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 10

Strike

by Switchblade X

Dinobot groaned in absolute ecstasy as Shadow Stalker massaged his back. They were in his quarters this time; he was lying on his stomach on his bed, and she was straddling his thighs. 3 Doors Down's Away From The Sun was playing softly in the background.

"Y'know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you liked this." she smiled.

"You have no idea."

She chuckled. "Are you sure I'm not putting too much pressure on your legs?"

"I'm sure. You're not heavy."

"Says you."

"Shadow…"

"What?"

"What have I told you about saying you're too heavy?"

"I know, I know; There's a whole lotta femmes out there who'd do anything to be my size."

"Right."

She shook her head, smiling, "I swear D, sometimes you act more like my dad than my fiancé."

"Someone has to keep you in line."

"…We're still getting married when we get home, right?"

"Of course. What made you think we wouldn't?"

"I dunno. Just one of those fleeting thoughts, I guess." She put one knee in the small of his back, and gripped his shoulders, "Hold on."

"What're you going-"

She pulled him toward her, popping his spine from tip to tip. The crunch his metal bones made was almost nauseating.

"Primus Almighty!" he exclaimed, as she lowered him. Then, after the initial shock had worn off, "Do that again!"

Again, she chuckled, "I will in a few minutes."

"…You're good at this."

"I know."

He darkened his optics, relaxing beneath her hands. Soon, he began unconsciously making little purring noises.

"…Are you purring?"

"Mmmmmaybe."

"Since when do raptors purr?"

"Since you started this wonderful torture."

She grinned, "You're nuts."

"Oh, you're a fine one to talk! …Up a little."

Her grin only widened as she worked his shoulders for a few minutes, then began to move her hands from the small of his back to his shoulders, applying as much pressure as she could with her palms, while putting equal pressure on his backbone with her thumbs.

He sighed, "Tell me again how you manage to keep such absolute control over me."

"It's actually quite simple. You see, I am female; you are male. And I just happen to know all of your weaknesses."

"And I don't know yours? If my memory serves me correctly, I recall you being a bit on the ticklish side."

"Ha ha. Just remember, dear, you're the one on the bottom right now." And with that, she popped his entire spine again.

"GAAAH!" he exclaimed. "A little warning would be nice!"

She laughed, "Sorry."

"The hell you are!"

"Hey, you're the one who let this back problem of yours steadily worsen for Primus knows how long. I just happen to know how to cure it."

He chuckled, "Admit it, Shadow; you're my bitch."

"I beg your pardon!"

His chuckle turned into genuine laughter. It had been a while since he had laughed.

She playfully smacked his leg.

"Hey, now. You might want to watch that."

"You enjoy it, don't you?"

"Maybe."

She snorted in mock-exasperation, "You are so weird."

"And you're not?"

"Oh, touché. You're good at this comeback stuff."

"I've had to live with Rattrap for almost three years; making quick comebacks has become an art." He snarled, "Now there's a 'bot who'd drive anybody to drink."

"You're still sober."

"It takes a great deal of self-control, believe me. …Mmmmmm… You have no idea how good this feels. Thank you. So much."

She leaned forward, and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek, "Any time, baby. Any time."

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Silverbolt leaned against the red bars of his cage, arms crossed over his chest, legs crossed at the ankles, head down, optics dark. Energy from the bars crackled angrily around him, but he paid it no attention; his back and wings had long ago gone numb from the continuous shocks.

Part of him was absolutely horrified at what had just happened and at what he had said, but another part of him, the part that he kept under lock and key in the darkest recesses of his spark, was glad that this explosion of long-pent-up rage had occurred. It terrified him on a whole new level.

But, perhaps the thing that scared him the most was the fact that he had enjoyed his explosion. He had never felt so powerful! …Still, though, the fact that he had acted completely insolent bothered him. Maybe it was the Predacon in him that had made him lose control…

Was his anger not justified, though? Shadow Stalker had been raped for Primus' sake, and only he and Dinobot were willing to do something about it!

He sighed, deciding to give his body a rest. He transformed, and curled up into a ball in the center of the cage, resting his head on his forepaws. Maybe if he took a nap, he'd be able to think straighter…

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

Optimus entered the command center to find Shadow Stalker sitting alone at the table. "Where's Dinobot?" he asked, sitting down beside her.

"He's asleep." she answered, not once making optic contact with him.

He nodded, "Ah."

"…I was hoping to find Silverbolt here. Looks like I was wrong."

Optimus chose not to reply to this. He wanted to be kind to her, but couldn't seem to get past his wariness of her. Shadow Stalker was as fierce as Dinobot, and the fact that she was a half-breed didn't help.

"Optimus…Sir, there's something I want to tell you."

"Okay. Shoot."

"I…apologize for my rather immature and overly aggressive behavior. I haven't exactly been a team player since I've been here. …I don't mean to be a bitch, I really don't. It's just…my temper is becoming increasingly difficult to control, and I've got entirely too much on my mind. It clouds my judgment, as well as makes me…difficult to get along with. I don't have anything against you guys, I really don't. It's just…hard for me to interact properly with the faction that more or less ruined my life as well as Dinobot's. ...No offense…

"I'm not asking for your forgiveness, Sir. All I'm asking is that you know how truly sorry I am for my behavior."

He looked at her for a long time. She still hadn't taken her optics off of the steel table. Gently, he put one hand on her shoulder, "Apology accepted, Shadow Stalker. …I know we haven't exactly been the most hospitable and patient group."

"That is understandable. …I don't deserve your philanthropy."

"Yes you do."

"No, I do not. I have been nothing but a burden to you and your people since I came here. It's high time I got myself in gear." Slowly, she stood, "Thank you for your time, Sir."

"No problem. …You're always welcome in the Maximal fold, Shadow Stalker."

"Thank you, Sir." She started to walk away, but stopped, "I knew your ancestor once."

"Prime?"

"Yes. He was a good man and an excellent leader. I have a great deal of respect for him. …Were he around today, he would be very proud of you. …As am I."

Optimus smiled.

She returned it, then literally melted into the shadows.

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Silverbolt awoke when he sensed another presence. He frowned upon seeing that no one was at the glass. Someone was there, though… He stood, wondering if he was going insane.

Slowly, Shadow Stalker melted out of the shadows. She approached the glass, looking somewhat confused.

"How did you find me?" he asked.

"I asked Rattrap." she answered. "What happened?"

"I…I lost it. I just got mad and…went off."

"…Rattrap said Cheetor told you."

"Yes. …Why did you not tell me?"

"I couldn't. I couldn't say anything to anyone without going berserk."

"Does Dinobot know?"

"As of right now, no. I shudder to think of what might happen if he did find out."

He nodded.

Silence fell for a few moments.

"I'll get you out of here, Silverbolt."

He shook his head, "Don't. I need to calm down for a while. …A part of me that I thought was dead has resurfaced. I…need to deal with it."

"…I see."

"Thank you anyway."

She nodded, "If you need me, give me a buzz."

"I will."

Then, just as stealthily as she had appeared, she melted back into the shadows.

He sighed and sat down, "…I will."

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Waspinator had been feeling unusually jumpy lately. Something was amiss; he could feel it in the air. But what? Were the Maximals planning a sneak attack? Was Megatron planning a sneak attack?

…Had something happened to Shadow Stalker?

That last question was the one that stood out the most; the one that he was afraid to think on for very long.

Still, though, what if something had happened to her? Tarantulas and Rampage had returned to the base badly damaged almost three days ago, and Rampage had had a strange look on his face; one of smug satisfaction. What could it have meant?

As much as it sickened him, he decided to radio the Maximal base. Something told him that whatever it was that was wrong involved Shadow Stalker. He had to know if she was all right.

Mumbling to himself about how much slag he would get into if anyone ever found out about this, he went to his quarters, locked the door, disabled the security camera, sat down at his computer, and typed in the codes that would patch him into the Maximal frequency. "Wazzpinator to Maximal bazze. Come in Maximal bazze."

A few moments of static followed, then Cheetor said, "Maximal base here. What do you want?"

"Wazzpinator wantzz to talk to Zzhadow Zztalker."

"She's not here."

"Where izz zzhe?"

"Good question."

He growled softly, "Izz Zzhadow okay? Wazzpinator hazz had funny feeling about her for the lazzt three dayzz. …Pleazze, kitty-bot, tell Wazzpinator how Zzhadow izz."

There was a long pause. He could hear Cheetor conversing with Optimus, but couldn't make out what was being said. Finally, Cheetor came back; "Shadow Stalker was…raped, Waspinator. Almost three days ago."

Waspinator was floored. It took him a moment to recover his wits. "B-by who?"

"Rampage."

As soon as the words left the Maximal's mouth, Waspinator's vision went red with rage. "Whaaat?!"

"It's true."

"Wazzpinator will kill him! Wazzpinator will rip him limb from limb! Wazzpinator will-"

"Waspinator, calm down." Optimus broke in. "You don't need to be involved in this."

"Zzayzz you! Zzhadow izz Wazzpinator'zz bezzt friend! Only friend! Wazzpinator will not let thizz go unpunizzhed! Wazzpinator will find crab-bot and dezztroy him!" He cut the connection, grabbed his gun, and headed out the door.

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"D? Deeeeeee?" She nudged his shoulder, "Hel-lo? Is anybody in there?"

He mumbled something unintelligible, and turned his face away from her.

"What?"

"Just five more minutes…"

"Sweetheart, you've been asleep for three hours."

At this, he bolted up, "WHAT?!"

"Sorry. You're just so cute when you're sleeping…"

Dinobot groaned, and fell unceremoniously backward. He stared up at her, "Why did you let me sleep so long?"

"'Cause you were tired." She leaned forward and kissed him.

"Mmmm… Of course you know," he said between kisses, "I will get you back for this."

"Bring it on, lover boy."

"Maybe I will."

Shadow Stalker was about to reply, when her comm crackled.

"Shadow Stalker, come in." Optimus said.

"Shadow Stalker here." she replied, "What is it, Sir?"

Dinobot raised an eyebrow at her when she called Optimus 'Sir'.

"I'll explain later." she mouthed.

"Waspinator just radioed the base."

"He did?"

"Yes. He was looking for you, but we couldn't find you."

"I've been here all day, Sir."

"You have?"

"Yeah. I'm kinda off-duty until further notice."

"…Anyway, we told him what happened to you-"

"We?"

"Cheetor and I."

"Oh."

"We told him what happened, and he went berserk. He's hunting down Rampage as we speak."

"Oh, Primus. I've got to go after him! Rampage'll tear him to pieces!"

"Now, wait a minute-"

"Please, Sir! Waspy's my friend! He could get hurt! Or worse! Please, Sir, put me back on duty!"

"…Are you up to it?"

"Yes! Oh, Primus, yes!"

"You might need backup. Is Dinobot up to it?"

"Of course I'm up to it!" Dinobot answered, insulted.

"All right. You two can go after him, but be careful."

"You got it." Shadow Stalker grinned. "Uh…I just have one tiny little itsy-bitsy question."

"And that is?"

"Since when did you care if Waspy gets scrapped or not?"

"Call it a hunch, but I think we might just have an ally in Waspinator. Now, go get him."

Author's Note; Thanks to Libero H for the review! It is very much appreciated! More to come!