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 11

Decision

by Switchblade X

Dinobot cast a sidelong glance at Shadow Stalker as she raced along beside him on a mission to save— of all 'bots— Waspinator.

She caught his glance, and winked in return.

He smiled. Shadow was his best friend, aside from being his fiancé. In fact, nine times out of ten, she was his only friend. They had grown up together, stuck together through thick and thin, followed each other literally to the ends of the universe, and now, they were planning on getting married once they returned home. Provided they got home. Or lived to see the day when they would leave Earth.

He remembered the day that he had proposed to her; the day before the Predacon mission was to leave Cybertron. The memory made his smile grow.

"What?" she asked, looking at him closely.

"Nothing. I'm just reminiscing, that's all."

She raised one eyebrow, "Nice time to do that, hun. We're kinda on a mission."

"I know."

She returned her attention to the thinning forest terrain, not wanting to trip over something.

He watched her run, noting how smoothly her muscles moved beneath her glossy black coat. He loved being around her, and it wasn't just because of their relationship.

She had the same love for battle that he did; it was the Decepticon in her, he knew it had to be. And, most of the time, she wasn't thinking and acting like a femme, which made it easier on not only him but also everyone else to interact with her. After all, the only up close experience that the Maximals had had with femmes had been with Airazor, and she was not only dead— rather, assumed to be dead— but hadn't exactly been around a lot.

Shadow Stalker was his confidant. She knew his deepest, darkest secrets, his hopes and dreams, and his fears and flaws. She had always been there for him, and had sworn on her honor that she would always be there for him "come hell or high water". She truly was one in a billion.

And, naturally, he knew everything about her. …Well, except for one thing; her fighting style. Shadow Stalker was the most unpredictable fighter that he had ever met. Usually, after a few moments, he could find a pattern in his opponent's fighting style and use that to his ultimate advantage, but he could never find a pattern in Shadow's style. In fact, sometimes he could swear that she was making her moves up as she went. True, this was an excellent strategy, but it was a bit humiliating when she defeated him in a match.

…In a way, he was glad that they were going after Waspinator. True, he had never liked the bug, but he was Shadow's friend, so that made him slightly tolerable. Dinobot was glad that Shadow had another friend besides Silverbolt. He had nothing against the Fuzor, but in all honesty, the rookie freaked him out a little. Silverbolt kept his mouth shut too much: kept his emotions, thoughts, and opinions to himself too much. That wasn't healthy.

"Heads up!"

"Wha-" He snapped out of his thoughts just in time to see a stray shot heading right for him. Quickly, he jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding being shot.

"You okay?" Shadow Stalker asked.

"I'm fine." he answered, cautiously approaching the tree line, and watching Waspinator buzz furiously around Rampage, firing wildly. Most of the shots smacked harmlessly into the ocean water. He transformed, "When do we attack?"

She transformed and cocked her pistol, "Now."

Rampage's head snapped to the side when Shadow Stalker and Dinobot exploded from the forest, roaring and with weapons ablaze. Quickly, he shot Waspinator down, sending him crashing into Dinobot. "What the bloody-"

Still roaring, Shadow Stalker leapt into the air, executed a quick flip, and came down with her claws extended, slicing through Rampage's armor.

He cackled, grabbing her wrist and lifted her up until her optics were even with his. "Foolish girl! Do you honestly think that a little scratch will stop me?"

She growled and snapped at him, struggling to loosen his crushing grip.

"Oooo, feisty! I like feisty women."

Desperately, she swiped at him with her other hand.

He grabbed that hand, and pinned it with the other. "I took you once, pitiful creature. I can do it again."

"Go to hell, Rampage! I'll see you there!" she roared, head-butting him with all of her might.

"Gaaah!" Rampage exclaimed, dropping her as he staggered backward.

Shadow Stalker grunted when she hit the hard ground, all of the air knocked from her intakes.

Dinobot shoved Waspinator off of his body, and rushed Rampage, sword in hand and blood lust in his optics.

Taken by surprise, Rampage fell backward into the water, as Dinobot buried his sword deep into his chest.

"D!" Shadow Stalker exclaimed, struggling to her feet.

"I would worry more about myself if I were you, little doggie."

She whirled, claws still fully extended, to face Blackarachnia. "Where the hell did you come from?"

Blackarachnia shrugged, "I followed Waspinator. He looked like he was pretty ticked about something. …Why are you and Lizard-lips here?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" She attacked.

The she-spider caught the wolf, and flipped her over her head. She shook her head, "Shab-by. I expected better from you, especially since you're a Decepticon. Oh, yes, that's right; you're a half-breed!"

"BITCH!!!" Shadow Stalker roared, leaping to her feet and rushing Blackarachnia again.

This time, Blackarachnia was on the receiving end of several hard hits. She tried to execute a quick roundhouse kick, but Shadow Stalker grabbed her ankle, hurled her over her head, and slammed her hard into the ground. She was about to leap back up, but thought better of it when she found herself staring down the business end of Shadow Stalker's pistol. Slowly, she raised her hands in surrender.

"Don't you ever call me a fuckin' half-breed again." she growled before pulling the trigger.

Meanwhile, Dinobot had managed to knock Rampage out. But, he had suffered some damage as a result of that temporary victory. As he staggered out of the water, he collapsed into Shadow Stalker's awaiting arms.

"Are you okay?" she asked, sitting down on the beach and cradling him.

"I will be." he answered, as his side sparked.

Waspinator, who had finally managed to pull himself to his feet, sat down beside the couple. "Izz Dinobot okay?" he asked.

"I will be." the raptor repeated.

"Thank you for coming to zzave Wazzpinator." he continued. "Wazzpinator wazz foolish to go after crab-bot on hizz own."

"We all make mistakes, Waspy." Shadow Stalker offered.

"Yezz, but Wazzpinator hazz made big mizztake! Wazzpinator cannot go back to Predacon bazze; Predacons would zzlag him."

"Then…come with us." Dinobot said, as Shadow Stalker helped him stand. She ended up supporting him, and he covered his wound with his left hand. Then, he held out his right hand to Waspinator, who had yet to rise.

Waspinator looked at Dinobot's hand for a long time, unsure of what he should do. He was a Predacon, not a Maximal! …But, two Maximals had just come to his rescue. He couldn't go back to the Predacons, not after what had just happened. His best and only friend was a Maximal…

"You have already proven twice that you are willing to fight for us. With us. Even…die for us. …Come with us, Waspinator. This…may be your only chance."

He looked to Shadow Stalker who was watching him, her optics pleading. Both she and Dinobot had risked their lives to save him not only from Rampage but also from himself. It was then that he reached his decision.

Author's Note; Dun dun dun! Cliffhanger!!! (insert evil laugh here) Thanks to KatDrama for the reviews! They are greatly appreciated! More to come!