Chapter 6

After Blackarachnia left command, Optimus sank into a chair with a heavy sigh. He wasn't ready to deal with this, not now. There was too much to do for him to worry about Isis Khmer, and the possibility that she might indeed be Blackarachnia. Optimus knew her life history very well, but he'd only met Isis Khmer once before she boarded the Axalon. Still the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

First of all, there was a stunning physical similarity between Isis Khmer and Blackarachnia. Both were about the same age, with a blue paint job, and unmistakable crimson optics. While it was true that a transformer could change his or her appearance almost as easily as humans changed cloths, the resemblance was still remarkable. Then there was her attitude. Optimus had noticed it about Isis Khmer the first time Prowl had pointed her out. The girl was willful, fearless, and a bit outspoken. All three qualities were good descriptions of Blackarachnia. Lastly there was the matter of her combat skills. There were few females in the Maximal army, and while it was a given that they were good fighters, Isis was the best among them. Blackarachnia's skills were just as good, if not better.

Optimus took a deep breath and stood up. There was only one sure way to find out. He had to check the list of stasis pods and check if the ID number Blackarachnia provided matched with the number of Isis Khmer's pod. As he searched the files, his mind ran over his earlier conversation with the female. As much as he regretted it, Optimus had to admit that he had made one mistake. He had lied to her.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Well?" Blackarachnia was becoming very impatient. She had no doubt that Optimus knew the truth, but for some reason he wasn't saying anything.

"I need to speak with the others," Optimus announced, apparently ignoring her question. "I'm calling a team meeting."

"For what?" she demanded. "What does this have to do with anyone else?"

"Look," Optimus turned to her, "the subject of Isis Khmer is very… complicated. I need to explain to everyone what's going on. So the sooner you can help me get everyone to command, the sooner I can tell you what you want to know."

* * * * * * * * * *

Since the first place she passed was the VR simulator, Blackarachnia decided to check if anyone was there. Most of the time it was a safe bet that if anyone was using it, it would be Dinobot.

Stepping inside the metal dome, the first thing she noticed was that her vision was impaired by a thick fog. Part of the simulation, she noted thoughtfully. So someone is here.

"Dinobot," she called into the fog. There was a sound of two pieces of metal hitting against one another, but aside from that there was no other response. She ventured deeper into the fog until finally it began to part. By the time it disappeared completely, the female realized that the room she was standing in had an ancient earth-like look to it. There was a window on each of the four walls, but all four had blinds over them that seemed to be made of some kind of light colored wood that had been cut into thin strips. The floor was also made out of wood, but it was different. It was softer, and seemed to consist of long, thin cylindrical tubes. Bamboo, she recalled. This type of wood is called bamboo. The room felt odd. There was just something not right about it. The more she thought about it, the stronger the pain in her mind became.

"Maintain focus," a deep male voice commanded. "Concentrate."

Blackarachnia shook off the strange flashback. "Concentrate," she told herself and called into the depth of the simulation. "Dinobot, are you in here? Optimus called a team meeting. He wants to see all of us in the command center."

For the second time there was no response, and Blackarachnia was becoming agitated. "Dinobot!" her voice was more urgent.

She was finally rewarded with an angry snarl. "What?!" the old warrior emerged from the doorway of the weapons locker, and frowned at her. His look softened as he recognized that she was clearly upset about something. "What is it?" he inquired in a softer tone.

"This place," she waved her hand indicating their surroundings. "I...I've seen it before."

"Yes, I am sure you have," Dinobot raised an eyebrow in a quizzical look, failing to see what she was addressing."It is a combat setting that I often use in my training exercises, so I would not be surprised if you came across it before. Why is it a problem now?"

Blackarachnia stopped to compose herself, and the strange feeling faded to the back of her mind. "I don't know," she admitted. "I guess I've just been feeling a little off lately. You know the whole becoming-a-Maximal thing and all," then she remember why she was looking for him in the first place. "Oh yeah, the ape wants to see all of us in command for a team meeting."

"Humm," Dinobot released a deep growl. "Very well. Inform Primal that I shall join you shortly."

Blackarachnia nodded and prepared to leave. "Just out of curiosity," she asked, turning back to face him, "what setting is this?"

"This is a simulation of a Dojo," he replied. "A battle room from an ancient human country called Japan."

* * * * * * * * *

The eight Maximals had finally gathered in command. Optimus was pacing at the main council. Cheetor and Rattrap were talking in the corner, wondering what this was all about. Rhinox sat at his usual place, silently watching the rest. Blackarachna sat down in one of the chairs along the perimeter of the room, with Silverbolt standing behind her. Filling in a corner at the farthest end was Dinobot. He remained partially concealed by shadows, but his powerful senses surveyed everything that occurred in the area.

The Maximal leader stopped, and turned to face his audience. After clearing his throat, he finally had everyone's attention.

"I feel I owe you all an apology," Optimus began to speak. "I'm sure most of you have heard of a female named Isis Khmer. Whatever you've heard, I now ask you to forget it, because most of it isn't true. The fact is that about three settler cycled ago, Isis Khmer was assigned to the Axalon mission. Since she was a soldier, a very good one, her assignment was to keep Protoform X in check."

"Huh," came a sarcastic voice from the doorway. Depth Charge, who had just arrived, scoffed angryly. He folded his arms over his torso plate and leaned on the doorframe. "And here I was thinking you were the only one who screwed this up, Primal. Apparently there was someone else who was a total failure. What a complete surprise," his voice was heavy with sarcasm.

Blackarachnia looked away, and Optimus sighed, very frustrated with the aquatic Maximal. "Depth Charge, be quiet."

"I'll do you one better, Primal; I'll leave," he turned and walked out with an angry growl. "Never send a female to do a man's job."

The Maximal leader shook his head, but didn't bother calling him back. "It's just as well," he turned to the others. "Isis was assigned to a stasis pod, but she was no ordinary protoform. Because of her task, she was allowed to keep all of her memories."

He stopped speaking and let that sink in, walking across the room. Blackarachnia noticed that several of the other Maximals glanced in her direction. They were starting to see the connection. Silverbolt, who stood behind her, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I assumed," Optimus continued, "that she was terminated, because Airazor and Blackarachnia were the only females to survive. In addition, neither of them seemed to remember anything. What I hadn't taken into account was that Tarantulas and the shell program caused interference."

"So," Rhinox reasoned out loud, and looked at Blackarachnia. "You're Isis Khmer?"

The female didn't reply, but Optimus nodded. "Yes, she is."