"You incompetent fool!"

I'm sorry!

"I cannot believe you did that!"

I didn't mean to!

"Do you ever think before you act?"

Of course I do!

"Well it sure doesn't seem like it! Because of you, we lost the Minicon!"

Minicon...

I was yanked out of my mental apologizing by the word. Looking around blindly, I realized that I had begun to doze off. The Decepticons had returned from who knows where. Megatron was berating Cyclonus on costing them the Minicon; what else was new? He sounded a lot like my father did when he was yelling at me.

"Get out of my sight."

"Ye-ye-yes sir!" Cyclonus stuttered, smoking at several joints. He stumbled out of the throne room, most likely to go get repaired. Megatron sat back in his chair with a heavy sigh.

"Good help is so hard to find these days." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Frowning, he glanced at the remaining bots. "Well, what are you standing around for? You all know your jobs!"

"Yes sir!" Starscream, Demolisher and Scavenger quickly departed, not wanting to face the tyrant's wrath, leaving me along to deal with him. Or rather, for him to deal with me.

For a few minutes, Megatron sat in silence, his chin propped up on his hand, his elbow sitting on the armrest opposite of the one my cage was resting on. This was fine with me; no petting, no handling, no "I'm going to destroy the world and you are just one measly key in helping me reach that goal'. Yep, life was as good as it was going to get at the moment. Knowing my luck, however, it didn't last.

I had begun to doze off again, wrapped in my mother's afghan, leaning against my backpack, when I was rudely jerked awake by a large set of fingers. They wrapped around me, surprisingly warm despite the metal skin. Obviously, Megatron had had his hand clenched in a fist for a while now. The blanket fell away as I was taken out of my cage and set down on Megatron's palm. The dictator glared down at me for a few moments, processor, well, processing. A finger came down from above and gently began to stroke my head. I did my best not to duck away from it, grinding my teeth to keep from yelling at him. Last time I had down that, Cyclonus had taught me the real meaning of having someone 'in the palm of your hand'.

"The Autobots are growing anxious my dear," Megatron chuckled, "Yes. It's been two days now and they aren't sure if you're dead or alive. Surely they will trade all of their Minicons for you!" He gave a loud, evil laugh. "Yes! And then I shall conquer the universe and rule supreme over all!" I so wanted to yell 'you're crazy, insane, and sick!' but I kept my mouth shut.

A cracked, whiny alarm went off through the halls of the base, startling me. I jumped as a dim red light began to flicker around the room. Starscream and Demolisher were first to run in, followed closely by Cyclonus, then Scavenger.

"Demolisher, pinpoint the Minicons location!" Megatron roared, dropping me back into the cage. I landed without a sound on the hard metal bottom.

"Yes sir!" The red and brown Decepticon rushed over to a dusty computer counsel set into the wall. The screen lit up with a picture of the Earth, several purple crosshairs bouncing across the screen. Typing in a few codes, Demolisher managed to zoom in on the Earth. The top of the Earth.

"Ah, not that slaggin place again!" Cyclonus whined as a picture of Antarctica came up on the screen. "Last time we lost that stupid Minicon, and got slagged!"

Megatron chuckled. "Yes, but last time, we did not have a hostage, no." Five sets of optics looked down at me, and I looked back, suddenly quivering horribly.

Hostage?

I think I blacked out again. Only for a moment this time, but still. Warping had that effect on me. Demolisher was in charge of me until the time came for me to 'do my job'. It was easy; I had to scream my head off while Megatron crushed me in his fist. Piece of cake.

Not.

I was not going to scream for horn head.

By the time I regained consciousness the Decepticons had already split up and were looking around the Minicon. Demolisher was practically clinging to Megatron, holding me tightly in one hand, digging through the snow with the other. I really didn't see why he didn't just set me down on one of the cliff ledges. It would leave one of his hands free and, well, leave me to get frostbite. My hoodie and fishnet were back at the base with my backpack and afghan. The only thing that was of any great loss in this case was the afghan; my mother had started it a little after I was born, and had finished it right before the crash. I sunk down into myself at that thought; the crash.

It had happened nearly three months ago now. My mother and I had been walking down to the park. It was mid-summer and May n' Jay had gone to see a movie, and my father was at work. My mother was a business woman and had just gotten back from a long business trip in Hawaii. She was wearing cut off jean shorts and a white tank top to show off her new tan. I was wearing my normal attire; long-sleeved black shirt and baggy jeans to hide my newest cuts and bruises, courtesy of my father and uncle, who had come to visit while she was gone. May had yet to taste a beer, so at the moment, she was what I considered safe.

We were walking to the park, which was about four long blocks away from our house. My mother kept comparing our skins; it was like comparing black and white. I was pale and had a stick-person figure, while she was tan and beautiful and could have been a super model if she had wanted too. Instead, however, she had chosen to hang out with me on one of the few days she was home. We were nearly to the park; the iron gate was just in sight behind some large trees that lined the street. My mother was drilling me about school and asking if I had any crushes. I simply shook my head; nope, nobody I liked. Not at that school, anyway. We had reached a cross walk and were waiting for the little man to start flashing white on the opposite side of the street. No cars were around, and I had suggested we just crossed the street while it was red. My mother wouldn't have it, however, so I just waited with her. Maybe if we had broken the rules, that car wouldn't have come.

It was hit and run. One minute we were half way across the street, the next a large white truck was bearing down on us. Well, on me. My mom, who was behind me, shoved me forward, out of the way, and began to leap backwards trying to avoid the truck. She was too slow, however, and it hit her full force.

The world took on a slow motion point of view. My mom's body went flying in an arc across the street, a trail of blood following her. People across the street who had witnessed the event were screaming and shouting. Several phones were dialing 9-1-1. I was lying inches away from the car, trembling, unable to get up and rush to my mom's side. My limbs wouldn't move; neither could my mouth. I was trapped in a silent scream.

The car began to back up. A spider web of cracks covered the windshield, hiding the drivers face. I watched it through bleary eyes; I was crying? Yes, crying. Crying for my mom; crying for me. Crying for the pain I was in. Barely, I saw the front wheels of the car turn...towards me.

"Look out!" An engine gunned, and suddenly the truck was coming straight at me; a huge white monster that's face was covered in blood. My mother's blood. The truck was about two feet away when someone grabbed my shoulders and pulled me out of the way. I never did learn who did that; there was too much confusion. The truck barreled past us and shot down the street. The person who had saved me carried me toward the crowd of people. Towards my mom. An ambulance came screeching up, sirens blazing. I was handed off to another person dressed in white and dark blue. I heard someone shouting out instructions. Then I fell into darkness.

"Megatron, sir, I think something's wrong with the human." Demolisher said softly, glancing down at me. The dictator glanced over; slightly peeved by the fact that Demolisher had stopped digging. He then turned his gaze to me. I was hunched over in Demolisher's palm, trembling from both the cold and sudden flood of memories. I heard horn head laugh.

"Don't worry, Demolisher. That's how she's supposed to act." He sneered. "Now get back to looking for that minicon!"

"Yes sir!" Demolisher almost saluted, but luckily he remembered he had me in his hand. Falling back down onto his knees, he began to dig through the snow once more.

"Megatron, sir!" Cyclonus's voice drifted over Megatron's comlink, along with a bunch of static.

"What is it Cyclonus?" Megatron acknowledged.

"The Autobots are here!"

"Where?"

"Sector 5-6-8!"

"We'll be there in a moment. Contact Starscream and Scavenger."

"Yes sir."

The connection broke off. Megatron looked over to Demolisher and gave an impressive grin. "Show time, human." I shuddered at the look; this would not end well. "Come, Demolisher, let us go...greet our friends." Demolisher nodded and stood, brushing snow off of his knees. He followed Megatron like a well-trained pet; the only thing he was lacking was a leash. I watched the behemoths back as we traveled across the snowy landscape, approaching a range of hills close by. The dictator suddenly came to an abrupt halt. "Demolisher, hand me the girl."

The loyal Mech did a small half-bow and held me out to him. "Yes, sir." I was 'gently' plucked out of his hand by the back of my shirt and dangled in front of Megatron's nose.

"Don't forget, human, you will scream for me." He hissed between his clenched metal fangs. I felt like nailing him one right in the nose, but the action would have most definitely broken my knuckles, and at the moment I was most concerned about keeping myself in one piece and getting back to my brother. Megatron apparently excepted my silence as a 'yes sir, anything you say sir, shall I kiss your feet, sir?' He dropped me down into his unsoiled hand and curled his fingers around me, so that only my head managed to peek out behind the titanium tree-trunks. "Come, Demolisher, it looks as though the party has already begun." He motioned to a blazing stream of lights behind a craggy outcropping of rock about two miles away. "Transform!"

The next few seconds terrified me more than anything that had happened so far. Megatrons torso turned around, and suddenly his body began to collapse on itself. I shut my eyes as the world twisted this way and that, my face dragging against the frigid air. This roller-coaster experience lasted all of ten seconds. The hand had released me at some point, but I hadn't really noticed. When I dared to open one of my eyes, I saw a large metal counsel covered in bright buttons and switches. On the metal wall in front of me was a viewing screen showing the snowy landscape that I had been watching only half a minute before. I was settled in a large, strangely comfy chair that was way to big for me; my feet barely even touched the floor! I reached up and placed a hand over my

racing heart, willing it to calm down.

"Did you enjoy the ride, human?" Megatrons mocking voice echoed all around me, scaring me out of my wits once more. He chuckled in the standard bad-guy tone as I jumped about a foot off of the chair. "Ah, ah, ah," he taunted, "You're not going anywhere." Thick metal belts shot out of the seat and wrapped around my body. Two crossed over my chest, forcing me back against the seat. My hands grabbed the edge of the armrest as I struggled to get out of the seat. Bad move; two smaller belts clapped around my wrists, holding them fast. I was snapped back against the chair as a belt secured itself around my stomach and two grabbed my legs, holding them fast. The only thing I could move by now was my head. I twisted it around, looking at the various controls set up on the walls that surrounded me, trying to find a way out. There was none. "Demolisher lets go!" Megatron shouted. My surroundings gave a lurch and the landscape on the screen began to scroll by.

I'm inside Megatron! I finally realized, feeling stupid that it had taken me that long to figure it out. I slumped back against the seat, my stomach tying up in knots. I was dead, dead, dead, dead, dead. Need I elaborate?

The rocky crag quickly came into view. Just as we reached it, a red laser bullet hit the very peak, shattering it. Dust and snow went flying everywhere. Megatron muttered 'Transform' once more, and I shut my eyes tightly, ready for the ride. It wasn't as bad this time; most probably because I was prepared for it. The metal bonds released me as the world spun once more. When it had finally stopped, I was back in Megatrons hand, my head poking out in the bitter cold air. The dust and snow was swirling around us, cloaking us from the bots down on the field. Slowly, as the dust settled, I managed to make out several of the Decepticons and Autobots standing down of the field, facing off. Cyclonus was fighting with yellow-head, Scavenger had engaged the orange one with the crane on his shoulder and Starscream was going against a large red and blue mech. A white Mech with a red cross on his helmet was behind the Autobots, digging in the snow, much like Demolisher had been.

"The Minicon is ours, Autoboob!" Cyclonus shouted, slamming his fist into yellow-heads cheek. He stumbled, but the retaliated, charging at Cyclonus and slamming his knee up into the annoying copters stomach. He gagged and doubled over, holding his abdomen tenderly.

"The Minicons don't belong to anyone, Decepticreep!" He yelled. Demolisher appeared behind Megatron, who had yet to be noticed, despite his grand entrance.

"Demolisher, go engage Red Alert." He ordered, pointing to the white Mech that was digging in the snow.

"Yes sir." The loyal soldier rumbled off behind the hills surrounding the fighting plain. He came up on the one near Red Alert and transformed so he was standing on the crest. Pulling out his gun, he began to fire upon the Autobot, hitting his hand and shoulder, forcing him away from his digging spot.

"Now, human, it's show time." Megatron slowly, dramatically raised his fist-with me-out in front of him. His fingers began to close in around my already aching body. "Scream." He demanded. I stayed silent. "I said scream!" His grip tightened noticeably, shoving my elbows into my sides. His shout, however, did not go unnoticed.

"Megatron!" The red and blue bot shouted, throwing Starscream to the side. He pulled his blaster out and aimed at the tyrant.

"Ah, ah, ah, Optimus Prime. I am quite certain that you don't want to do that." Megatron smirked tauntingly.

Optimus's optics narrowed as they changed their focus from Megatrons face to his fist, then to me. They widened, then narrowed in hatred. Towards Megatron or me,

I wasn't sure. He reluctantly lowered his blaster to his side.

"Call back your troops and she might survive." Megatron ordered in a smug tone that obviously meant that the Autobot didn't have a choice.

"Autobots, stand down." He ordered in a monotone voice. His soldiers looked at him.

"Are you nuts, Optimus?" The yellow one shouted. "We've nearly got the Minicon!"

The commander gave him a sharp look. "That was an order!" Yellow-head instantly backed off. He dropped his blaster into the snow and stepped back, towards Optimus. The other three followed the suite unwillingly.

"Demolisher, retrieve the Minicon!" Megatron ordered, pointing to the hole the white bot had been working on. A dim green glow was penetrating the icy layer

he had reached. Demolisher nodded and knelt beside the hole. Slamming his fist down into the ice, he searched through the shattered fragments for the Minicon. The Autobots were all glaring at their captors, flexing their empty fists. Optimus turned and faced Megatron.

"Let her go; she has nothing to do with this!" He shouted. The only answer was a satisfied smirk.

"I don't think so Prime." Megatrons grip tightened just the smallest bit. "She's proven herself to be of some use."

"She's not part of this war!" The Autobot leader countered.

"She is now." Megatron had obviously had enough of Optimus's arguing. I was once more shown off in front of the other Transformers. Slowly, Megatron began to close his fist upon me. I clenched my teeth, reminding myself of my previous promise not to scream. Megatron's fist continued to close, forcing my elbows into my ribs and crushing my knees together. I expected Megatron to stop at once point; surely he didn't want to kill his hostage, one of the few things that could stop Prime in his tracks? Megatron had often ranted about that fact, not realizing I was wide awake listening to him.

The pain in my body suddenly increased ten-fold. I was snapped out of my reminiscing as several of my old cuts and scars tore back open. My teeth grabbed my lower lip, nearly splitting it in two. The pain increased; I could hardly breath. Black began to flash in front of my eyes. Don't scream! Don't give him that satisfaction! My mind screamed.

Suddenly, it was gone. The intense pressure just evaporated, leaving only pain. I gasped and opened my eyes; the darkness began to clear up. Twisting my head around, I looked up at Megatron, who was glaring at me.

"So I was mistaken; you do not have a use." He hissed between clenched teeth. Oh no...this does not look good for me. I thought silently, barely able to swallow. He looked down at me for a second, then smirked. "Prime," he stared, "catch!" His hand suddenly fell into a bowl-shape, as though he was holding a ball. Unfortunately he had no ball, and decided to use me as a substitute. One second I was sitting in his hand, the next I was flying through the air, high above the Autobots and Decepticons heads, leaving a red streak of blood in my wake. The ground suddenly rushed up to meet me; the fall was going to kill me, no doubt about it.

Apparently someone doubted. The snow had drifted to my landing spot, making it nearly ten feet deep. I hit the white powdery stuff in a ball and rolled several feet. I threw out my arms and legs to stop my slide; luckily, it worked. I laid there for several moments, breathing hard. I could hear the sounds of battle a little ways off; how far had I gone? I took a moment to catch my breath before daring to roll over and look in the direction I had come from. Amazingly, Megatron hadn't thrown me that far. I was only about a quarter of a mile away from the fight. Scavenger and Hot Shot were the two closest to me. I tried to call out and get their attention, but my voice caught in my throat, which was sore from holding back my screams.

Hot Shot charged at Scavenger and attempted to punch him in the stomach. Scavenger easily caught his fist and threw him back. Snarling, Hot Shot jumped back up and pulled out his laser blaster. He shot off several blasts at his enemy. Scavenger dodged all of them, except the last one, which he somehow deflected with his arm—sending it straight towards me. It hit right below the drift I was on. A spider web of cracks crawled out from the hole as the snow beneath me began to shift. This time, I managed to shout.

"SCAVENGER!"

The Decepticon whirled around to face me.

"RAVEN!"

That was the last thing I heard before the ice below split open with a loud crack, dumping the snow and me down into the earth.

(stares) Wow...it's...done! Wheeeee! So, how many people want to kill me now? You'd better get in line...

A special thanks to my new friend, Ólafur Hafstein, who helped me get out of my eternal writers block! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I am sorry it took so long to get up! Please review this chapter so I know I still have at least one person out there who wants me to continue it! Also, my new fic, MIA, would like some reviews...it feels neglected (sniff) Poor story, so young...

ANYWAY! Thanks for being patient with me! I hope to update soon. Well, sooner than last time, if that says anything...

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