2015: It was one of the few Christmas celebrations held and the human
S.T.A.R.S. Commanders were trying to pass the tradition on to their
mechanical companions. Of course there were occasional exceptions.
Commander Elliot entered with her entourage of sixteen staffers. The scent
of the very large, splendidly decorated fir tree and the sight of mounds
of presents greeted them.

"Hey, who died?" the purple, red and white Autobot known as Depth
asked, gesturing at the tree and presents.

"What are you talking about?" the portly, middle-aged Commander
asked, then wished she had not.

"On our planet if something like that tree was decorated and
presents were around, someone died. Inside each present was a part of the
deceased." the red, purple and white Shadow replied evenly.

"Ya, so who died? I better not get the sole of a foot." Depth
grumped, crossing his arms.

"Listen, it is not like that here. If you cannot accept that, go
back to base right now." the Commander ordered.

"Let us split, okay Shady?" Depth asked.

"Yeah, this will probably be boring anyhow." Shadow replied and they
left, though their combined laughter radiated back to the group.

"How about you Magmorta?" the Commander asked.

"I will stay for awhile, just to check this Christmas thing out."
the tri-yellow hued female replied, obviously awed by the sight she
beheld.

The Commander smiled then looked about and noticed her staff had already
begun to mingle.

"I have forgotten how many there are of them." she whispered to
herself and walked to the refreshment stand.

She took a glass of punch and then entered the darkened room where a dance
floor was almost finished being set up. The strobe lights and such were
very impressive. The sound system looked to be capable of quality noise.
Bebop and Hiphop were comparing notes with Blare and Blaster not far from
it.

"Everyone please come to the tree for presents." came a call.

The Commander had managed to be quite thoughtful with her gifts and was
still amazed at how she was able to afford it all. She made her way in as
her name was called out.

"Commander Elliot." called out the blue-gray Kup, who was the
present giver for the occasion.

"I'm coming, give an old lady a break." she teased, after all she
was 49 now, still chunky, and still unmarried.

"Now who is this from?" she asked for there was no label to speak
of, and commented wryly, "Well, at least its not ticking." There were some
chuckles from the gathered crowd.

The package shifted and a sound emanated from it. Giving it a questioning
glance, she unwrapped it and noticed the box had holes. Uttering
something under her breath, she then untied the knot in the string around
the box and a creature unlike anything she had ever seen popped the lid
off.

"Greetings Commander Elliot, I am a companion sent to you from an
acquaintance of yours." it said in a feminine, but gruff voice. The
creature then jumped out of the box. It was part horse, part wolf, part
lizard, and part bird from what the Commander could make out.

"I don't know what to say." the Commander said.

"I need a name." she reported, voice gruff yet feminine.

"How about Thriller?" the Commander inquired.

It cocked its horse head and thought it over, "Agreed."

"Now, who sent you?" a chilled wind entered the room.

"My wife and I did, Commander Elliot." came an all too familiar voice.

There were gasps of astonishment from everyone, standing there was the
soul collector himself, Deathstalker, in all his glory. He brushed away
his black hood and cloak as he solidified, exposing his midnight blue
torso and well-muscled, grayish arms and legs.

"Who is your wife?" the Commander asked.

"Dreadstarr. She would have come, but she has got her hands full
with our very active son Charon at this time. But we wish you many good
tidings to you all." Deathstalker said cheerfully.

"And to you and yours, Deathstalker." the Commander stated.

"I must be gone. Merry Christmas to you and gods bless."
Deathstalker exclaimed, then he faded away.

It took awhile for things to get back to normal afterwards. The gifts
were all unwrapped within a three hour span. By that time, the humans
were starved and sat down for their dinner. Their mechanical comrades
stood about downing assorted energon goodies and drinks until the feast
was over. Then the music began.

"I am your deejay for tonight. So to start things off right, I will
play the easy stuff for those clothes that fit too tight from stuffing all
night." Blaster announced.

The Commander smiled at that, and knew it referred to the humans
attending. She decided to sit out the dancing until she digested some of
her meal. Finding a secluded spot with a good view of the dance floor,
she watched Bebop and Hiphop demonstrate some break dancing and slam
dancing.

"Hey you squares, get into pairs and dance with flare." Blaster
announced.

That got most of the couples to dance and a few singles as well. She was
not sure how long she watched, but she needed a bathroom. She was
approached by Dawn Reeder as she washed her hands.

"Why aren't you dancing?" Dawn inquired with a hint of a smile.

"No one has asked me, besides, I am not much of a dancer." Liane
replied evenly. Dawn nodded and left. Liane retook her seat as a slow
dance began.

"For those of you who are hopelessly in love, or trying to fall in
love, or just want to slow the pace. These next few songs are for you."
Blaster announced.

"Liane?" came a query. She turned a be speckled gaze on the yellow,
red and blue form of Roadhandler.

"Hi, Roadhandler. What's up?" the Commander replied.

"May I have this dance?" he inquired graciously. She became a bit
flustered and felt like she was blushing, she certainly had not expected
to be asked this. "Come on, I won't do anything improper." he said
proffering a hand toward her.

She took it and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. Dawn gave her
a lopsided smile as they did and Liane groaned to herself. Roadhandler
just smiled as he guided her into a position just a little too close for
friends to be. Liane felt uncomfortable, not mention nervous, for quite
some time. But true to his word, Roadhandler behaved himself. By the
last slow dance, she felt quite at home in his arms. Part of her almost
wished it didn't have to end.

"Thanks for the dance." she said with a smile

"Can't be a wall flower all your life. Come on, let us make room."
She knew what he meant, Bebop and Hiphop were at it again and clearing the
floor would be a lot healthier.

"You two make an interesting, if not cute, couple." Dawn teased.
Liane growled and gave her a withering glare. Roadhandler was quick to
rebuke with a similar comment that was sufficient enough to send her back
to her dance partner.

"She can be a pest at times. Listen, next time there's a slow dance,
do not hesitate to ask." Liane said honestly. He smiled, "Of course."

"Come on, let us sit." Roadhandler paused a little, "Well, come on."
finally he sat next to her. "Hey now, here we were dancing and you go and
get cold feet all the sudden. We're friends Roadhandler, good friends. Did
my nervousness come off that well?"

"Yeah, but I was nervous too." he replied, "I got something for you."

"A present? I'm surprised, I didn't know you cared." she teased.

He gave her a serious look and drew her close. "More than you know."

There was an explosion and everyone stopped cold where they were.

"Security breach. Trechercon patrol of twenty." the computer said
unemotionally.

"Detain." the red, white and blue Optimus Prime ordered. There was a
pause as everyone scrambled.

"Ineffective." the computer replied.

"Let us deal with them, Prime." the aquamarine, light blue, orange
and light green form of Tetra Reris stated.

"If that is what you wish, we will back you up." Prime replied.

With a nod, Tetra signaled to the Servabots, and all ran down the hall
toward the breach. As this went on, Commander Elliot had excused herself
and suited up in her exo-suit. She made a break for it when no one was
paying attention and followed the last Servabot down the hall. When she
arrived, the laser fire was heavy. No one noticed her as she crept in
between the Servabots. There was one thing on her mind, revenge. Electra
may have injured her knee that cold winter afternoon so many years ago,
but a few other Trechercons were responsible for goading her into it in
the first place.

"Sweet Sequista, it is Commander Elliot." Tetra Reris exclaimed,
having spotted her.

"Alright you two bit slag bitches, pay back time!" Liane cried out.
She let loose several bursts of laser fire from the guns set above and
below her wrists. The fight went on awhile longer until the Trechercons
decided it was time to split.

"Run cowards. Go lick your wounds and pray I am easier on you next
time!" Commander Elliot cried after them.

As the last warrior took leave, the purple and black form of Commander
Draeda turned toward her.

"Watch out!" Tetra Reris screamed.

The warning was too late. The Commander had turned her back on the
retreating forms, Draeda had taken advantage of that and sent a laser
blast flying at her. It hit slightly left of her middle back and burned
its way into her armor. Commander Elliot gave out a gasp as she fell
forward, the suit had taken a good deal of the force and heat of the
blast, but not enough to stop it entirely. The singing heat of it bore
through the muscle and bone, then into the body cavity, and finally
stopped. The Commander was aware that she remained conscious for some
time, blood welled up in her throat and she threw up a good portion of her
meal along with the blood. Then all went black.

"By Sequista." Tetra whispered hoarsely. She gently picked up the
limp form.

The Autobots just then came in. Turnpike, the Servabot medic was already
listening for signs of life as the others approached.

"She lives, but barely." Turnpike said softly, "Much damage to her
internal organs has been done. I am afraid she will not live through the
night."

"You got to do something!" screamed Roadhandler.

Gynae came forward. "There is a way. Come."

Commander Elliot was aware of the pain for awhile, but it faded away as
she drifted into a black void.

"Where am I? Am I dead?" then she spotted Deathstalker, "Wait a sec
there. I am no Transformer, so why are you here?"

"You are not dead, Commander Elliot, you are deep inside yourself,
like a coma of sorts. Your comrades are going to save you. I thought I
would keep you company in the interim." he stated.

"There is something that your not telling me." she mused.

"You will find out... in time." he replied.

The doctors worked feverishly. Their collected efforts had a Transformer
body built quicker and more effectively than any before it. Equipment was
hooked up, then all was ready. Liane felt a surge.

"Don't fight it, it's your only chance at a second life."
Deathstalker stated, then faded away.

She relaxed and went with the flow of the surge. She felt a shift, and
then she felt strange. She was aware of a physical body, but it wasn't
quite the same. Voices slowly came in.

"I am getting readings." a voice said.

"It worked then?" another asked.

"Yes but she will need to get used to it, she will be like this
awhile until she does." a voice said.

"Take her to sick bay." another stated.

That is all she heard for she blacked out. When she came to, she was

aware of someone sobbing on her chest. The shaking form felt warm against

her. She struggled into consciousness and focused her optics? It was

then she realized she was a Transformer. She lifted her head and saw who

her company was. She lifted a hand to his head and stroked it. He gasped,

focusing teared optics on her in amazement.

"I love you." Roadhandler whispered hoarsely.

She could only smile in return. They embraced. She had become the first

female Micromaster, under some pleading from Roadhandler she was sure.

Roadhandler smiled and said. "I still need to give you your present."

"Oh, like what?" she asked.

He kissed her in answer.