Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.

Lizzie: *angry* What the frag Authoress? It's been what? Months? And I'm supposed to be surviving on the Nemesis while you get to be curled up on some couch with a...what is that?

Authoress: *hides drink* Now Lizzie, I didn't mean to slack off on your story. I even have it outline pretty far ahead. I just...get distracted.

Vox: *motions to hidden drink* And what is that drink behind your back?

Authoress: *guilty chuckle* Nothing.

Chapter 21: K.I.S.S.

Lizzie's 1st P.O.V.

My breath stuttered as I ran back and forth between the barriers that Thundercracker and Vox set up for me. With me being allowed out in the field, thanks to my suit, the other bots thought that it was fitting that my training increase in difficulty. So, even though I was still getting used to firing a blaster period, I now had to take evasive fire and pray that I could aim this thing moderately well.

"Keep your grip on your blaster!" I quickly remedied my grip and gave one nod before checking around another corner once T.C. said that. Immediately, I had to hide behind the barrier as a paintball came flying toward me at speeds no human paintball gun could produce. When I did get hit with those, unless it hit my helmet, it resulted in quite the bruise. I had one on my butt that was the size of a

"Don't forget to have your blaster servo closest to the opening!" And that was Vox. Yes, he knew that my hand was called a hand by humans, but I had asked everybot to refer to that stuff on me by the same terms that they used. I figured that them doing that would help me get into the habit better.

While he hadn't said anything about me using human terminology yet, I figured that it was best to get a head start on it. Try to predict Lord Megatron and all. I was in good graces so far, but since I was causing tension with the spider and Astrotrain, I had to be careful.

Reaching around the corner so my body was out of the firing line, I fired some shots at the device shooting at me. After about ten seconds, I sprinted across the way until I was behind another barrier. The objective of this training simulation was to get as close to the target as I could, and hopefully take it out, all while avoiding enemy fire and bonus points for 'taking them out'.

Of course, they were shielded so I wouldn't actually take them out but the shield registered if the shot would take it out. All in all, this made for a nice system for training me without wasting too many resources.

Taking out another defense, my mind went to the recovery mission this solar. Thankfully not planned out by me, I knew that this was the mission for the cylinder that held the formula for synthetic energon. While normally I would want the Autobots to get it if this had gone normally, now I was not sure about it. True, the Autobots probably needed it more than we did in one sense since they didn't have many if any, energon mines that they could access. However, being with the Decepticons now made me realize that they needed every mine that they could keep going because of the number of troops that they had to sustain. Not only did they have the main troops, like the Autobots, but they also had hundreds upon hundreds of drones to care for as well.

I wasn't that big of an issue right now since all they had to do for my food was raid food pantries and other places like that. I was pretty sure that they had even raided a Little Debbie factory at one point. My food pantry was still stuffed full of the cakes that were brought back from that food run. I bet that if I looked up about recent unusual robberies, then I might find something about that.

I wasn't quite ready to tell the other Decepticons about health and how humans should be given a balanced meal plan. I was just lucky that I was getting food. So, Little Debbie cakes worked just fine for me for now. Maybe I would ask for something a little healthier if I survived to season three. Of course, I should keep moving to get past season one in one piece.

While Airachnid and Astrotrain had kept their distance from me for a while, I had a very good feeling that they were not done with me yet. As I took out the target, I sighed as that thought continued to beat in my head. As a strategist, I knew that I had to keep up on what was going on around me because that could affect how laid out my strategies.

"Not bad in there Lizzie." I turned to Terrance and John as the soliforms walked up to me. Terrance, who had spoken, continued. "You just need to make sure that you keep your blaster servo relaxed a little more when gripping it. You had the thing in a death grip and it was messing with your aim."

John then spoke up. "Plus, you need to watch how your chassis is situated. There were a few times where you were delayed in firing because you stopped in an awkward stance." I hadn't realized that. I knew that I had been gripping the heck out of the blaster, which was something that I needed to fix, but I hadn't caught on that my footwork during this training was that bad. I did alright with it during servo to servo training so I guess I let it slide here. Not a mistake that I would be making again.

"Sounds good bots." I responded as my way of saying that I would definitely work on it.

Terrance looked like he was about to say something else when he paused. That might not be so good. Hopefully, it was something simple like "Sorry to cut this short Lizzie, but Vox and I have to go on patrol now."

Good. Patrol was simple and not worrisome for me. So, I shrugged at that and nodded. "It's all good you two. I could use a break anyway. See you both later?"

John seemed relieved. "Thanks, Lizzie. I'll show you a few tricks that you can use to get over your grip issue later."

"And I have a few training exercises that you can work on to improve your stance." Terrance added before the two of them moved to the door. While they were supposed to be using Cybertronian words around me, I was helping them learn about blending in with humanity better and suddenly disappearing when finished with a conversation, not such a good idea.

Once they were gone, though, I let out a sigh. I really hadn't wanted to keep working on blaster work. While I knew it was important for me, my lack of previous experience made me feel like I wasn't improving when it came to my training.

However, as I put my helmet back on, I knew that there was one kind of training that I did here that I did feel like I improved in a lot. "Hey Blitz, you there?" I started a call to the triple changer.

It didn't take long for my favorite triple changer to respond. "Hey Lizzie! What are you up to?" Random greeted me. Since either Icy or Hothead were normally the dominant personas out, Random usually was the one that answered my calls.

"Nothing too much Random." I answered him as I started to make my way out of the range. "What are you three up to right now?"

"We are at one of the mines right now." Hothead answered that question. "Why do you want to know? You aren't planning anything with Random again are you? I had to sit with Shockwave for a psychotherapy session after the last stunt you two did! I do not want to sit in another one! Do you hear me?!"

I flinched at Hothead's rant. But, at the same time, a smirk found its way on my face. That stunt was pretty cool in retrospect. I got Random to act like he was being taken over by a fourth personality while Breakdown was walking by. Made him act like it was going to be a psycho-killer. Breakdown freaked out so bad that he told Knockout, and next thing Blitzwing knew, Knockout was there knocking him out with a sedative. He then had to sit in a therapy session with Shockwave until he proved that there were only three personalities in that head of his and not four like he was pretending.

While he had been doing that, though, I had been able to avoid my checkup with Knockout long enough to get some more work done on the Praxian database. Even better, Blitz didn't squeal that I put him up to it, so I didn't get in trouble for that stunt. Of course, now I owed Blitzwing majorly.

Speaking on Knockout, though, the good doc had started work on studying human medical practices and he enjoyed getting to work with me during the checkups. It took four of them, though, to convince the good doctor that the best thing for him to do to learn the information most accurately was to actually use the soliform for the checkups instead of his actual form.

Well, it took talking and him getting his digit…

...Mentally forgetting that image again.

Focusing back on my conversation with Blitz, I decided to ease Hothead's worry. "Don't worry Blitz, nothing like that. I was actually wondering if the three of you wouldn't mind working with me on some hand to hand combat training later? I just finished blaster lessons with Thundercracker and Vox and, after I take a break and work on the Praxian database some more, then I could use a few rounds with physical training."

Even though we were communicating through the comm unit in the helmet I was wearing, I would swear to my dying day that I felt a smirk from the other side before Hothead answered. "Oh, then we would love to work with you. But, can you wait? Our shift here won't be done with for another seven cycles. Eight cycles until we work out sound good?"

Well, it would give me a lot of time to work on the database. Plus, it looked like Shockwave was working on something fun when we were working together last. This would give me time to see what the mech was up to. "Sounds good Blitz. See the three of you then." I then hung up the line before moving toward Shockwave's lab. I had a long time before my training session with Blitzwing and I had to make sure that I didn't get bored before then.

Zarron's 1st P.O.V.

This wasn't right. If I wasn't such a logical bot at times, then I would think that Primus just had to fragging hate me right now. Finally, after Earth weeks of investigation, I brought in a confidant here in the form of Wheeljack and what happens?

Oh, that's right...we go out for a simple recovery mission and the item we were going after gets activated by Paul running into it and a beam has, according to the doc, slammed a scrap-ton of information into Wheeljack's helm. Information, according to him, that held the secret to creating a form of synthetic energon. With how strained the reserves are right now, then this was important.

But, just a few clicks ago, we found a problem with that. Wheeljack was starting to become so absorbed in the formula that it was taking over his processor. He was losing his memories and that was not something that should happen to a bot, no matter what.

But, from the consensus that was going around the room right now, then it looked like some bots thought that it would be worth sacrificing Wheeljack to get the information. As it stood, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Blaster, and his symbiots were the only ones to definitively say that we needed to save Wheeljack before the information took over his processor completely.

On the other servo though, Pitch, Sentinel, Flamewar, and surprisingly Arcee seemed to think that it was more important to get the information than it was to save one of our own. With Ironhide's iffy answer just now, it seemed like I was the only one who hadn't said anything about the situation. Everbot else seemed to be with Ironhide on the fence about the situation.

Frag it! We were Autobots! This was a situation that we would study about the Decepticons, and what they would do! Why was it so difficult for these bots to see that no matter the cost, we needed to save our comrades. From what I studied when the war started, this was the kind of decision that Decepticons alone would make to gain information. The fact that there were Autobots in front of me, Autobots that seemed to be on the up and up, who were hesitant about saving one of our own was driving me insane!

This mission of mine was becoming even more complicated. Even Cliffjumper, who I was sure that I could clear, was hesitant in what should be done about Wheeljack. Now, all the Autobots here were suspect in my investigation...again. Frag, I was going to need a high grade after all this was done with.

"What about you Zarron?" Optimus directed the fated question toward me. This shouldn't even be a question, and yet here we were. It took all of my willpower not to glare at the bots surrounding me as Optimus continued. "What do you believe should be done?"

"What I think should be done?" I restated his question. I could feel anger boiling in my lines right now and I was not happy with how this solar was going. "What I think Prime is that the lot of you need to get your helms out of your afts if this is even a question right now. Wheeljack is one of our comrades...one of our allies, and most of you lot are ready to throw him in with the cyber-wolves." Before I blew up even more, I decided it might be best to return to my room for now. I would not do Wheeljack any good if I was out here tearing Sentinel apart and making Ratchet have to stop working on him to fix the aft. "I'm going to my room. Don't disturb me unless something changes with Wheeljack."

"We will." Optimus answered and I could see a want for him to stop me. But, with the tension storm that I just caused, he hopefully realized that it was best for me to get away from this fragging toxic environment for now.

Resisting the urge to shake my helm in annoyance, I turned and made my way down the housing hall. Once I was at my room, I opened my door and walked inside before pausing. Once the door was shut behind me, and I locked it, I snarled and grabbed the closest loose object, which was one of the sharpening stones that I had out earlier, and threw it with all of my strength. The opposing wall had a large indent in it now as the stone laid on the ground.

As my systems cycled, I fought with myself for control. Those fragging monsters! Even considering putting my friend's existence in danger like this...all to get some fragging formula! What happened to the Autobot side where this was even being considered an option? If this was the time of the war when I had joined, then there would be talk of court marshaling and exile for any Autobot who spoke out like this when the situation threatened the health and safety of another Autobot.

Glancing at the table next to my berth, I saw one of the datapads that Balm gave me before I left that had some medical information on it. Maybe they would have something on them that would help me find something that would help Wheeljack fight back against this virus...for that was what this was, and help him beat it. I didn't care about what happened with that Primus-forsaken formula. It could get lost forever for all I cared about it.

As my optics scanned the information on the datapads in front of me, my processor drifted to that night-cycle that I had left my Autobot contingent. One of my other friends, Tana, had offered to come with me. She had been so demanding...as she normally is, that I had almost given into her back then. Thinking now about the situation that I was in, I found myself almost angry that I didn't let her come with.

But, then my processor reminded me about who was here and I knew that I couldn't. I couldn't have let Tana come with me no matter how much of a good idea it seemed to be. She, and the Guardians as a whole, had a past with Sentinel Major that was not good and if I brought her here, then I would be stirring up that trouble and, with everything else that I had to compete with, it would just hinder my investigation even more.

Letting out a sigh, my rage from earlier gone but not the anger that it brought, I continued to search through the data pads. If there was a previous answer to the problem we were now facing, then it would be here in the notes that Balm sent with me. She knew my penchant for trouble and always made sure that I had ways to help myself.

Paul's 1st P.O.V.

Well, outside of Zarron's little hissy-fit just a bit ago, then this was turning out to be going just how it should. I had to admit that, when Wheeljack had ended up in the path of the beam once I hit the cylinder, instead of Bulkhead, I was worried. Wheeljack seemed to be causing change when I really didn't want it. Even now, this episode was changed in the fact that Wheeljack was currently in a forced stasis while the others talked about what to do.

But, outside of that, the episode was following suit. The formula was taking over Wheeljack's processor and he was writing out bits of it on the walls. Something that wasn't worth worrying over yet was that Ratchet was not pushing for Wheeljack to keep the formula in his processor like Arcee was. Unlike in the actual show, Ratchet was in the camp that wanted to get the formula out of Wheeljack immediately. He had even said it bluntly without hiding it. One of the few Autobots who did so.

While it would be painful to keep watching this like we were, I knew that as long as we remained vigilant then we would be able to get the portion of the formula that we needed while, at the same time, saving Wheeljack from losing his processor completely. This was a delicate situation but, with the past information in our playbook, then Miko and I had to make sure that we followed what should be going on. If anything else started to move away from how this episode of time was supposed to work, then we could very well have issues in keeping everything together.

And that could be deadly with everything that has been going on. Between all of the new Cybertronians that showed up so far this season and the changing tides when it came to events that were supposed to happen, then we could lose Wheeljack. That couldn't happen. We needed him in season three and in the movie afterward. Losing him here because of the formula portion that I needed to get from his processor would be horrible.

But, thinking about Wheeljack did remind me of the conversation that I had with said bot this morning. We had been sitting around with a few of the other bots when I had asked Cliff if he had heard anything about Lizzie from the Decepticons. Even though she 'told' me that we were to break ties, seeing the video footage of the other humanoid working with the Decepticons told me that she probably didn't actually mean that, but she couldn't risk further contact with me because she might be overheard.

Anyways, when I had asked Cliffjumper if he had found anything out, I had been surprised when Wheeljack had been the one to answer me. The other solar, back when we had Thundercracker during what was supposed to be 'Partners', Wheeljack said that he had questioned the seeker about my MIA employee. But, he said that Thundercracker, while willing to say things about the Autobots and how they had been acting in the view of the Decepticons, the triplet had been very tight-glossa acting about Lizzie and her current position on the Nemesis.

If I didn't know any better, then a part of me would believe that Lizzie was no longer even alive on the Nemesis. It would explain all of the lack of information coming from them and, since the last time I heard from Lizzie was clear back after Rudolf Island, then that possibility seemed even more real. But, I had to have faith that Lizzie really was fine and this would not interfere with what was going on. Whoever this other organic is seemed to be dangerous if they were sent to deal with MECH troops to free Breakdown and Vox.

"Hey Paul," I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to Miko as she spoke. "shouldn't we get over to Ratchet and see what we can learn from him? That stuff you showed me about right now says that I should be going over there. This isn't Bulk in trouble but I still want to help as much as I can."

I glanced over at the medic and noticed that he was at a point where we could talk to him. "Sounds like a plan Miko. I'm glad that you're here to keep me on track."

"And that's a job in itself." She laughed before pausing. "Am I getting paid for this?"

Shaking my head with a laugh, I stood up and led the two of us over to Ratchet as he worked. "Hey Ratchet, you got a minute?"

The medic looked up from his work and stared between the two of us. "What is it?"

It was Miko who carefully worded what we needed to accommodate the change. "Wheeljack hasn't woke up for a while, and you all looked worried. Is he going to be alright?"

"Miko...we didn't want to frighten either of you." Ratchet started. "But, Wheeljack's processor is slowly being taken over by the information from the cylinder. At this rate, it won't be long before the Wheeljack we know now is gone."

I felt my eyes widen slightly at that, though it was more acting than anything else before I spoke. "And why aren't we just having Miko or me hit Wheeljack's helm to get the data out of him?" I made sure to put an upset tone in my voice, though I hoped that this pushing atmosphere I was creating wouldn't change what had to happen.

Thankfully, from the way Ratchet glanced over us, I had a feeling that things would stay on track. "Rest assured, Optimus has a plan to save both Wheeljack and the formula that is inside of him." While that is what the medic answered, I could hear a strain in his vocals...like this is nothing like what he wanted to happen.

While Miko and Ratchet continued to talk, I turned around to glance at what Ratchet had looked at. To my surprise, I saw that Optimus was walking with Zarron seemingly talking with Optimus. It was strange since, earlier, Zarron seemed to want nothing to do with Optimus and the others. But, here was the two-wheeler having what looked like a full-fledged conversation with the leader...and a civil conversation as well. While I was really curious about what was going on with those two, I knew that I had to return my focus to Miko and Ratchet. The time for luring Wheeljack out was coming soon and we were going to have to do some tricky stuff if we were going to make sure that happened.

Hopefully, things would go as the episode said.

Megatron's 1st P.O.V.

"Shockwave, status report." I ordered the mech in front of me. I had just returned from one of our mines, where production was down, and I needed something to take my processor off of that fact. Shockwave rarely disappointed me and I had a feeling that he would not disappoint me now.

"Of course my Lord." Shockwave responded before motioning to the monitor behind him. "Decryption of the Praxian database is going more smoothly than we could have anticipated. We have recently decrypted another set of coordinates for future retrieval. A place in a highly deserted area as well."

"Very good Shockwave." I praised the scientist. "And how has Miss Val been working with our systems?" I knew that the last time I checked, Lizzie was having slight difficulty with our more complex computer technicalities. This eventually needed to be rectified but, given that it had only been a few solars since I discovered the problem, then I doubted that she had made much progress in our standards.

Shockwave hesitated at my question, no doubt gathering the information that he needed for his report before he spoke. "Miss Val has made decent progress on understanding the more complex aspects of our systems. It has actually been due to her that I can also report that the soliform project is now complete and ready to be tested."

Really? I knew that a few solars ago when I had checked in with Shockwave on his subordinate and on his progress, that he had been having difficulties with the patch of code needed for consumption of more complex human foods. The conversion program from raw energy, like human food would produce for the being who consumed it, to our energy was completed seven solars ago. Now, the program was ready for testing.

However, while I wanted to think more about that, I knew that I needed to give Shockwave praise for completing this feat. "You never cease to amaze me, Shockwave." I also didn't fail to catch that Shockwave gave some of his credit to our human Decepticon. That meant that I needed to find her and give her praise for her work as well. "Shockwave, what is the location of Lizzie at this click?"

"I believe that she is receiving servo to servo combat training from Blitzwing now." Shockwave reported, staying at attention.

If it wasn't for the almost constant stream of pranks that were performed on a bi-solar basis, then I would believe that Lizzie did nothing but train. While that was a good aspect to have, I also knew the benefits of troops relaxing. It restored their mental stability as well as their physical strength. Knowing that she at least had...relaxing...activities to give her rest made me even more appreciative of the human.

"Very well. You may return to your work." I released Shockwave from attention before turning and walking out.

As I moved down the hall toward the training room, though, I found myself curious about our human. I wasn't blind. During Decepticon interactions with the Autobots, I had studied their humans when they were seen. The youngest of them was too young even by human standards to be near our conflict, but I could see intellect in his human optics. This would back-up the fact that the boy, according to Soundwave's report at the time, was the one responsible for keeping Soundwave out of the satellite array system until Soundwave was forced to use physical means to keep the boy off of the systems.

Then, there was the oldest human youngling. He seemed to have Optimus' attention and I could see why. The boy acted just like Optimus did when he was still Orion. He tried toward responsibility that was beyond his years but, when opportunities to act his age presented themselves, the older youngling male could not resist the chance to act like his age. I didn't see him as much as the other humans, but this was what I had observed so far. Our interaction during the cave-in during my test of Airachnid and Astrotrain showed me much of this observation.

Thirdly, there was the only human femme of the group. She seemed eager to help the Autobots, much in comparison like Lizzie worked to help us Decepticons. However, unlike our situation with Lizzie, the Autobots did not encourage this drive in the human femme and so she acted out against the Autobots. This was seen many times when the human femme came along to the battles. Of course, the young human did have help.

And that help came from the fourth human that needed observation. The human entrepreneur who was the oldest human on the Autobot side. I could see knowledge in his human optics and I knew that I had to be careful around him. If the Autobots brought the human in closer, as we had with Lizzie, then he could cause our fight to go toward the favor of the Autobots. While I wasn't completely sold on the idea, Knockout swore that the human male had purposefully hit the cylinder this solar, with the sole purpose of activating it. I was going to have to watch that human much closer.

My thoughts went to the back of my processor as I arrived in the viewing area. The only other being in the room with me was Soundwave and, besides a glance and nod in my direction, Soundwave did not even speak in his own way. Instead, he returned his attention to viewing the ground floor. The training down below must be very interesting to watch.

So, I moved to the viewing glass and I felt my optic ridge raise slightly in surprise. It seemed as if Blitzwing was training Lizzie in being outnumbered in a fight. To her left was Icy, and he was moving to Lizzie's blind spot as Hothead came at her directly. Random was not in the fight and seemed to be acting as a sort of referee to this training. Lizzie seemed calmed and collected, moving to make sure that Icy was not out of her sight while keeping Hothead at bay.

My optics followed the fight as Icy suddenly lunged at Lizzie, getting into what seemed to be her blind spot. I waited for the strike to hit the human but it never came. At the last possible moment, Lizzie turned and grabbed hold of Icy before guiding him to crash into Hothead. While they were entangled, Lizzie ran up to them and reached behind their backs before pulling off a small disk that was attached to their soliform necks. Once they were in her hand, she backed off of them and held the disks up to them.

Watching the human fight caused my own systems to want to get in the fight. Since the human seemed to still be battle-ready, I turned to Soundwave. "You are to remain in here and make sure that none touch my chassis. I shall return." I then focused on transforming while also sending a message to Blitzwing to report to the viewing room. I wanted to fight Miss Val alone and with all the space that I could afford.

Once Blitzwing responded that he was on his way, I wasted no time in activating my own soliform program and materializing on the fighting floor. As I came into being, I noticed that Lizzie was tense, most likely due to not having seen my own soliform before. But, after a few nanos of studying between the two of us, I saw Lizzie's body relax slightly before she bowed her head toward me. "Lord Megatron."

Since I knew that this form would need a human name, I picked one from the few that I had already looked into before addressing her. "In this form, I am to be called Mark Truman."

She took the change in stride. "Of course Mr. Truman." It didn't fail my notice that the girl also put in a form of honorific to my name instead of just addressing me by my soliform's first name. "Is there some way that I can be of service to you sir?" She seemed tense about my sudden arrival on the fighting floor.

So, to start things off, I nodded once. "Yes, but we shall get to that in a click. First, I wish to congratulate you for your work on the soliform project with Shockwave. I have been told that it is ready for testing. Plus, I have also been told that another set of coordinates have been decoded from the Praxian database. I felt that I should come and thank you personally for your work."

Lizzie look startled at my response to her and, for a few nanos, she stared at me blankly. She was probably trying to organize everything I said. Finally, though, she had a red flush color appear in her cheeks before she smiled. "I'm not deserving of such praise my Lord. I only wish to work for the progress of the Decepticon cause."

"Nevertheless, the praise is yours." I rebutted her modesty. Now, for the reason that I came to her in this form. "However, I was watching you train from above and I believe that this would be a good chance to train with this soliform. The movement available in this form is much more fluid than I am used to. Some training would seem proper."

Our human seemed to realize what I was hinting at and got into a battle stance, that seemed to be a fusion of Blitzwing's, Breakdown's, and Shockwave's before nodding. "Mr. Truman, I would be honored to be your sparring partner right now."

"Perfect." I responded, falling into my own stance before I glanced up at the viewing area and nodded.

It seemed like Soundwave understood what I was conveying to him because the lights dimmed slightly and a timer could be heard beeping slightly and at a slow pace. Once the sound became a solid siren, then that was the signal to launch. Looking at the human as I waited, I noticed that she was slightly tensed in her legs and shoulders. That would not help her in evading my first blow.

When the siren came, I went to launch at her when, to my surprise, she had covered half of the distance between us already. Immediately, I fell into a defensive stance and got my arms up as she struck out at me with a punch. "This won't be easy." She commented to me as she dodged my retaliation strike. Well, my first one.

The second one came from my knee and slammed into her midsection, throwing her back from me. "I could say the same to you, Lizzie." I told her as I went to close the distance. Pushing the advantage while I still could. I expected her to sweep my feet when I grew close enough, as instinct would drive most to do, but I was surprised when, instead, she rolled to the left of me and used the momentum she built to stand up and send an upward palm thrust to my soliform's nose. Immediately, my soliform's vision went blurry and, as I blocked her next strike while my vision cleared, I realized that right now Lizzie was a dangerous opponent. While I had millions of stellars of combat training over her, Lizzie was born into the form we were fighting with and she knew the small places that would cause secondary effects, like my blurred vision from the strike to my nose.

My fist connected with Lizzie again, causing her to back off as my vision cleared up. Good. I was in a position to take advantage of her retreat so I charged forward again and ended up having her restrained from behind. "Not yet my Lord." Lizzie seemed to answer my unspoken question of her tapping out.

I was confused by this until she suddenly slammed her foot into the inside of my own. The pain received was unexpected and I instinctively released her. She quickly moved away and, given that I had paused after her last strike like this, I knew that she would probably plan for that. So, instead of charging her, I waited for her to strike.

And the strike came quickly from her as she lunged at me and I felt my instincts kick in. When she was in range I grabbed her shoulder and started to throw her clear of me. However, in my instinctual reaction, I failed to notice that her leg had become entangled in my own. As she started to fall, she removed mine from beneath me and I began to fall. This was not good. My thoughts raced inside of me and I knew that, if Lizzie was to recuperate first, then I might get pushed into a corner. I would not be pushed into a corner by her. So, as I continued to fall, I reached for her and grabbed hold of her waist.

From her surprised look, she was not expecting that so, when we landed, she ended up beneath me, our faces inches apart, and our breathing staggered. Her eyes were wide and alert, locked on my own in surprise.

Lizzie: *panicking* Holy fragging son of the Pit I am going to offline!

Authoress: *confused* Why do you say that?

Lizzie: *glares* You don't update us for so long and the first thing you do is have me spar with Lord Megatron's soliform!?

Authoress: *smirks* Yep! And just wait until you see what I have planned for the next chapter! *walks off*

Lizzie: *pauses* What do you...? *turns to see Authoress gone* *yells* You get back here right now you sneaky little glitch!

AN: And here is the next exciting chapter of the story. I know I didn't round out the Autobot side of things but my main focus with them, for the time being, is to show conflict so story points might not flesh out in the chapter that they first appear in. I will tell you all that Wheeljack is just fine. He gets his memory recovered as Bulkhead did in the original. Plus, the synth-en formula is lost to the stars...or is it? *sneaky smirk*

Next chapter is going to take place during the whole synthetic energon bit. Should be a lot of fun on both sides. We will be working with the Autobots first and then we get to have some fun with the Decepticons and the soliform project! Hope to see you all there.

Alright, and now for the next couple of chapters of this story!

Chapter 22: How to Deal with Pressure

Chapter 23: Spark Fall

Chapter 24:...(getting closer to that season finale! So excited!)

So, that's all for now! Please leave a review so I know you all are still out there! I know I vanished for a little on this story but I swear I have the rest of this season and the beginning of the next season mapped out pretty intricately for me if I do say so myself! Well, until the next time, TTYL! *feels like she needs a drink*