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 9

Convalescence

by Switchblade X

"I feel so nasty." Shadow Stalker said upon exiting the CR chamber. "I shouldn't have let Rampage get that close."

"I should've kept a closer watch on you." Dinobot sighed, wrapping his arms around her. She was still shaking.

"Now, don't start this." Optimus broke in. "No one is at fault here. Shadow Stalker, Rampage is twice your size and three times your strength; Dinobot, you had Tarantulas to deal with."

"Fortunately for you, Shadow Stalker, you managed to tear Rampage up enough to keep him from inflicting serious as well as permanent damage upon you." Rhinox said. "One thing for sure is this; he didn't impregnate you."

"That's good." she quietly replied.

"However, the emotional effects of this might be…substantial."

"Meaning?"

"You'll probably have nightmares."

She nodded, "That's nothing new."

"I'll kill him. I swear it." Dinobot vowed, anger ringing clear in his gruff voice.

"That'll have to wait." Optimus said. "Both of you were wounded and need some down time in order to recuperate. Especially you, Shadow Stalker. Both of you are off-duty until further notice."

"But-" Dinobot started.

Optimus held up a hand, silencing him, "That's an order."

The raptor snarled a bit, "As you wish." He then guided Shadow Stalker towards the hallway that led to her quarters.

Before she passed, Silverbolt gently laid a hand on Shadow Stalker's shoulder.

She stopped and looked at him, tears threatening to spill out onto her cheeks.

He looked at her for a long moment, his optics saying "I'm here if you need me."

She tried to smile as the tears began to stream steadily down her face. And then, she was gone.

Rhinox sighed, shaking his head. "Optimus, what're we going to do? This is the first real rape case I've ever dealt with, and I know none of the rest of you have any experience in this field."

"I don't know, Rhinox." Optimus sighed. "I just don't know."

"…Man, I knew Crabby was sick, but dis…dis is sick on a whole new level!" Rattrap exclaimed.

"It shouldn't surprise us." Cheetor said. "I mean, Rampage should be the first person we think of when we think of rapists. Followed very closely by Tarantulas, of course."

"If Dinobot doesn't kill Rampage first, I will." Silverbolt murmured, unconsciously speaking his thoughts.

All optics were suddenly on him.

"Come again?" Optimus asked.

Realizing what he had done, Silverbolt took half a step back. Then, he decided that it was high time he put his opinion into the mix. "I said; if Dinobot doesn't kill Rampage first, I will. I'm tired of this shit! I'm tired of seeing Rampage hurt everyone and everything he comes in contact with! Shadow Stalker is my friend, and I am not going to let this violation of her honor go unpunished! We need to counterattack now!" he declared, slamming his fist down on the table.

"And how exactly are we gonna do dat?" Rattrap asked, covering up his shock at Silverbolt's sudden outburst.

"Waspinator!"

"What?" the remaining four members of the Maximal team asked in unison.

"Waspinator! If he and Shadow Stalker are such good friends, maybe he can help us."

"What makes you think he'll help us?" Optimus asked.

"Instinct. If I can get Shadow to tell me how to get in touch with him, maybe we can get him to lure Rampage into an ambush."

"If you can get Shadow Stalker to tell you." Rhinox pointed out. "Now is probably not the best time to be around her. From what I've heard, being raped is rather traumatic. It leaves you scarred for life."

"Rhinox is right." Optimus agreed. "Shadow Stalker needs to be left alone for a while."

"But we have to do something!" Silverbolt half-pleaded.

"I know, I know. We'll do something about this in due time. Right now, though, we really need to focus on helping Shadow Stalker through this."

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

Dinobot had given up on holding his own tears back. Seeing Shadow Stalker like this had hurt him worse than any wound ever could. Right now, he was trying desperately to comfort her.

Shadow Stalker had almost cried herself sick by now, but she couldn't stop. She buried her face deeper into his neck, wishing that she could die.

Slowly, Dinobot leaned against the wall, settling himself into a corner. He had finally guided her over to her bed, where they were now seated. His entire back was engulfed in pain; it felt like someone was pouring acid onto him.

"I have dishonored you." Shadow Stalker managed.

"How?"

"Rampage raped me! I'm yours! You're the only person I've ever been with! You're the only person I want to be with!" Her voice broke, "I let him get too close. And paid the price for my foolishness."

"You haven't dishonored me, love. And what happened to you wasn't your fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine; I should have kept a closer watch on you."

"But you had your hands full with Tarantulas."

"That's no excuse. I should've been able to take Tarantulas out with little or no problem."

She tried to say something, but lost her composure, breaking into violent sobs yet again.

Tears blurred his vision, and he managed to hold it together for a whole ten seconds longer before he broke down. "Oh Shadow…" he sobbed, "I'm so sorry… How could this happen to you? …How could I let this happen to you?"

"D…" She slowly pulled away, and looked at him, "Don't blame yourself."

"How could I not blame myself? I was fifteen feet away, and I didn't even know what had happened to you until after the battle was over!"

"You couldn't have done anything, anyway." Gently, she wiped the tears from his face, and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I let him get too close. I won't let him get that close ever again."

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

It was a whole two days before anyone saw or heard from Shadow Stalker and Dinobot.

"What the heck is going on?!" Cheetor asked, referring to the racket that was permeating the entire ship.

"It's comin' from da trainin' room." Rattrap answered.

"Is anyone in there?"

"Yeah, but I don't know who."

"Let's go, then! It might be something serious."

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

As Cheetor and Rattrap entered the observation deck of the training room, they discovered Dinobot standing near the glass. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest; it didn't look like he had noticed them.

Silently, the two Maximals went to stand beside him, curious as to who was using the training room. They noticed that the session had been set on the highest level of intensity as well as difficulty.

Shadow Stalker was currently engaged in battle. A barren desert surrounded her, and Rampage loomed in front of her. Disturbed's Down With The Sickness blared through the stereo system that she had rigged up using spare parts and junk before she had started her session.

Cheetor's optics widened at how agile she was. All of a sudden, Shadow Stalker had become the Maximal version of Blackarachnia.

"Magnificent, isn't she?" Dinobot quietly asked.

"I'll say." the young Maximal replied. He had barely heard Dinobot's question.

"She's movin' pretty good, considerin' da circumstances." Rattrap said. "Where'd she learn dis stuff?"

"Years upon years upon years of training and practice." Dinobot answered, his voice still barely audible.

"How's she doin'?" Cheetor asked after a long pause.

"Better. However, she's not at one hundred percent. …In all honesty, I seriously doubt that she will ever be at one hundred percent again."

Another silence fell, as Linkin Park's One Step Closer began to pound through the room.

"Nice system." Rattrap commented. "How'd she do dat?"

Dinobot shrugged, "Things like that come naturally to her. She always was tinkering in the fields of mechanics and electronics, even at an early age. Especially in the auto mechanics field. …She worked at a garage for several years, doing everything from rebuilding transmissions to restoring classic and totaled vehicles to installing stereo systems to designing and putting in fuel injection systems that could handle nitrous oxide."

Cheetor whistled lowly, quickly becoming interested in this part of Shadow Stalker's past. "Ultra gear."

Below them, the battle simulation ended; Shadow Stalker had won.

"Looks like she beat da computer." Rattrap said.

"Beating the computer and beating the real deal are two different things." Dinobot reminded him.

Panting, Shadow Stalker turned and pointed to the observation deck.

Dinobot took a step toward the glass.

She motioned for him to come down.

"Excuse me." he said, heading for the door. "Feel free to observe." As he hurried down the stairs and to the entrance to the training room floor, Dinobot grabbed an unsheathed katana that was leaned against the wall. Upon entering the training room, he tossed it to Shadow Stalker.

She caught it as the beginnings of Godsmack's Moon Baby echoed through the room.

She would put our song on the play list. he thought, brandishing his own sword.

With a quick Jedi-like salute, she attacked.

He met her attack with a block, sending sparks flying in every direction. Against his will, he grunted as shock waves ran up his arms and added to the pain that had been steadily growing for a number of days in his back.

"You okay?" she asked, pulling back and beginning to circle with him.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You don't sound sure."

"Well, I am." He lunged.

She caught him with her shoulder, and threw him backward.

"Oof!" he exclaimed, landing hard and sliding several feet across the floor.

Shadow Stalker pounced, pinning him before he could recover. "You're going easy on me." she accused. "Why?"

"You are tired from your battle simulation." he answered, making no attempt whatsoever to get up.

"Oh, for Primus' sake! No self-respecting Predacon would ever go easy on me simply because I'm tired!"

"Then, neither shall I." Before his words had a chance to sink in, he flipped her onto her back and pinned her.

"That's what I'm talkin' about!" She brought her legs up, and planted a solid kick to his solar plexus, flipping him over her head.

Meanwhile, back at the observation deck, Rattrap and Cheetor were getting into this. Seeing someone finally match— and maybe even best— Dinobot in battle was something that they had long awaited.

"What is that racket?" Optimus asked, as he, Rhinox, and Silverbolt entered the observation deck.

"Check it out, Big Bot!" Cheetor exclaimed. "Dinobot's gettin' his tail handed to him!"

"What?" He approached the glass, and watched as Shadow Stalker threw Dinobot to the floor yet again.

"Did anybody bring popcorn?" Rattrap asked, watching Rhinox and Silverbolt stand beside him.

"Stop goin' easy on me!" Shadow Stalker exclaimed. "Lemmie have it!"

"As you wish." he replied, roaring as he charged her.

She balled her hand into a fist and struck.

Dinobot fell like a sack of grain.

"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry!" She dropped to her knees beside him, and helped him sit up. "Did I hurt you?"

He groaned, his hand going to inspect his jaw. "Damn, girl! Where'd you learn to hit like that?"

She grinned sheepishly, "From you."

"Ow."

"I'm sooooo sorry! I did not mean to do that!"

"Sure you didn't."

"I didn't!" She slipped under his arm, helped him stand, and then headed for the exit. "Are you okay?" she asked upon feeling him wince.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. …Aah!"

"No you're not. D, what's wrong?"

He knew that it was useless to try to evade her questions, so he surrendered. "My back is killing me."

"How long have you been like this?"

"Three days? Four at the most? I don't really know; it feels like forever."

"D! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I don't know. Just…don't tell anyone, okay?"

She heaved a sigh, "Men. …All right, I'll keep my trap shut. But, as soon as no one's around, you're mine."

"Deal."

"Awwww. Did Chopperface get 'is butt kicked by a girl?" Rattrap taunted.

"And do you think that you would fare better, vermin?" Dinobot snarled.

"Yeah, actually, I do."

"Fine." He stood aside, "Have at it; I'm done."

Rattrap looked up at Shadow Stalker, who snarled a bit. "Eh, maybe another time."

Dinobot snorted, "Coward."

"Gentlemen, please…" Shadow Stalker said, going over to the control panel beside the door and switching off the stereo system.

"That was impressive." Optimus said.

"Hardly." Shadow Stalker replied. "That was merely a workout. No challenge whatsoever. …Dinobot went easy on me."

"I did not." Dinobot objected.

Shadow Stalker snorted.

"I'd hate to see what you qualify as a challenge." Cheetor said as she walked past him.

She whirled, and glared down at him, growling ominously. Her claws extended and hovered threateningly around his throat, "Not killing you is a challenge! I should rip your central processor out right here, right now! But…I will spare you until another time. A time when you are not on guard."

Optimus put a hand on her shoulder, making her turn to face him. "What are you talking about?"

"Why don't you ask the child? I'm sure his wild imagination can jump to some completely idiotic conclusion as to why his life just became considerably shorter." She yanked away, snapped at Cheetor, and stalked off down the hallway.

Dinobot sighed— "Primus, give me strength."— and followed her.

Optimus turned to Cheetor, "Well?"

The cat fidgeted uncomfortably, "I, uh, kinda said somethin' that made her mad."

"Ya think?" Rattrap asked.

"Shut up, Rattrap." Optimus snapped.

Cheetor took a deep breath, and told the rest of the team about the accusations that he had raised against Shadow Stalker.

Silence and stares followed his story.

Silverbolt growled— "You son of a bitch!"— and tackled Cheetor, weapon in hand.

Moving fast, Rhinox yanked the enraged Fuzor off of the stunned cheetah, and held him still.

"How the hell did you come up with that?!" Silverbolt yelled, struggling against Rhinox's strong grip. "What do you take me for, Cheetor?! I would never do that, and you know it!"

"Cool it, Silverbolt!" Optimus ordered.

"No! I've had a bad couple of days, and I'm not going to take any bullshit from anybody, especially him!"

"I said calm down! What's gotten into you? You've been unusually aggressive lately."

"You wanna know what's wrong with me?!" He nodded toward Cheetor, "Shit like that is exactly what's wrong with me! I am so fuckin' tired of you, kid!!!" He then looked to Optimus, "Rampage raped Shadow Stalker!! And what are we doing about it? Not a damn thing! If I didn't know better, I'd say you all were trying to ignore this!"

"Now, wait just a minute-" Rhinox started.

"You wait, Rhinox!" Silverbolt interrupted, struggling harder. He turned his anger back on Optimus, "Wake the fuck up, Primal! We have a serious situation on our hands, and nothing is being done about it! Dinobot and I are the only ones who have even thought of possible solutions!"

"Violence isn't going to solve this, Silverbolt." Optimus said as calmly as he could.

"You are such a fuckin' pacifist! Violence started this, and it'll sure as hell end it!"

"That's enough!" His patience had just run out, "I have heard more than enough out of you! Now, shut up, or I'll have you knocked into stasis!"

"Do it! Fuckin' do it! I'll even hold still for you!"

For a moment, Optimus' hands shook with barely-controlled anger. "Rhinox, take him to the brig. We'll see how smart-mouthed he is after a few weeks in solitary confinement."

As Rhinox carried him away, Silverbolt barked a laugh, "I knew it! I knew you couldn't do it! You're soft, Primal! Too soft for your own good!"

Optimus sighed heavily after a few moments. "This is great! This is just great! My entire crew has gone insane in a matter of days!"

"Ever'body's just a little stressed right now, dat's all. Dey'll get over it." Rattrap offered.

"I hope so, Rattrap. I really hope so." He shook his head, "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Author's Note; Thanks to KatDrama for the review! It is greatly appreciated! (Yes, we were lucky and didn't get blown away. I live in KY (unfortunately), and we're still getting pounded, just not on the same level that we were last week and weekend.) More to come!