Disclaimer; I own Shadow Stalker and the plot. That's it.

Warning: Due to language and violence, this series is rated PG.

Of Shadow And Light

Chapter 4

Tempest

by Switchblade X

Somehow, defying all logic, Dinobot was still alive by the time Silverbolt and Shadow Stalker got him back to the Axalon. But just barely.

"Here." Shadow Stalker said, holding a vial of green liquid toward Rhinox.

"What's this?" he asked, cautiously taking it.

"It's a sample of the venom." she answered. "I got it from Quickstrike before we left."

"An' you jus' happened ta have a empty vial on hand?" Rattrap suspiciously inquired.

She nodded, "No idea where it came from, but I'm sure glad I had it. Be careful, Rhinox; that shit just about ate through the vial."

The scientist nodded, "Thanks."

"Shadow Stalker, come with me to my office." Optimus said. "I need a full report."

Wordlessly, she stood, and followed him down the hallway.

"Will Dinobot be okay?" Cheetor asked.

Rhinox sighed, "Cheetor, I hate to admit it, but I have no idea."

................................................................................................................................................

Rattrap was waiting for Shadow Stalker when Optimus released her. She walked by her former neighbor without acknowledging his presence.

"What's happened to you, Shadow?" he asked, falling into step with her.

She didn't reply.

"Why are you actin' like dis? Dis isn't da Shadow I remember." When he still got no reply, he continued. "Whatever happened ta da girl who used ta beat da livin' daylights outta anyone who made fun 'a me because I was short? Whatever happened ta da girl who was always tryin' ta make people smile? Whatever happened ta da old Shadow Stalker, da one I grew up wit?"

"She's dead." Shadow Stalker spat. "She died a long time ago."

"Did she? Or did you kill 'er? …You don't even remember me, do you?"

"I don't have time for this."

"Den make time! What da hell is wrong wit you? You've been nothin' but a pissy-assed bitch eva since you got here! What happened?"

"Life happened, Rattrap! I finally saw the universe for what it is; a cold, uncaring place where it's every man for himself."

"That ain't completely true-"

"It is, too! Look, I don't have time for this. Leave me alone." She picked up her pace.

"I got two words for you; anger management."

She spun around to face him, "Fuck off."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me! I said fuck off! You think I don't remember you?! I know exactly who you are! You stood by and watched as those psychos dragged my family and Dinobot's out into the streets and ripped their sparks out! You stood there and did nothing!"

"What da hell could I have done?! I was a kid! What was I supposed ta do, whip out a Uzi an' blow deir heads off? I ain't brave like you an' Dinobot, Shadow. I can't make life an' death decisions in half a millisecond. I wish I coulda done somethin' but I couldn't!"

"Innocent people were murdered for no good reason, and no one did a damn thing!"

"No one coulda done anything! Look, I'm really sorry about what happened. Get over it, okay?"

She glared at him for a moment, her anger threatening to boil completely over. "Fuck you. You Maximals are all the same; you think your shit don't stink. Well, I got news for you; you ain't no better than the flies that feast on rottin' carcasses and animal crap." She turned abruptly on her heel, and marched down the hallway.

Cheetor bumped into her. "Excuse me." he apologized.

"Go to hell." she snapped.

"Geez. What was that about?" he asked once she was gone.

"Dat, kiddo, was a very angry young woman." Rattrap answered.

................................................................................................................................................

Silverbolt headed to the command center dreading his shift at the monitors. He was lucky; he had the first shift.

Shadow Stalker sat at the command center's table, adding another drawing to the sketchbook that she had brought to Earth (among other things) in a small subspace pouch that she kept secured to her belt at all times. Music blared from her headphones. She had been sitting there for hours.

She looked up when she sensed his presence, hitting the pause button on her audio player, and removing her headphones, letting them hang around her neck.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you." he said, stopping in the doorway.

"You're not." she replied, beginning to gather up her things.

"You don't have to go."

She paused, looking at him curiously.

"Please don't go. It gets kind of lonely up here."

At this, she raised one eyebrow, "Are you saying you want me to stay?"

"Please?"

She slowly returned her sketchbook and audio player to their original places, never taking her eyes off of him.

"What're you listening to?" he asked, heading for a computer console.

"Marilyn Manson. The Golden Age of Grotesque."

He nodded, "Ah. I liked that album."

She stared at him, "Are you serious?"

"Yes. I love human music; it has so much more soul than our music."

"Amen to that. I don't give the humans much credit, but when it comes to music, they dominate."

He smiled, "I prefer hard rock and heavy metal."

"Huh. Me, too." She looked at him closely, "Are you sure you're not shittin' me? Cuz you really don't strike me as a fellow metal-head."

"I kid you not." He grinned, "Appearances can be deceiving, you know."

She nodded. "I thought you didn't remember anything."

"I don't. Completely, that is. I do remember fragments, however. Apparently, what kind of music I like is one of those fragments."

Again, she nodded.

An awkward silence fell. Silverbolt shifted uncomfortably, but Shadow Stalker seemed completely oblivious to his uneasiness.

"…Shadow Stalker?"

"Huh?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"I guess."

"Why are you here?"

"I already told you people; I was lookin' for D."

"That's not what I meant. Why are you still here? You're the most anti-Maximal person I have ever met. Why do you stay here with us instead of going to the Predacons?"

She took a deep breath, "First and foremost, D wants me to stay here. He wouldn't want me to be here if you guys were dangerous. Second, Megatron needs to be stopped. He used to be a friend to D and me, but then he went nuts. And third, I don't have anywhere else to go. …Why are you here?"

Silverbolt blinked, "What do you mean?"

"You're not like the others, Silverbolt. You have a sense of honor. It's not as complex as D's, but it's there… You're different. You're so chivalrous and good… You shouldn't be fighting this petty war. Why are you here?"

"I'm fighting because it's the right thing to do."

"Is it? If we do so much as fuck up once, we could not only alter the timeline of our race, but of the humans as well. True, this war must be fought, but is it right to invade someone else's home in order to settle our paltry disputes?"

He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped, contemplating all that had been said.

"I like you, Silverbolt; you're different, like me. Just remember, though; sometimes chivalry can get you shot."

Another long silence followed her last statement. Silverbolt could feel her optics on him, sizing him up, looking at his soul. He looked at the floor, suddenly terrified of what she might discover just by looking at him.

"…You're a half-breed, too."

He nodded, feeling ashamed.

"Maxi-Pred?"

Another nod. He closed his optics, suddenly fighting back tears. He didn't know why he was choking up, but he was. Something about admitting he had mixed blood felt like admitting to a murder charge.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"That's what you think."

"…They tormented you, too, didn't they?"

"Yes. And, unlike you, I wasn't able to stand up for myself. Unlike you, I didn't have a walking weapon with me at all times."

"Children are among the cruelest of things. I know some of the original Megatron's interrogators, and they are nowhere near as cruel as children. But, being a half-breed isn't anything to be ashamed of. In fact, you should be proud of it, cuz if a war ever breaks out between the factions, you know how your enemy's mind works. That's a huge advantage."

"That's easy for you to say. As if I'm not miserable enough knowing that I'm not even a full-blooded Maximal, my beast mode isn't even one creature! I'm a freak either way you look at it!"

"You are not a freak. I'm a freak; you're normal. But, hey, bein' freaky ain't all bad. I rather enjoy it, actually."

He smiled in spite of himself. "You would."

This made Shadow Stalker grin. It's about time I got him to smile!

"You're insane, Shadow Stalker. Completely and utterly insane."

She cackled maniacally, "I knooooow! Isn't it grand?"

He was about to say something, but the nearest CR chamber hissed, and began to open.

Author's Note: Thanks to Libero H and Amity-Star for the reviews! They are greatly appreciated. More to come!