Author's Note: I'm sick! _ No wonder I got this chapter done so quickly! *cries and huddles in a corner with a boal of chicken sop* In anycase, there are lot's of spoilers for "Let Fate Decide" in this chapter, so becareful if you haven't read it.

Chapter 8

Blackarachnia braced at the wave of strong nausea that hit her. Her vision blurred and she stumbled forward. A rush of images flashed past her optics, and she cried out in pain. When the experience passed, she straightened herself. A new realization present in her mind. She knew who had caused the scar on her face.

"Optimus lied," the female said in a clear voice, more to herself than to Dinobot. "That bastard!"

Her movement was smooth and fluid, but strong and sure as she pushed her way past the former Predacon, and headed twords command. Blackarachnia marched into the command center.

"You lied to me, Primal," with that tone of voice she sounded a lot like Depth Charge with a serious chip on his shoulder. Optimus, who was a little struck at the accusation, faced her. "You said Isis never dealt with Tarantulas on Cybertron!"

"I said I didn't know," he calmly corrected her.

"You're lying again," Blackarachnia's temper exploded. "You know something happened, that he did something to me. Tell me what it was. What did he do?"

The Maximal leader regarded her for a long moment. He could see the determination, the fire in her scarlet optic. The female raised her head as a sign that she would not back down or leave until she go her answer.

"Now I realize why Prowl suggested you for this mission," he shook his head with a chuckle. "You're an admirable woman, Blackarachnia; you face whatever fate throws at you head-on. Unfortunately that also means that you loose your innocence earlier than many others."

"Get to the point, ape," her voice was venomous.

"The point," Optimus replied, ignoring her insult, "is that people will do almost anything for knowledge, but with it comes a terrible price: the loss of innocence."

The female chuckled humorlessly, rolling her shoulders back, hands on her hips. "In that case I have nothing to loose," there was a mix of sorrow and regret in her voice. "I have no innocence left."

"You have no idea what he did."

"That's why you're going to tell me!"

Optimus realized he had no choice in the matter. She would find out sooner or later whether she remembered something or someone accidentally told her. She might as well hear it from him. "About three stellar cycles ago," he began, "You became a prisoner of war. At that time, Tarantulas..."

"Shifter."

"Right, Shifter. He was in charge of dealing with the POWs. Some were killed instantly, most suffered first. Isis Khmer..."

"No," Blackarachnia interrupted, holding up her hand. "I appreciate the effort, but don't try to soften the blow by pretending that it was someone else. There is no longer a distinction between Isis Khmer and Blackarachnia."

"Alright," Optimus nodded, once again amazed at her inner strength. "You were one of the unlucky ones."

"What did he do?" she repeated, fists clenched at her sides.

"Torture and... rape," Optimus forced the last word out of his mouth.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Going somewhere?" Backarachnia whirled at the sound of the harsh voice behind her. Dinobot stood at the back entrance, arms crossed over his torso plate.

"Do you know what he did?" she asked bitterly even though she already knew the answer to her question.

"Yes I do," the old warrior confirmed with a nod of his head.

"Of course you do," she scoffed. "Everyone knows."

"Silverbolt doesn't, not concisely at any rate," he corrected himself.

"How can I face him?" Backarachnia shook her head. "How can I face any of them ever again? They'll only see me as a victim, and that's the last thing I want to be."

"I understand," Dinobot nodded in reply. "But going after Tarantulas now will not help the situation. I know you; you're very stubborn and once you get an idea into your head, it is very difficult to dissuade you. But you're not thinking straight, Backarachnia. Your judgment is clouded by anger, and that could very well cost you your life."

"No big lose," she muttered under her breath, but Dinobot caught it.

"Did you hear a word of what I just said, li..." he shouted, then caught himself and sighed. Reaching into a containment unit, he pulled out a hologram projector.

Once it was switched on, Backarachnia saw the image. It was a little girl who looked no older than eight stellar cycles of age. Her face was lit by a wide smile, bright scarlet optics shining. Behind the girl, she noticed another transformer, who was bent on one knee with one hand on the girl's shoulder. This bot appeared to be in his middle or even late twenties, with violet optics that were focused on the girl.

"He," Dinobot pointed at the older transformer, "wouldn't want you to do this."

She blinked and looked up at the former Predacon. "This is my brother? Taratron?"

"Yes, and now guess who the little girl in this picture is? This is your innocence, Blackarachnia," she still didn't move her optics fixated on the holographic image. "At least wait till morning," he pointed outside where the sun had nearly sat. "Nothing good ever came from the night, but dawn will come, and with it, it shall bring new hope. Until then, rest. You've had a difficult day."

Finally snapping out of her trance, she nodded reluctantly, and then reached for the hologram projector. "How did you get this?" she took it from him, examening the imege again.

"Your brother gave it to me before his execution," Dinobot replied. "I suppose it's yours now."

"Thank you," the female switched it off and placed it in her back containment unit. "I just wish I could remember him."

"He cared for you very deeply. At least take comfort in that."