Chapter 41

Dart trotted into the council chamber, her optics widening at the sight of so many senior mechs all in one place. Lingering by the doorway, she had witnessed the whole conversation, and had watched Sari storm out of the chamber, followed by an unusually docile Alexis. Dart tilted her head on one side as she watched the two of them leave. She knew Alexis well enough to know she wouldn't just meekly accept such a damning proclamation.

What are thossse two planning, I wonder?

Bumblebee and Arcee were gathering datapads and talking quietly to one another. Optimus Prime was leaning forward, both palms flat on the table, apparently deep in thought. Ironhide was at his side, glaring at an oblivious Starscream, who was also lost in his own thoughts, his optics narrowed and his long fingers drumming pensievely. At the sight of Ratchet, Dart's spark lifted and she moved forwards, further into the chamber. The crowd around the table was beginning to disperse as she approached the Autobot medic.

'Hello.'

Ratchet didn't look down - her voice was soft and Dart hadn't become accustomed to raising it. The only mech to acknowledge her was Starscream, who glanced briefly at her before reaching for his energon cube. Even though she was no longer bound in servitude to the Decepticon leader, Dart still felt a thrill of fear shoot through her each time she saw him - as if, at any moment, Starscream might re-invoke her slave status and have her dragged back to the energon mines. She'd had several nightmares about this very occurrence, in fact. In these nightmares, sometimes Optimus Prime would come and see her, solemnly proclaiming that her Autobot status was a mistake, and that she would have to leave. Other dreams involved Decepticon sentries stalking into the lab to drag her away, as her peers looked on, silent and indifferent. Every time she would shoot upright in her berth, trembling all over, her slender fingers wandering to her Autobot insignia to check it was indeed still there.

Mentally shaking away the sinister memories, she timidly tapped at Ratchet's plating. The medic looked round, then lowered his gaze, spotting the diminutive dragonfly. 'Hey kid.'

'What'sss going on?'

Before Ratchet could reply, several heavy items crashed into Dart's arms and she gasped as she instinctively caught them, taken by surprise. Ironhide was looming over her.

'There you are, bug. These datapads need wiping and re-coding. Take 'em over to the tech guys on level six.'

'L-level six?' she stuttered. 'But… but I'm not going that way…'

'It won't take you a moment. Get moving.'

Dart shifted the pile in her arms, feeling her temper rise within her. The word came out before she could stop it. 'No!'

Chatter in the room ceased as all optics turned towards her. Dart shifted from one foot to the other, already regretting her outburst. Ironhide paused, frowning at the diminutive mech. 'What's your problem, bug?'

Her spark fizzed within her chest as the anger re-surfaced. 'My name isss Dart!' With a grunt of effort, the dragonfly hefted the datapads up onto the table. 'And my problem isss you!' Under the burly warrior's stare she faltered slightly, and then Alexis' words to her, spoken only a few days ago, swam into her mind. 'O-Optimusss p-put this badge on me, and th-that means that I f-fragging deserve it. And the ressspect that g-goes with it!'

Ironhide placed his hands on his hips, staring at her. Starscream suddenly erupted into laughter, making Dart jump in alarm. 'Oh, Ironhide! Slapped down by a hatchling!'

'Dart makes a point, Ironhide,' said Ratchet. 'You have been disrespectful to our newest recruit lately.'

Ironhide looked around the chamber, taking in the stares of his compatriots, and finally resting on Optimus' calm gaze. The Autobot leader nodded once. 'Okay, fine,' he conceded grudgingly. 'I guess I've been a little rude. Newbies have to earn their stripes. But still…' He grunted. 'Just…. getting used to having an Insecticon as an Autobot. I… I uh… apologise.'

Starscream chuckled into his energon cube, earning a glare from the red mech. Dart, already looking embarrassed by her outburst and the subsequent attention drawn to her, nodded in acknowledgement. 'Thank you.'

Looking awkward, she reached for the datapads, hefting the pile into her arms. 'I'll take these. As you sssay, it won't take long.'

'I'll give you a hand,' said Arcee. 'I wanted to talk to you about something anyway.'

The two of them exited the hall. Arcee glanced behind her once, before leaning down, muttering something quietly into her companion's ear. Ironhide watched them go. He was visibly smarting from the confrontation. 'Damn femmes! So touchy all the time!'

Another chuckle from the Decepticon jet caused him to scowl and whip his head round.

'Are you still here?' he growled to Starscream, who smiled insolently, before raising both feet and placing them with arrogant insouciance onto the table.

Ironhide, seething, strode over to Optimus, who had just dismissed Bumblebee with instructions to monitor the Earth surveillance feeds. Other mechs were beginning to file out, emptying the chamber. 'Optimus. A word.'

'What is it, Ironhide?'

Ironhide glanced over at the reclining figure of Starscream, lowering his voice. 'That was all just a little too easy, don't you think? Alexis just accepting Starscream's decree like that? Something's up!'

Optimus Prime regarded Ironhide with his usual mask of dignified calm. 'Starscream is on our side. He knows the danger of attempted rescue, and we cannot deny his love for this planet surpasses…'

'...his love for Alexis?' Ironhide cut in. 'Maybe we can trust Starscream these days -' he grunted, as if he highly doubted it. '...but her? Something's up!'

'Trust is absolutely key right now,' replied Prime firmly. 'Whatever Alexis truly feels about all this, I have faith that Starscream will not allow the cherished peace of our world to be placed into jeopardy.'

Optimus clapped a hand onto Ironhide's shoulder, heading towards the doorway. The warrior mech let out a suspicious 'Hmph,' then gritted his teeth at the sound of Starscream's languid drawl behind him.

'I'll just see myself out then, shall I? If you've quite finished your little tantrum, Ironhide.'

Ironhide gritted his teeth. He whirled around, striding up to the table. Without hesitation he reached out a hand, swiping Starscream's feet off the table. 'Don't think I don't know your little game, Starscream.'

There was a deathly silence. Starscream glanced at the spot on his thrusters where Ironhide had touched him, then his stare moved up to the Autobot's face. His mouth was curled in a bored, contemptuous sneer, but his optics burned with anger. 'And what game would that be, Autobot?'

The last word was drenched in such disdain that it may as well have been the filthiest insult. Ironhide balled his fists. 'You may have fooled Prime, Decepticon, but you don't fool me. Every decision you make is designed to indulge that girl. Your judgement is so clouded by her that you…'

With the speed of a striking snake, Starscream was on his feet. Before Ironhide could react he was pressed against the wall, Starscream's hand wrapped tightly around his throat, and the whine of multiple charging weapons in his audios.

'Don't test the limits of my temper, Ironhide,' Starscream hissed in his audio. 'Truce or no truce, if you ever accuse me of faulty judgment again, I'll kill you.'

Ironhide charged his own weapons, grimacing and thrashing in the jet's grip. 'Get your servos off of me!'

'My decisions are my own, and they are no concern of yours, or anyone else,' snarled Starscream, ignoring Ironhide's struggles. He tightened his grip, lifting the Autobot off the floor, his blind strength fuelled by utter fury. 'Do you understand me?'

'Get off me Decepticon!'

'I SAID do you understand?'

'Drop him, Starscream.'

Starscream paused, turning his head. Optimus was right behind him. His weapons were still sheathed, but his fingers were flexing, ready to withdraw if necessary. Starscream sniffed disdainfully, opening his hand, allowing a cursing Ironhide to slide down to the floor.

Ironhide glared up at him as Starscream kept his weapons aimed at his face. 'Look me in the optic and tell me you won't just let her run off and put our planet in danger.'

Starscream merely sneered at him. 'You think whatever you want, Autobot. But I will repeat my threat, and you should know that I don't make empty threats. I rule the Decepticons, each and every last one. Alexis knows what is at stake, and she will obey my command. If you presume to challenge the legitimacy of my authority again I will wipe you out.'

'ENOUGH.'

Prime's broad arm pushed Starscream back with enough force to send him stumbling to right himself. The Autobot leader reached down, brusquely pulling Ironhide to his feet. 'Ironhide, go to the mess hall immediately. You and I will discuss this later.'

'Yes Prime.' Ironhide got to his feet, muttering to himself and stalking out of the chamber. Starscream sheathed his weapons, his glare following the warrior mech as he stomped out of the hall. 'If you want an apology, Prime, you'll have a long wait.'

'Fighting is the last thing we should be doing right now,' rumbled Prime. 'I will speak with Ironhide. He has lived a long time…'

'As have I. As have we all,' Starscream shot back.

'...And as such both sides are having to adjust to this new alliance,' continued Prime with determined patience. 'Ironhide will come round. Despite occasional setbacks in our coalition, deep down we all know that unity and peace for Cybertron is more important than petty squabbles.'

'I wouldn't classify a direct challenge to the strength of my authority as petty, Optimus,' growled Starscream.

'Alexis and Sari are young, even by human standards,' said Optimus, unperturbed. 'This will be more difficult for them to process. They don't possess the awareness of how rash actions could endanger our planet. I trust you, Starscream, and I trust Alexis. But you need to prove me right, and prove Ironhide wrong. Keep a close watch on her.'

'You don't get to tell me what to do,' snarled the Decepticon leader through gritted teeth. He spun on his heel, striding for the exit, without a backward glance.


Frenzy approached the soaring doorway to the atrium of the slave quarters. Rumble trailed behind him.

'Why are we here again?'

Frenzy spun on his heel, holding up a finger. 'You don't get to grumble at me right now, buddy.'

'You said we were going for a drink!'

'I just gotta do something first,' muttered Frenzy, his mouth a thin line of trepidation. Blackout, stationed on guard, raised an eyebrow as they approached. 'What do you want?'

'Access,' replied Frenzy, tilting his head back. 'What's the problem with that?'

'Well, normally there'd be no problem,' said Blackout with ironic courtesy. 'If you possessed the appropriate rank. But either my scanners are faulty, or someone's been a naughty boy, 'cause it looks like you've been stripped of all privileges.'

Frenzy's shoulders slumped. 'Oh. I forgot about that. Frag…'

Blackout leaned down. 'What happened to get you demoted? You must've really pissed off Screamer. C'mon, give Uncle Blackout the juicy details…'

'Somethin' about the company I keep,' said Frenzy darkly, shooting a look at Rumble. He turned his face back up to Blackout, beseechingly. 'Please Blackout, just… pretend you didn't see me! Help a bot out!'

'What's it worth?' Blackout grinned, shifting from one foot to the other.

'What do you mean?'

'What do you think I mean, casseticon?' Blackout rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. 'Pay up…'

'What? That's extortion!'

'Yup. So come on. What've you got?'

Frenzy spread his palms wide in exasperation. 'I dunno… three hundred credits?'

'Call it four hundred, scrap bucket, and we got a deal.'

'Ugh! Fine!' Frenzy tapped his com link, scowling as the credits went through. Blackout stepped aside, ushering them through with a mock bow. 'Welcome to Human Slaveland, Cybertron's finest squish-bag attraction. Be sure to check out our exhibits and take a moment to peruse our souvenir stand…'

'Oh shut up, Blackout!' Frenzy strode inside, closely followed by Rumble, as above their heads Blackout chortled to himself. 'Souvenir stand… oh Primus… I'm good…'


Frenzy winced at the echoing racket of thousands of voices bouncing around the cavernous space that housed the human slaves. Crossing the vast space, he spotted an opening, guarded by a drone who mercifully didn't question their presence. He and Rumble made their way inside, finding themselves in a narrow corridor. To the right was the thick mesh separating the prisoners from the main atrium. To the left lay the individual living quarters.

The place was chaos. Humans were everywhere - every age and race. They sat on the floors, or slumped against the walls. Some were staring into space. Others were crying. One young woman was on her knees, rocking back and forth. Others shrank back at the sight of Rumble and Frenzy, as if afraid they might be attacked. Rumble stared, aghast, failing to hide a sneer of disgust. 'Ugh, look at the state of these! What are we looking for?'

'Who, not what,' corrected Frenzy. He began to move down the narrow, spartan passage, stepping over legs and shouldering aside a small group of panicked teenagers. 'Lucy! Lucy? Where are you? Lucy!'

A weeping older woman grabbed Rumble's leg as he tried to move past. 'Please, help us, what's going to happen to us?'

'Eurgh! Let go of me!' Rumble lifted his leg and shook it irritably. When the woman let go, he hurried after Frenzy, barging aside another woman clutching armfuls of clothes. 'Why have you brought me to this insane asylum brother? What exactly…'

Frenzy didn't slacken his pace or look behind him. 'You could be helping me out instead of whining, Rumble! We're trying to find Lucy. Help me!'

The two mechs came to a ladder, hauling themselves up the metal rungs onto the next level. Frenzy's optics swept this way and that as he strode along, cursing as he lowered his hand from his com-link. '...Can't even access the blueprints to this place! Lucy? Lucy!'

They reached a dead end in the form of a shabby line of people, who were queuing up for something. Frenzy grabbed the shoulder of a grizzled man, turning him to face him. 'What's this? What are you doing?'

The man cringed back, his eyes wide with fear. 'We're waiting for the doctor…'

'Doctor?' Frenzy stared at him, then began shoving his way down the passage, edging his way between people clutching bloodied makeshift dressings. After a few moments he found himself at the front of the line, looking into a clean, brightly lit space.

There were three humans in the room. A plump middle-aged woman was standing to the left of a central table. On the table sat a young girl, her skinny legs dangling. The plump woman was speaking to her quietly. On the other side of the child, a young red-head gently sponged the side of the girl's head, wringing out the cloth into a bowl of water. Frenzy felt his spark jolt in his chest. 'Lucy!'

The humans stopped, as one turning their heads towards him. The plump older woman stared at him, confused. Lucy slowly lowered the bowl onto an adjacent surface, wiping her hands dry on a towel.

Nobody moved or spoke. The plump woman, somehow sensing the tense atmosphere between the mech and her colleague, nudged the girl off the table, taking her small hand in her own. 'I'll give you a few dressings for that bump, okay? Then we can take you back to your mom. Come on…'

She ushered the child out, leaving Frenzy and Lucy alone. Lucy bit her lip, her anxious glance darting between Frenzy and the curious humans lingering behind him.

'W-What do you want?'

Frenzy rubbed the back of his neck, his optics dropping away from her. Primus, she was so beautiful, even in the baggy grey overalls of slave rank. Her hair was piled into a messy ponytail, curls spiralling in every direction. He opened and shut his mouth a few times, feeling suddenly bulky and freakish in his mech form, lost for words.

'I… I was hopin'... to speak to you.'

'Okay,' said Lucy quietly. 'There's an empty room next door…'

Frenzy waited awkwardly as she politely ushered the next patient in, helping them onto the table with reassurances she would soon be back to attend them.

They moved through into the next chamber, which looked at first glance to be a makeshift pharmacy, the stark metal shelves stacked with boxes, bottles and dressings.

They stood in silence for a few moments, looking everywhere but at each other. Lucy finally broke the silence, the volume of her cry in the small space making Frenzy jump.

'You never let me finish!'

Frenzy's optics went wide. 'W...what?'

She took one step closer, her large eyes looking into his. 'I said you never let me finish, back up in the med bay. You didn't let me finish what I was going to say!'

Frenzy looked down, ashamedly. 'I thought you didn't want me…'

Lucy tilted her head, and shrugged as she sought to find the right words.

'Well, it was a big shock, to find out… that… you know…'

She gestured towards him, and Frenzy hung his head. 'I know.'

She came closer still, laying a pale hand on his armour. Her eyes sought his red optics, and she looked up into his face, exploring every part of it. 'I can still tell it's you, you know,' she said lightly. 'You've got the same voice, and your expressions…'

'But I'm not human anymore,' said Frenzy sadly. Lucy placed a hand onto his cheek. 'No,' she said softly.

'So how can you want me anymore? You said you were deluded!'

Lucy rolled her eyes. 'I told you, you didn't let me finish!'

She turned away, busily re-arranging a few large boxes, pointing to one. 'Sit there, you daft man.'

Taken aback by her calm, no-nonsense manner, Frenzy sat, not knowing what else to do. She folded herself onto another crate, tucking her legs beneath her. The casseticon noticed the red stripes on her overalls, frowning. 'What are those?'

Lucy glanced at them, undoing her ponytail and running her hair through her hands. 'Huh? Oh… it's to say I'm medically qualified. A lot of the people got bashed about in the brig on the trip to Cybertron so I'm just helping Jane with the…'

'What, like, paid?' Frenzy could feel his spark pulsing nervously. His worst fears were confirmed when Lucy gave a short laugh. 'Paid? As if! I'm a slave now!'

Frenzy let out a moan, dropping his face into his hands. 'Oh Primus… I'm so sorry…'

'What's to be sorry about? I'm alive, which to be honest I'm quite surprised about. I went to find you, got caught, then ended up in front of Starscream…' she shuddered at the memory. '... and he offered me to go home or stay here. As a slave.'

'He demoted me,' said Frenzy. Lucy tilted her head, and gave him a weary smile. 'Yeah… sorry, but I think I've come off a little worse here, if we're getting competitive.'

'You're taking it pretty well,' said Frenzy slowly, and she laughed again, deftly knotting her hair up once more. 'I know, right? I'm a prisoner on an alien planet and I almost died at least twice in as many days! She looked into his face, shivering once more. 'When I got caught by the soldiers I thought it was the end. And then, when I was with Starscream I really thought I was going to die. When it didn't happen… well… it's like I feel so much stronger, because I survived everything that's happened these last few days.' She paused, her brows creased in thought. '...Or maybe it just hasn't sunk in properly yet. At least I'm safe here. Sort of.'

She leaned forward. 'How'd you get shot?'

Frenzy offlined his optics. 'Joshua Black. The scumbag that captured Alexis. I went to rescue my brother…'

He suddenly got to his feet, pacing back and forth, slamming his palm into a shelf in agitation. 'I wish these last twenty-fours had never happened! My human body is gone and I'm just supposed to… move on! I hate this!'

He spun round, opening and shutting his hands in agitation. 'This was a bad idea,' he said shortly. Lucy half-rose, her mouth open in dismay as he strode towards the door. 'I shouldn'ta come… I should have stayed away…. I'm sorry…'

'No, no no! Don't leave!'

Lucy darted in front of him, pressing against him as he halted in the doorway. She placed her hands on the hard contours of his chest, tracing her fingers across the Decepticon insignia. 'Stay. Please. I've missed you, now that you're here I… I realise that. Please stay.'

He looked down despairingly at her. 'How can we ever have what we had before?' He gestured to himself hopelessly. 'Look at me!'

'I am, I am,' she said softly. 'I told you, you ran off before I could finish what I was going to say.'

'Then say it now,' he said, his hands moving to cup her elbows.

'I have been deluded,' she said slowly. 'Whilst we've been together. I only really thought about you as Freddie, my Freddie. I pushed away any thoughts of your true self. It made things… complicated, and it was easier to just ignore it. But that was wrong of me. You're Frenzy.'

'But I don't wanna be,' he said wretchedly. 'I wanna be human, with you!'

'You are with me,' she said gently. 'We're together now, the two of us. Isn't that enough?'

'But how can this work?'

Lucy took in a deep breath. 'I don't really know yet,' she said slowly. 'I'll be honest with you. But… I don't want to just not see you anymore and forget about what we had. I don't know quite what this is yet, but I do care so much about you… and who you are is still the same…'

Frenzy stood still, his optics looking deep into her eyes. 'I'll take that.'

She gave a hopeful smile. 'You will?'

He smiled wanly back. 'Yeah. Let's take this one step at a time. C'mere.'

He gathered her into his arms, and she leaned forward, bumping her head against one of his protruding intake ducts. 'Ow.'

She giggled, and he grinned, resting his chin on the top of her head. 'Sorry, I'm not squishy like before.'

'I can take a few hard edges,' she replied lightly. 'I'd better get back to work. I'm being monitored, after all.'

She held up her slave cuff, the purple light winking at the pair of them. Frenzy grimaced.

'I still don't like it, you being a slave and all.'

'Care to take it up with management?' Lucy grinned, and Frenzy hurriedly shook his head with a shaky laugh. 'I'm not exactly employee of the month, so… yeah. We'd better suck it up for now.'

'Can I see you again?'

'I'll come back as soon as I can, as often as I can,' he replied, without hesitating. 'I had to bribe Blackout to get in here, so I may end up a little poorer but… it'll be worth it.'

Lucy gave him a radiant smile. 'Thank you.'

They drew apart, their fingers intertwined until the last moment. Lucy stepped back into the med booth, giving him one final wave. As he walked away, Frenzy felt a strange lightness in his chest, followed by a rigorous thump. He paused. For a moment… it was as if a human heart was beating inside his chest instead of a spark… but no, that was stupid… he was imagining things…

Rumble detached himself from the wall as Frenzy approached, passing the line of humans waiting to be seen. 'Well? You found her?'

'Oh, I found her alright,' said Frenzy cheerily, a new swing in his stride as he approached the ladder. 'And you know what else?'

'What?' Rumble hurried to keep up, curiously noting his brother's new buoyant mood.

Frenzy flashed him a grin, swinging himself with agile ease onto the ladder. 'I didn't just find her. I got her back. This day is finally lookin' up! Let's go get that drink!


A rare chapter with no Alexis.

By the way I made some changes to the end of the previous chapter. I didn't like how Alexis seemed to come up with a plan just like that. Can't be making her life too easy now can I? Anyway sorry as ever for the long gap in posting. I hope everyone is okay. Inspiration has been very elusive and work has been manic, blah blah, you know the drill. Thanks for all the lovely reviews. Stay safe :)