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

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

Ulysses

Chapter 5

Revelations

by Switchblade X

"Has Slingblade come back yet?" Cheetor asked as he floated down through the roof hatch.

"She's been back for a while." Rhinox answered, not bothering to turn away from the computer that he was sitting in front of.

"And…?"

"She said it was a false alarm, but I'm not so sure."

He transformed, "What do you mean?"

"She was actin' weird when she came back."

"Rhinox, Slingblade is weird. But in a good way."

"Can I finish my story, please?"

"Oh. Yeah, sure, go ahead."

"Anyway, she acted like she was both angry and hurt. Not physically hurt, but emotionally hurt. She said something about nothing being wrong and everything being wrong, then ran off to her room. No one's seen her since. But, there was a lot of bumping and banging coming from her room; if I had a guess, I'd say she was taking her anger out on the nearest wall. There's still a lot of bumping and banging coming from down there."

"Hmm. Maybe I should go talk to her." He started for the hallway, but stopped when Rhinox spoke.

"I wouldn't. Slingblade is notorious for her temper, although she keeps it in check most of the time. If I were you, I'd let her come out first."

Reluctantly, Cheetor turned around and took a seat at the table. He sighed, "Whatever you say, Big Green. I just hope she's okay."

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

Meanwhile, Slingblade was busy popping out the dents that she had made. She hummed to herself as she stuck the suction cup onto the dent and popped it out. She was almost done.

"How many times did you hit those walls?" Dinobot asked from the other side of her wall. She hadn't patched up that hole yet.

"Several." she answered. "Better the walls than someone else, right?"

"It depends on who 'someone else' is."

She chuckled as she popped out the last dent, "Done."

"Thank Primus. I was getting a headache."

"Sorry." She stood up, and walked over to her bunk. "Now, what should we do with this hole?" she asked, sitting down and leaning against the wall.

"Who's 'we'? You're the one who put that hole there, not me."

"Maybe I could open it up more, y'know, so we could talk back and forth."

"And what makes you think I would want to talk to you?"

"Hey, you're the one that started it."

She had a point. "So?"

"I just thought you might like to have someone to talk to while you're…confined."

He was silent for a few moments. It was nice to have someone to talk to, even if it was Slingblade. You've gone soft, Dinobot! he mentally roared. You shouldn't be making conversation with her; she ruined your one chance at redemption!

Oh, for Primus' sake! his conscience exclaimed. Get over that, already! Both of you have made your peace, so now it's time to move on. There is no need for such childish behavior.

He decided to listen to his conscience this time. "You…have a point. …But, if we did open this hole more, what would keep the others from seeing it if one of us ever left our door open? If anyone ever found out about our hole, we would be in considerably deep slag."

She grinned, "I can rig up a couple of small holo-projectors; one for each room. That way, if one of us ever wanted to talk, all we'd have to do is knock on the wall and shut the projectors off."

"It must be nice to be mechanically inclined."

"It comes in handy sometimes. So…are you cool with that idea?"

He leaned against the wall, shrugging; "It's your hole."

"A 'yes' or 'no' would be nice; this hole is in your room, too, y'know."

"Whatever. I don't care, frankly."

"I'll take that as a yes, then."

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

"An' where do you tink you're goin' wit all dat stuff?"

Slingblade flinched, and turned to face Rattrap. He was talking about the armload of junk she had. "I'm putting this junk to use."

"Yeah? And what're you gonna use it for?"

She shrugged, "I need to pop the dents out of my walls."

He snorted, "Sure."

"Whether you believe me or not is your choice. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm about to drop this stuff; I need to get going." She turned, and headed back toward her room.

"Yeah, right." Rattrap muttered, watching her go. "An' I'm gonna sprout wings an' fly away."

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

"You're a pitiful liar, did you know that?"

"Hey, gimme a break! It was the best I could do at the time!"

Dinobot chuckled to himself as he continued to carve the hole out to its desired size: one foot by one foot.

"What's funny?" Slingblade asked, beginning to sort through the pile of components and metal that she had brought back with her from the junk room.

"You are."

"Might I inquire as to how?"

"You're not much of a Decepticon."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You're just not. You never were very treacherous. Brutal and ruthless, yes, but not treacherous. And you always had trouble with telling several lies in a row. You never even once tried to overthrow Megatron."

"Contrary to popular belief, Dinobot, I'm not completely stupid. Unlike the others, I knew better than to double-cross Megatron. And, I prefer to be honest; the truth often hurts worse than a lie."

That it does. he thought.

She snorted, "I don't know about everyone else, but this new Megatron is a joke. He's too ambitious. And more than a little arrogant. I'm with the Tripredacus Council; Megatron is a loose cannon that needs to be dealt with."

"What?!"

Realizing what she had said, Slingblade slapped both of her hands over her mouth, her optics going wide.

"What did you say?"

"Nothin', man! I didn' say nothin'!"

"Don't make me come over there!"

"Now that I'd like to see."

Dinobot's hand shot through the hole, clamped around her throat, and lifted her up off of the bed. "What do you know, Slingblade?" he growled, slowly tightening his grip on her.

She glared at him, showing him no fear. "I know nothing." she snarled.

"Talk!" He tightened his grip again, and was rewarded with several loud pops and crunches.

"No!"

He squeezed tighter, "Talk, damnit!"

"No!"

"Just because we've made our peace doesn't mean I'm not above killing you! Now, talk!"

Her internal computer was screaming at her to either break loose or die. She held out for a few more minutes, feeling his hand tighten around her neck. "All right! I'll talk!"

He eased up a little, "Good."

"You have a right to know, anyway; you and the rest of the Preds are also on the Council's hit list."

"Continue."

"The Council has been after Megatron for years; you know that and so do I. A few days before I was put into protoform state, I had a conversation with an old friend of mine. He said the Council had found someone to send after Megatron. I don't know who it is, or when he'll come. Hell, I don't even know if he'll come now; the odds of him finding this planet are slim. My friend and I were the only ones that knew of this. You can't tell anyone; not even Optimus."

"Why not?"

"Because if you do, it could jeopardize not only the outcome of the Beast Wars, but history itself!"

"Hmmm…" He dropped her.

Slingblade fell onto her bunk, then the floor. She lay on her back, coughing, wheezing and clutching her throat, staring up at Dinobot, who had pulled his arm back through the hole. "You can't tell." she managed.

"Considering my source, I think it's best I don't."

Slowly, she climbed to her knees, rubbing her throat, "You're a bastard, Dinobot, didja know that?"

He smirked at her as she stood, "I know."

She shook her head, and went back to sorting through her junk haul. She was beginning to regret her decision to widen that hole.

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

"Hey, Slingblade." Cheetor cheerily said upon spotting her as she exited the elevator. He rushed over to her, hoping she was in a good mood.

"Hey, kid." she smiled, patting his head.

"Headin' out for patrol?"

"Yeah."

"Kinda early isn't it?"

"It's my turn to run Dinobot's patrol route as well as my own."

"Oh. I remember now."

"Lucky me, huh?"

He grinned, "Yeah. I get it tomorrow."

"Mm. Looks like we both hit the jackpot."

"Looks like it."

"Well, I'd better get goin'. I'll see you later." She patted his head again, and continued up the hallway.

"See ya!" he called after her.

Silverbolt came around the corner, and spotted the two. "Slingblade, about this morning-"

Without a word, she walked past him, knocking him into the wall with her shoulder.

"What was that all about?" Cheetor asked, running up to Silverbolt.

The Fuzor sighed, "I think I made her mad earlier today. Apparently, she's not ready to let me apologize."

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

Slingblade stalked soundlessly through the forest, keeping her eyes peeled for suspicious movement. She actually liked patrolling; it gave her time to think. But, sometimes she thought too much.

Maybe I did something to anger him. she thought, referring to her creator. But what? I can't think of anything… Hmmm… Maybe…maybe the rumors are true. Maybe he did only want me for a punching bag. But why? Why would anyone want a child for the sole reason of beating the slag out of it? She sighed, There are still a lot of things that I don't understand. Unfortunately, my childhood is one of them.

The sound of a flier's jets suddenly split the air. Slingblade took a few steps back into the foliage, and waited.

Optimus landed and transformed into beast mode, "Come out Slingblade; I know you're here."

Slowly, she stepped forward. "Yes?"

"What happened this morning between you and Silverbolt?" His tone was gentle, "Both of you look like you've got the weight of the universe on your shoulders."

"We had…a small disagreement."

"That's not all, is it?"

"No."

"What happened, Slingblade?"

She bit her lip, and shifted her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "I…I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I just can't."

"Slingblade, you have to tell me; this could be important."

She had told Silverbolt that she wouldn't say anything unless she was questioned a lot. "If I tell you…will you get mad?"

"I don't know. I'll try not to if you'll tell me what really happened."

"All right." She took a deep breath, "I lied earlier; it wasn't a false alarm. Silverbolt was headed to Pred territory, but he stopped in the no man's land. The Predacon that Cheetor and Rattrap detected was Blackarachnia."

Optimus nodded, watching her fidget. She really doesn't want to tell this. he thought. "Go on."

"Before I do, let me say this; Silverbolt is not a traitor. Okay?"

"If you say so."

"Silverbolt's got this crazy idea in his head. He thinks he can convince Blackarachnia to give in to her Maximal programming and come over to our side."

It was all Optimus could do to keep a straight face. Blackarachnia defecting? Come on! The odds of that happening were about the same as the odds of Rattrap taking a positive outlook on things!

"I left after he told me that. I might have done something…regrettable…had I stayed."

"Why didn't you report it?"

"I couldn't. I was mad and hurt and nauseated all at once. And Silverbolt's my friend. Or, I thought he was. I told him I wouldn't talk unless I was questioned too much."

Optimus remained silent, but Slingblade could see the anger building in his beast mode's eyes.

"Optimus…he loves her. How, I don't know, but he does. I…couldn't just ruin that. …Dinobot also knows of this. In fact, he knew long before I did, but he never said anything about it because he didn't have enough proof."

"I see." All of the gentleness and patience was gone from his voice; only an emotionless, flat tone remained. "Return to base immediately."

She bowed her head as he transformed and began to lift off, "Yes, Sir."

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

Rhinox and Rattrap looked up when the elevator hissed to a stop, and Slingblade stepped off, her head bowed. The roof hatch opened a second later, and Optimus landed, transforming as he did. He didn't look happy.

"Get Silverbolt and Dinobot up here, and call Cheetor in as well." Optimus said, anger beginning to tint his words. "Slingblade, sit down."

Wordlessly, she obeyed, taking the seat closest to the elevator.

Rattrap looked to Rhinox, who shrugged and went about calling in the remaining team members. "What gives, Optimus?" he asked.

"Several things, Rattrap." Optimus answered, glaring at Slingblade, who flinched upon sensing his gaze. "Several things."

"What's up?" Cheetor asked as he entered the command center with Dinobot and Silverbolt.

"Yes, what is the meaning of-" Dinobot's optics fell on Slingblade, who sat at the table, head bowed, looking miserable, "Oh, Primus. What've you done now?"

"It's not what she did, it's what you didn't do." Optimus nodded toward Silverbolt, "And what he did."

At this, Slingblade sunk into her chair a bit.

"Silverbolt, this morning you left for patrol two hours early, correct?"

Silverbolt swallowed. He knew what was coming. "Yes."

"And you went to meet Blackarachnia, correct?"

"…Yes."

"Slingblade discovered the two of you, didn't she?"

The Fuzor's shoulders drooped, "Yes."

"And you begged her not to tell, because you thought that you could convince Blackarachnia to join us."

"Yes."

Optimus sighed, "Silverbolt, when will you learn? Not everyone has a spark of goodness inside them. Blackarachnia is one of those people; she'll never join us. She's too far gone, and no matter what you do, she's not going to listen.

"Plus, you're so trusting, she could get any number of Maximal secrets from you, and by the time we found out, it would be too late."

"I fail to see how this concerns me." Dinobot interrupted.

Optimus pointed at him, "You knew about this long before Slingblade did, and you didn't report it."

"I didn't have enough proof!"

"You could've just alerted us to a potential situation, Dinobot. We could've handled it from there."

The raptor snorted, "I doubt it. In fact, I can't believe you never noticed it before! Even now, hours after this happened, he still reeks of her poison! It happens every day! How could you possibly miss Blackarachnia's scent?"

No one answered him.

He crossed his arms over his chest, "I rest my case."

"Blackarachnia is good deep down." Silverbolt pressed. "There were plenty of times that she could have killed me, and she didn't. If I can just keep talking to her-"

"Silverbolt, you are such an idiot!" Slingblade exploded, leaping to her feet. "Blackarachnia is a Predacon! And to make matters worse, she's a black widow! She's using you to get what she wants! And once she gets whatever it is that she wants, what do you think she'll do to you?"

"I…I don't know." His voice was beginning to waver with mounting anger.

"She'll kill you! It's what black widows do! She'll take whatever she wants from you, and then she'll kill you!" She was beginning to shake with rage and frustration, "She'll kill you, Silverbolt! And I can guarantee she won't have a second thought before she does it, either."

"You don't know that!" he yelled. "You don't know her like I do!"

Slingblade's fist came down on the table, making quite a dent, "Damnit, Silverbolt! We're trying to save your life here! And what do you do? You stick up for the person that's gonna kill you, that's what! Wake up! Blackarachnia doesn't love you! She doesn't love anybody but herself!"

"You don't know that!"

"Yes I do! Think about it! Has she ever once returned your affection?"

"No. But, I'm certain-"

"Of what? That she'll change sides if you're allowed to see her more? She's a hardcore Predacon, Silverbolt! She's not gonna change, no matter what! Not even for you."

"You don't know that!" He was pleading with them now. "Give me time; I can change her, I know I can! She's still a Maximal deep down, I know she is! Please give me more time."

Optimus shook his head, "No."

"Optimus, please!"

"No, Silverbolt. You've already endangered us enough just by thinking about talking to Blackarachnia. I'm not going to let you go near her again."

"But-"

He held up one hand, silencing Silverbolt's plea, "My decision is made. You're confined to quarters until further notice."

"But-"

"That means now."

Silverbolt growled, then turned sharply and marched down the hallway.

Slingblade sighed, and sank back into her chair. She shook her head, "Well, that went over well."

"Blade…why didn't you say anything?" Cheetor asked.

"I was mad. And hurt. …I thought he had more sense than that, y'know? Guess I was wrong." She made a face, "What does he see in her, anyway?"

"Something that we don't, obviously." Rhinox answered.

Rattrap snorted, "Not dat dere's much ta see."

Dinobot snarled, "I honestly don't see how the rest of you missed that stench."

"Ey, you didn' exactly step forward y'self, Chopperface!"

He glared at the smaller 'bot, "I already told you; I didn't have enough proof!"

"Maximals, please." Optimus interrupted, sounding tired. "Can we lay off of the bickering for now?"

Rattrap and Dinobot reluctantly fell silent.

"I feel like a rat." Slingblade said. "Uh, no offense, Rattrap."

"None taken."

She paused for a moment, "Did I do the right thing, Optimus?"

"I think you did." He turned to Dinobot, "Now, as for you-"

"I know, I know. I'm still confined to quarters." He turned, and left the command center.

Optimus sighed, "This is getting out of hand."

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

Later, Slingblade was walking down the hallway that led to the elevator, glancing nervously around. Someone else was in the shadowed hallway, she could feel it. But who?

Suddenly, a hand shot out of nowhere, and yanked her into a janitorial closet. It took her only a second to figure out who it was; Dinobot was the only one who could sneak up on her. The light snapped on in the closet, proving her right.

"Funny. This isn't your quarters." she said, watching the other raptor warily.

"I need to speak with you."

"So you dragged me into a janitor's closet?"

"This is the only place where there are no cameras."

She raised one eyebrow, "Ooookay. You now have my undivided attention. So start talkin'."

"Who is that 'friend' that you spoke of earlier? The one who told you of the Tripredacus Council's plot to capture Megatron before you were protoform-ized."

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

He roared, clamped his hand around her neck, and slammed her against the nearest wall, jarring the mops, buckets, and other cleaning supplies that occupied the wall. "Tell me."

"Well, since you put it that way… It's Ravage."

"So, he is alive."

"Of course. How else could he have told me about the Council's latest plan?"

Dinobot looked at her closely, "…You work for the Tripredacus Council, don't you?"

"Mmmaybe."

He slammed her against the wall, "Don't you?!"

"Why else would I have joined the Autobots and then the Maximals?"

So, she hadn't betrayed him! Or the other Decepticons, for that matter! In fact, she had secretly been helping them all along! "I…thought you had gone soft."

She snorted, "Hardly. I only joined those losers so as not to blow my own cover. It helps to know what your enemy is up to, you know." She sighed, "Poor saps; they never suspected a thing. …I did actually befriend some of them, though…"

"You're a spy!"

"Ah, finally! Now we're getting somewhere."

"You're still a spy, aren't you? That's the true reason why you joined this mission!"

"See, Dinobot? You're smarter than I thought you were. Yes, I work for the Tripredacus Council, and have for years on end. Now…what're you going to do about it?"

He didn't reply.

"The Predacon Secret Police already have an agent in place, and the Council's other agent is allegedly on the way. Like I said earlier: I don't know when or if the attack will come. So, until then I must remain patient and make sure that I don't blow my cover. Or anyone else, for that matter.

"Now, I know that you want a shot at Megatron worse than any 'bot here. Join me, and I can guarantee you that first shot." She held out her hand.

"…And if I don't?"

She sneered at him, "That is not my decision to make; it's the Council's. I'm sure they'll seal your fate after they round up you and the rest of the Predacons. Mining energon 'til your dieing day immediately comes to mind."

He looked at her for a long time. She had him, and he knew it. Finally, he sighed, having reached his decision. He released her, and took her still-outstretched hand, "Deal."

Author's Note; Thanks to Libero H and Wayward for the reviews! Much appreciation going out to you! More to come!