Author's note: I think no matter what way I wrote this chapter, I was going to end up disappointing some people... sorry if you dwell in ''Camp Disappointment''... hope you still stick around :-)

Chapter 135 – Common Ground

Elita P.O.V

''YOU!''

It would seem I had unknowingly kept a promise I had made to myself – to meet this femme and try to make some sort of peace or truce. As she stood before me sword drawn and her face creased in a mixture of surprise and indecision, I wasn't sure what chance I stood to achieve that.

For a moment, an entirely different battle was waged as we stared each other down and sized each other up. She was taller than I was by a good few foot, her frame more robust and her paint work reminded me of a certain mech who seemed to hold both our sparks. /Optimus!/. At the thought of him, I was reminded that this was the femme who had stolen him from me, that she was the one who had caused me so much pain and anguish.

I took a menacing step towards her, gripping my blaster tightly as I raised it towards her helm. A snarl escaped my dermas as I was momentarily engulfed in memory and pain.

Her optics widened in shock for a moment and her whole frame tensed as she took a small step back away from me as I continued to stalk towards her. A nanosecond later, she raised her sword and slid a pede back to get into battle stance. Her optics narrowed, and though they held regret, there was no fear lurking within them.

/So, not afraid of me then?/. I felt my angry sneer fade to a smirk as I closed the distance between us. /Good!/. It had come down to this moment. Separated by continents, time and choice, there was nothing now to come between us – not even Prime.

A flash of movement from behind her left shoulder as a 'Con closed in caught my attention. I hesitated for a moment. /She saved YOU 'Lita/. Without warning I fired a shot behind her helm, taking out the Decepticon filth. Quickly turning to follow the path of the blast, she snapped her helm back towards me, a small smile on her dermas. ''Thanks -Elita.'' She gave a nervous laugh, ''For a minute there I thought you were aiming at me.''

My smirk remained on my dermas as I began to slowly lower my blaster away from her helm. ''For a moment there – I WAS aiming at you – Phoenix!''

She did not gasp or show any sort of shock at my words, merely nodded her helm. ''Fair enough.'' She lowered her sword slightly, though her optics never left mine.

I stared at her attractive face, drawn to her brown and gold flecked optics. /Unique in more ways than one it would seem/. Though I stared intently at her, she did not seem intimidated. She stood her ground, her chin held high, a quiet fire burning within her optics. A smile spread slowly across my dermas as I recognised within her the same fight, the same spirit that burned within me. /I see it Prime; I am beginning to understand what drew you to her/. I lowered my blaster to my side, though I did not lower my gaze. I gave a small, wry smile. ''So, YOU are the Phoenix I have heard so much about.''

She nodded her helm once again, ''Yes Elita, I am Phoenix.'' Her face suddenly creased in concern as she raised a servo towards me. ''LOOK OUT!'' In a flash, Phoenix sent several fireballs flying past my helm to dispatch of a group of advancing 'Cons, though one managed to evade the flames. Stepping forward, she pushed me aside to punch them in the face before bringing her sword down to separate their helm from their shoulders.

/Just like Prime said, she has special powers like me/. I turned back to face her. ''Perhaps it is I that should be thanking you Phoenix.''

Phoenix's body seemed to tense at the loaded meaning in my comment though she did not lash out at me, she did not retaliate in any way, she simply awaited whatever action I deemed necessary. /It's as though she feels she must atone for her actions/.

The sound of an explosion going off nearby broke the moment of tension between us. Phoenix shook her helm and held a servo up in supplication, ''Look Elita, there is much we need to discuss, much we need to talk about but for now..'' she gestured around her at the carnage and chaos that surrounded us.

I nodded my helm and interjected, ''Agreed Phoenix. For now, we have common ground and - a common enemy.'' I smiled again and although I watched her start at my last words, she nodded her helm in agreeance. I raised an optic ridge in her direction. ''Shall we?''

An answering smile spread across her pretty face and that same fire flashed in her optics as she unsheathed a very impressive looking sai, and a familiar battle mask slid into place. ''I thought you'd never ask Elita.''

I laughed out loud at how a shared desire to fight Decepticons seemed to dampen whatever animosity and issues that hung between us. ''Let's show these Decepticon and Cemetery Wind scum how femmes throw down.''

Phoenix gave a low, threatening chuckle, ''With pleasure!''

We both surged forward in the direction we had last seen Hound and the others, a swarm of those infected prototypes descending upon us from all directions under a hail of bullets and missiles.

We began to slash and shoot, punch and kick, slice and blast our way through the advancing waves of Decepticons. We moved in unison, each protecting the other's flank, advancing and falling back to cover each other. It was as though we had fought together before, instinctively knowing when the other needed cover and backup.

As I watched Phoenix attack and defend out of the corner of my optic, I was loathed to admit she made an excellent warrior. She was both powerful and graceful, determined and brave. /Optimus and the others have trained her well/. As she rounded on another group of 'Cons, taking them out in a swift series of punches and savage slices of her energon blade, it was obvious she possessed a natural instinct for battle that was impressive. I gave a low growl of frustration. /Damn it to the pits 'Lita! DON'T slagging well begin to like her!/.

I gave a loud yell as I channelled my annoyance, anger and confusion and savagely backhanded a 'Con across the face, shoving my blaster into their chest and pulled the trigger. As the smouldering corpse fell to the ground, I ducked and dropped to my knees as I saw Phoenix sweep her leg back to send a Decepticon who was running towards me, sprawling on the ground. A shot from my blaster to their helm ensured they did not get up. Even as I prepared to stand, another 'Con ran towards me.

''Stay down!'' Phoenix commanded as she swung her blade forward right beside me. The blade passed so close I could feel the breeze as it sliced through the air and up past me to sever the thorax and throat of the 'Con. Energon spattered across her helm and I heard a feral snarl.

I rose to my pedes and sent a quick nod of thanks her way, which she returned, before we both headed down the car strewn street. I called out to her as we cautiously advanced, ''I'll try and make contact with Hound and the others to ascertain their location so we can try to regroup. They may need our help. Phoenix, can you provide cover?''

She nodded her helm, a small smirk on her faceplates as we jogged along, ''I think I can manage that Elita.'' I felt a quick flare of irritation at her slightly sarcastic comment, though having witnessed her form in battle just now, it was perhaps a redundant question to have asked. I stifled my irritation as Phoenix hesitated a moment, before tentatively asking, ''Have… have you heard from Optimus and the others on the ship Elita? Are they okay?''

I faltered slightly in my steps at the mention of his name, a fact that did not go unnoticed by her. By some unspoken agreement we came to a stop under the cover of an overhead bridge, facing each other. I stared at her for a moment, her optics seemed filled with concern and something else…. shame?

I eyed her carefully. ''No, I have not heard from Optimus or the others Phoenix, nor have I tried to contact them myself.'' She tensed though did nothing more. I shifted on my pedes as I glanced around before I once again laid my optics on her and folded my arms across my chest. ''Why don't you contact Optimus yourself Phoenix? To be honest, I am surprised that neither of you have done that as yet.'' I watched her reaction with some interest, and I admit, some satisfaction.

Her optics went wide in horror and she shook her helm silently before she averted her gaze from mine momentarily, a sadness settling in them. She brought her arm up to wrap around her waist and I let out a gasp at the familiar action before I gave a small laugh of recognition.

Her optics snapped to mine, a flash of anger in them as she ground out through gritted denta, ''Why are you laughing Elita? I fail to see what is funny about this situation.''

My laughter died down somewhat, though I kept my smile on my dermas as I shook my helm in amusement. ''I am not laughing at you Phoenix, merely at our similarities.'' Her optical ridge furrowed in confusion and in explanation I raised my arm and wrapped it about my waist in mirror image to her own. ''THIS!'' I laughed again. ''I do this too when I am worried, scared, frustrated, nervous or sad.'' Comprehension seemed to dawn slowly across her face and she visibly relaxed.

I shook my helm again as I released my arm from about my waist and placed both servos on my hips. ''Prime would always react when I did that after I arrived and it wasn't until a few days ago when we both had a chance to,'' I hesitated a moment as I considered what to say to her, ''resolve some misunderstandings between us and move forward that I learned from him that it was something YOU did too and that is why he reacted.'' My smile faded slightly as I recalled that moment. ''It reminded him of you.''

It was Phoenix's turn to gasp at my words and a glimmer of hope filled her optics. She looked around somewhat nervously before fixing her optics firmly on mine. I felt my smirk return. I knew what she was about to ask and yet - I waited. ''Elita, please forgive me for asking you this, but you said misunderstandings just now. What did you mean by that?''

I hesitated a moment. /Do I tell her, or do I brush her off?/. A lone 'Con came into view and I fired my blaster at it as I deliberated, his body crumpled and fell to the ground. I ex-vented deeply, not only because I knew there would be many more 'Cons shortly as he was likely a scout, but because I had made my decision. I cared deeply for Optimus, always would, and I knew how much he cared for the femme before me, how much he loved her and, despite how I may feel about her, I would set her straight on a few things so she might begin to rebuild and repair their relationship, just as she had graciously given us the chance to do.

I smiled at Phoenix and reached up to place a servo on her shoulder. She tensed slightly at the unexpected contact from me, though she did not move away or show any sign of unease. ''Phoenix, the misunderstandings I referred to just now between Optimus and I are in reference to…''

A sharp pain tore through my right shoulder as several bullets ripped into me. I cried out in shock and anger as my left servo flew to my damaged shoulder protectively. ''SLAG IT TO THE PITS!'' I screamed in annoyance as I rounded to face my attackers.

Phoenix had slammed her battle mask into place and moved to stand in front of me, bravely shielding me from the volley of bullets that were surely about to be fired upon us. I tensed myself in anticipation – but they never came.

Phoenix raised her servo at the 'Cons, a feral growl of rage emanating from her dermas as she swept her servo before her, sending the 'Cons flying like human rag dolls, slamming them into the side of a building. She stepped forward and using both servos, sent a wall of flame in their direction, finishing the job.

I stood there transfixed by her actions and her fury. The pain subsided as I watched her send another wave of fiery wrath towards two other 'Cons on a rooftop as they prepared to fire at us. She unsheathed her blade and turned to face several more as they raced towards her. Using her left servo, she levitated the shell of a burnt-out car and flung it into the advancing group, scattering them.

Taking advantage of their distraction and disorientation she rushed at them, sword and sai drawn, slicing and hacking at them with brutal force and deadly precision. It reminded me of Optimus and how he would deftly and easily strike his opponents down. Her paintwork, her battle mask, her moves. /So similar… and yet…/.

Two 'Cons ran at Phoenix from behind, their blasters drawn. ''BEHIND YOU!'' I screamed in warning as I stepped forward and raised my blaster, my injury forgotten. Phoenix had finished off the last 'Con before her and she spun around, retracting her sai and sent an invisible ''shove'' in their direction, knocking them off their pedes. As they flew back, I fired several shots at them taking them out.

Phoenix retracted her battle mask and jogged back over to me; concern etched on her face. I lowered my blaster, wincing slightly though the pain was receding as my repair systems started to kick in. While I would need to see Rachet, I would survive. /You have endured MUCH worse 'Lita, shake it off!/, I mentally chided myself.

Rushing up to me, Phoenix gently placed a servo on my uninjured shoulder as her optics swept over the damage, assessing my status. Her voice was filled with guilt as she addressed me. ''Elita, it is my fault you are injured. I should not have asked about Optimus and the others at this time. I should not have pressed you to engage in such a discussion while we had another objective to achieve.'' She hung her helm for a moment in shame before fixing me with a serious stare. ''Please, forgive me.''

I simply stared at her for a moment as her words sunk into me. /By Primus! So similar, they are so similar to each other in so many ways. She even slagging well speaks like him at times!/.

''Elita? Are you okay?'' Phoenix's optics flicked over my face, searching for a response.

I shook my helm, ''Yes Phoenix I am fine. I've seen worse.'' I sent her a small smile as I began to walk in the same direction we had been heading, stepping around the charred and broken remains of the 'Cons she had laid in her wake. ''And no need to ask for forgiveness. For that or anything else.''

I heard her pede falls as she fell into step beside me, and I sensed her confusion coupled with a sense of relief, though she refrained from speaking. ''You are right on one thing though,'' I glanced at her, ''now is not the time for you and me to discuss what has transpired between the three of us.''

''Agreed Elita.'' Again, a slight pause. ''Though perhaps, when this is over, you and I might have a conversation of our own and clear up any misunderstandings between us?'' I sent her a sideways glance at her clever use of words to subtly indicate I had not answered her previous question. /Clever too. She is deserving of him 'Lita – face it/.

I felt a small smile form on my dermas yet again. ''I think… I think I would like that Phoenix.'' I stopped for a moment and she slowed beside me too. ''Just so we are clear on one thing Phoenix, the misunderstandings I referred to before, between Prime and I,'' she nodded encouragingly, that hope burning in her optics again, ''the misunderstanding was I thought I was in love with Prime.''

Phoenix seemed to hold her ''breath'' at my words, as if waiting for me to confirm what she feared to hear. She shuttered her optics once as she tentatively asked, ''And…. Are you? Is he.. does he love you?'' Her optics bore into mine, searching, hoping.

I gave a small sigh and smiled at her. ''Phoenix, I love Optimus Prime, always will,'' at these words her whole frame tensed rigidly as if she had just been pierced in the spark. Her optics took on a distant look, as if her processor had temporarily shut down, the thought too much to bear. ''But I am not in love with Optimus,'' I continued.

At these words, Phoenix's demeanour changed. Her whole frame seemed to sag in relief, as if I had just removed the weight of the world from her. She closed her optics and brought her servo up to rest over her spark as if to contain it as my words washed over her. After a moment, she once again opened her optics and drew herself up to her full height, a new energy surging through her, yet her optics seemed sad.

''I'm sorry Elita. I thought if I gave you both the chance..'' she began to explain her actions but I waved my servo at her to stop.

''I know Phoenix, and I am grateful but,'' I smiled at her, ''it wasn't meant to be.'' I gave a small ironic laugh as I once again began to walk and then jog down the street. She fell into step beside me. ''Besides,'' I threw her another cursory glance, a wry smile on my lips, ''it is a somewhat pointless endeavour loving someone when their spark clearly belongs to another.'' It was not my place to actually tell Phoenix that Prime loved her, that was his right to tell her and her right to hear it from him. I would not rob them both of that pleasure.

Out of the corner of my optic I watched as her face lit up and she stifled a sob of happiness. The biggest smile plastered across her face. ''Now I'm going to try to get in touch with Hound and the others again. We have to be close,'' the sound of explosions and heavy gunfire was drifting towards us.

''No worries, go for it,'' she smiled at me again, ''I'll try and provide some cover for you this time.'' She nodded her helm at my damaged shoulder with a cheeky grin.

I smiled back, ''That would be appreciated, if you can manage it,'' I taunted back. My servo flew up to my audial as I accessed my comms attempting to patch in to three of my team. ::Hound, Ironhide, Rachet, it's Elita, acknowledge::

There was a brief moment of silence and I felt my spark fill with concern. /Are they okay? Has something happened to them?/. A second later Hound and Rachet's voice chorused in unison, ::Acknowledged. What is your status?::

I smiled as I prepared to inform them of my situation. ::I took a hit in my right shoulder, but I am functional. I am enroute to join you. Please transmit coordinates to us immediately::

::Wait! US? Who is with you? Did you meet up with Rachet, 'Hide and the others after you got separated from Bee and I?:: Hound's voice held confusion though I heard the coordinates ping through and I automatically adjusted my path towards them. We were only six blocks away.

::She is not with us Hound:: Rachet's voice replied, equally confused.

::And it isn't Optimus, I just contacted him about what to do with the humans, the bald one was pissing me off, but he is still outside the city with Jazz Crosshairs and Drift so can't be them:: Hound divulged. ::Unless…. ::

Here I go! ::I'm with Phoenix. We ran into each other::

There was a moment's silence before a gruff voice spoke up, an underlying tone of humour to it. ::That hit to your right shoulder wasn't from Phoenix was it?:: It was Ironhide.

I snorted indignantly down the comm line. ::Certainly not Ironhide! It was a 'Con::

::So… you two are…. I mean you have…:: Rachet seemed lost for words::

/Bloody mechs!/. I rolled my optics. ::We have come to an understanding and we are getting along just fine. Thanks for your concern::

::Well I'll be fragged! Looks like we BOTH lost Rachet:: Ironhide's voice seemed amused.

::Lost what?:: I asked confused as we closed in on their location.

::A bet:: Ironhide replied.

::On what?:: my curiosity was piqued, though I had some idea.

::I'll tell you later, kinda busy at the moment:: as if to emphasise the point I heard Ironhide discharge his cannons.

There was a nervous cough, ::OR... not at all:: Rachet chimed back in.

::This conversation is NOT over. Hound, approaching your position now from a south easterly direction, Elita out!::

Hound gave an amused chuckle through the comm as he weighed in one more time. ::The conversation might not be over but both of YOU might be once she hears what your bet was about. Hound out::

I could not help a smile from forming on my dermas despite the fact I was about to head into the middle of utter chaos. I had my friends with me. I glanced at Phoenix as she ran along beside me, sword drawn. /Old and perhaps - new/.