Weh 'ad ah disagreement over whether mah sire was well enough tah work. He'd gotten 'urt on ah run."

"I'm guessing it didn't go well?" Carbon asked.

"Ah couldn't move fo' three orns an' mah sire 'ad tah take mah place." Sterling replied. "It nearly terminated 'im. But Ah learnt real fast."

"Not to provoke him?" Carbon asked carefully.

"Not tah get caught." He said with a dangerous smirk. "By the tahm 'ee transferred out, 'ee was jumpin' at shadows an' wailin' like ah sparklin' in tah dark."

"You fragger, what did you do to him."

"Fragg'a liked tah take pot-shots at tah local Teraxian pack. Tah Predaqueen was mo' then 'appy tah 'elp drive 'em off."

"Remind me not to get on your bad side." Carbon said with a grin as Sterling fell in step beside him.

"Naw, nobody 'round 'ere is as superstitious as ah Poly." Sterling said with a shrug. "Ain't fun scarin' mechs."

"I'll keep that in mind." Carbon said, shaking his helm with a grin.

xxXXxx

"I underestimated you."

"Apparently a lot of mechs have." Ratchet said, careful to keep his tone neutral despite the strong urge to throttle the mech behind him. Copper snorted and Ratchet glanced back at him before continuing to clean tools. Ironlock had managed to blow a bearing in his rear axil and it had been a pain in the aft to replace it.

"But what has you in a good mood. The last time we saw each other you were convinced Sterling was offline and tried to drag Axil off for a termination sentience in Kaon." He continued before pausing and glaring over his shoulder guard at Copper. "Which we both know just means you would have shot him as soon as you got him on a shuttle."

The mech had the decency to look away and Ratchet returned to his work.

"That being said, overall we're being fairly civil to each other considering we want nothing more than to off' each other." He added off handily.

Copper chuckled and Ratchet glanced back at him again.

"You're right. Help's Chrome isn't here, I've never been able to stand him." Copper said.

"He's in the back."

"What?!"

"He's in recharge so mute it." Ratchet growled.

"Primus forbid I wake him." Copper muttered, a shiver wracking his slim frame.

"So why are you in such a good mood." Ratchet asked, drying his servos and turning to fully face Copper. The mech was still standing by the doors like he would bolt at any given moment.

"I ah... heh… you wouldn't believe me if I told you." He said, glancing away with a faint smirk.

"Try me." Ratchet said in a flat tone, fearing the worse.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but you hate Avalon as much, if not more, then I do." Copper said, giving Ratchet a sly smirk.

Ratchet leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms as he watched the royal.

"We're not exactly on speaking terms if that's what you to know." He said with a scowl, his EM field flared in a dare for the mech to press his luck.

"Then to be blunt, I believe I owe you and the rest of Dusty's gang an apology."

Ratchet stared at him in surprise before scowling again.

"You're right, I don't believe you."

"Avalon lied to me." Copper said with a sigh. "He's lied to me many times. I was told that-"

"That Sterling was offline and that Axil was a useless blind mech?" Ratchet cut in with a growl.

"Yes." Copper replied, glancing away again. "Avalon's been demoted."

"What?!" Ratchet squawked. Frag, Avalon was going to have their hides!

"Let me correct myself. Not so much as demoted so much as forbidden to have any say that directly effects Dusty's gang. And, you'll love this, I heard a rumor that if he even mentions your designation and he's getting kicked out."

"Oh that is rich." Ratchet scoffed. "You honestly think I believe you? You tried to murder two of my brothers. Not to mention all the other slag you're done around here, why the frag should I believe anything you have to say to us."

"And like I said, I was given false information." Copper continued, servos raised slightly in surrender. "Do you honestly think I am glitched enough to think that if either of them were functional I would stand a chance against any of your gang? I was nearly terminated Ratchet. You may think I'm a greedy spawn of a glitch but I do value my spark."

"You attacked Sandy and Axil at night with half a dozen Elite Guard." Ratchet growled. "You came in here with a dozen Guard and nearly blow up the mine. You were expecting a fight, you just didn't expect me to get Axil out or for Sterling to be fully functional."

"Yes, I heard about the little factory worker." Copper said with his usual dangerous smirk. "You'll be happy to hear he's disappeared off the face of the planet. The Guard can't find him anywhere. And believe me, Avalon's looked."

"Good." Ratchet snapped, forcing his armor flat as it flared in alarm. "Now what do you want from me."

"Seeing as I am now fully in change of Dusty's gang, perhaps we could come to some kind of agreement." Copper asked, locking blue optics with Ratchet's red pair in a kind of challenge.

"I'm just the apprentice. Why aren't you talking to Dusty." Ratchet asked. "He has the final say in everything. As much as Chrome bullies him around, Dusty is still the boss."

"Because you grew up with politics and, I mean it strictly in a political way, but you're smarter than anyone here." Copper said. "You know a good deal when you hear it. I don't want any more trouble and I'm fairly certain neither do you."

"Then let's start with proper supplies for the gang." Ratchet said with a straight face. "And forget about the rounds we're behind on. Oh, and we need another shipment of medical supplies, we're running low on med grade energon and templating."

"You know I can't drop the runs." Copper said shaking his helm. "But I can get you better supplies."

"And keep the Guard away from here." Ratchet added. "They make us all twitchy enough as is. I'm impressed that no one terminated last time after that stunt you pulled."

"That I think I can do." Copper said with a grin. "Of course, you mechs start causing any trouble-"

"We'll stay out of your plating." Ratchet cut in again before giving Copper a dangerous smirk. "Proving we start getting better supplies. And I want that med supplies ASAP." He subspaced a datapad and held it up. "I even have a list of some the supplies we need, organised according to priority. I want it all for next orn."

"I'll do the best I can." Copper replied before walking over to snatch the datapad and waltzing out of the medbay. Ratchet watched him leave before shifting to better see Chrome standing in the doorway of the workshop.

"He really doesn't see you there?" He asked. "Like, at all?"

"Parently not." Chrome mumbled, obviously still half in recharge. "So what, we behave and we get better supplies? Don't tell me he actually expects us to believe that."

"That's what he said." Ratchet said with a shrug. "Guess it doesn't matter, I don't think anyone has plans to start causing trouble. We're all still a little shaken up after Axil and Sterling nearly got shipped out."

"True. But what do you think about Avalon getting kicked off the mountain?" Chrome asked, crossing his arms over his chassis as he leaned against the doorway. "At least for a while. I don't like it. At least before we knew where the mech was and what he wanted. Now he can scheme all he wants and I don't like it."

"I know we haven't see the last of him." Ratchet said with a sigh. "Not the way things played out the last time he was here. We may have some luck but we're not that lucky. Primus hates us too much to give us any kind of a break."

"Got that fraggin right." Chrome grumbled. "But if it lets that upstart spawn of a glitch think he's got an edge on us, well, whatever keeps Copper out of our plating."

"So what, I'm the new liaison?" Ratchet asked with a smirk. "I got to suck up to him and promise all sorts of glittery things?"

Chrome barked a laugh at the face Ratchet made before shaking his helm, still grinning.

"Whatever it takes Ratch." He said before his tone dropped. "Whatever it takes. We don't have the supplies if someone gets hurt like they all seem to be getting. We just don't have the supplies. If it means polishing that gltich's aft for a bit to save one of our mechs' lives, then that's what we have to do. He hates me so if he's willing to work though you, sorry to throw you under the shuttle but we don't have a choice."

"I guess. I just…" Ratchet gusted air from his vents in a sigh as he glanced away. "Yeah I guess whatever it takes to keep the gang going. That's all that matters. I'm willing to play suckup."

"Good mech." Chrome said with a grin as he walked out into the main medbay. "We'd better make Copper a shopping list."

"Already ahead of you." Ratchet said as he subspaced a datapad to hand to the other medic. "I gave him the bare minimum but what else do we need?"

"Talk to Dusty, he'd been venting down my neck cables again for more scaffolding."

"More?!" Ratchet asked in surprise. "Actually, yeah, I guess."

"Oh, and we need a drill bit." Chrome muttered, taking the datapad and scanning over it. "Crazy glitch."

"What? Drillbit? What for?" Ratchet asked in confusion. "What crazy glitch?"

"You been up to the mine yet?" Chrome asked, glancing up to give Ratchet a smirk. "Axil's found himself a project."

"That rusted out pile of rust Sterling dragged up here?! You're kidding me."

Chrome gave Ratchet a one sided shrug.

"It's Axil. He just said he wanted one. I don't know where the pit we're gonna get one but he wants one. And then he walked away muttering about grime buildup in the hydraulic cylinders and lines and that he needed to flush the cooling system without blowing the lines."

"Wow." Ratchet replied with wide optics.

Again Chrome shrugged.

"I'm just glad he's back to normal." He said, handing the datapad back to Ratchet. "That's all I can say."

xxXXxx

Ratchet paused outside the apartment, his servo hovering over the keypad when he heard laughter. A weak spark signature, like it was being muffled somehow, came from inside as well as Focus' stronger signature. He knew Focus would never let a stranger into the place and the other voice he could hear was distinctly a femme's. With a smirk he slid the door open and froze in dumb shock.

"Ratch! You're back." Focus said with a grin, twisting around on the couch to look at his friend. "Jinx showed up a while ago looking for you so I said she could wait here. I comply lost track of time, we were having such a good talk."

Ratchet completely ignored his friend, instead focusing on the slim, attractive femme sitting with her legs nearly crossed on the couch beside Focus. He'd never seen her in his life but there was something dangerously familiar about that smooth gold and grey armor.

"It's been so long since I last saw you Ratchet, I heard a lot has happened to you." The femme said as she gave Ratchet a knowing smile.

Ratchet's spark froze when her brilliant blue optics flashed a poisonous shade of purple before going back to blue.

"Uh, yeah, good to see you too uh… could you- give us a klick?" Ratchet asked nervously, reaching over to grab Focus's arm and drag him to his peds. "I need to talk to my roommate for a klick."

"By all means." Arachnid purred as Ratchet shoved Focus outside and slammed the door.

"Wow! Where did you meet her!" Focus demanded with a grin. "She's not even that much older than you. Wait, she's not a pleasure femme or anything is she? Ratchet you scamp-"

"Would you mute it?!" Ratchet hissed, shoving his friend up against the wall opposite the apartment and clapping a servo over his mouth. "Why the frag did you let her in there?!"

"She said she was looking for you." Focus said, prying Ratchet's servo away from his faceplates. "Course I was a little suspicious but she said that she was friends with you and that she knew Chrome. She said she wanted to talk to you."

"So you let her in?!"

"What's the big deal!" Focus demanded.

"Stay the frag away from her." Ratchet said in a low voice, nervously glancing over his shoulder guard. He dropped his tone even lower, leaning in closer to Focus. "I've never been more serious in my life. That femme, Jinx? is the most dangerous femme you will ever meet in your like, swear on my spark."

"What do you mean." Focus asked, dropping his own voice down as his optics got wide with alarm. "Ratchet who is that?"

"Someone you never want to see again."

"Then why the frag is she looking for you?! What's going on?!" Focus hissed just as quiet. "What is she, some kind of killer?!"

"All I can say is to stay away from her." Ratchet said softly. "Focus I'm begging you."

Focus glanced away, his jaw set.

"I swear I have no idea how she even found out this was where I lived." Ratchet said with a sigh as he finally backed out of Focus' tight EM field.

"Primus Ratchet, some orns I don't know how the frag I'm even still functioning." Focus grumbled dryly.

"Just… wait out here." Ratchet said as he turned back toward the apartment.

"Yeah yeah." Focus muttered, crossing his arms over his chassis as Ratchet walked back into the apartment.

"You didn't have to drag Focus out like that." Arachnid purred as Ratchet closed the door. "We were honestly having a good talk."

"And yet somehow the thought of you two in the same room ends with your claws in his spark and Flatline standing over what's left of him." Ratchet shot back. Arachnid laughed, shaking her helm.

"I will admit, I could get some nice credits out of his hide. He'll have the same upgrades Chrome stripped from your old frame. The old glitch is smart, I have to give him that."

"What do you want." Ratchet demanded, armor flaring slightly.

"What, I'm not allowed to check up on a client?" She asked, examining a razor sharp claw. "It's been a while since you came and visited. The last time I saw you, you were on life support and Chrome was jumpier then a double agent."

The statement made him shudder without realising it and Arachnid chuckled lightly.

"Chrome was very protective of you. I've never seen him act that way before." She continued. "That being said, how's the frame? Chrome thought it would be too big for your spark. I knew it would work and besides, doesn't this frame suit you so much more than that Elite class one?"

Ratchet refused to give an answer but he knew she was right.

"I don't believe that you are here just to check up on me. You could have gone to the 'bay." Ratchet said, still scowling. "And what about Focus. Why bring him into this."

"What about him?" Arachnid asked with a grin.

"Leave him alone."

Arachnid chuckled, once again examine her claws.

"For a moment, that sounded like a threat." She said.

"I'm serious. I know I couldn't stop you but leave him alone. Focus doesn't know anything and he knows he's safer that way." Ratchet said with a low growl.

Arachnid glanced at him again with a smirk before dipping her helm in a nod.

"As long as he keeps his neck out of my business I have no reason to take his helm off." Arachnid said simply. "He seems smart enough not to go poking around."

Again Ratchet didn't say anything but he did hold Arachnid's challenging look. He nearly jumped out of his plating when she abruptly stood up.

"But enough about that. Down to business." She said as she started pacing around Ratchet. "The frame?"

"Works good." Ratchet replied carefully, turning to keep her in sight. "But I'm curious about yourself. That's not your normal armor and I know elite quality when I see it."

Arachnid smirked as she ran an arm down her bracer.

"Even I have to wear a disguise." She said with a shrug, still prowling around Ratchet. It reminded him of how Sandstorm used to stalk him when the tan miner still hated him.

"Do you have contacts in Tarn?" He asked bluntly, pausing to let Arachnid circle around behind him.

"Tarn? It's a factory state. A lot of product come out of that place." Arachnid said after a moment.

"I need to know if a mech made it there." Ratchet said hesitantly. "I need to know if he's still functional."

"A friend?" Arachnid asked with genuine interest and Ratchet smirked.

"I'm surprised you don't know." He said as he huffed air from his vents. "Ripsaw's out of action for a while."

"I heard about that. I didn't realise it was one of your gang that did him in. The Elite Guard has been more careless lately, I was wondering why."

"He was severely damaged when he left Iacon." Ratchet continued. "We're all worried about him."

"I'll see what I can dig up." Arachnid said as she headed toward the door. Ratchet watched her as she slid it open, pausing in the doorway. "Say hi to Chrome for me would you?"

Ratchet gave her a dark look as she grinned, showing off her fangs before she spun around and into the hallway.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Focus." Arachnid purred as she left and Ratchet walked to the doorway in time to see Focus glance away from her.

"Yeah. Sure." He mumbled before glancing up nervously once she had left. He then proceeded to shoot Ratchet a murderous glare, jabbing a digit into his chassis as he stalked back into the room.

"I hate you some orns. You know that?" He growled as he stormed past.

"You have no idea." Ratchet muttered as he followed Focus back inside.

So hopefully, the next chapter will be out sooner. I doubt this coming sunday because I am busy all week (grrr...) but I'll do the best that i can. I got my grubby paws on a 45 gallon fish tank so I'm in the processes of getting that set up so my loaches and catfish have more room.

I also have a crazy good idea for a fic that i'm dying to kick off along with this one so what ever feels like getting over writer's block first. We'll see what happens.

See you all next time!