Metalsound twitched in her sleep and her paws felt warm. It was a glow that had woken her up. Her optics snapped open as she let out an ear-piercing screech. She slammed her paws on the berth trying to put the flames out. In her panic, she fell off the berth.

Soundwave and Thunderhoof rush to her side, "Metalsound! Are you alright? What's wrong?" Thunderhoof asked in a worried tone. Still, in a panic, she continued to slam her paws on the floor desperately trying to put out the fire. She leaped off the ship, running off to look for some water.

Danny was whistling to himself as he had finished filling up his swimming pool, "Ok, I have Mr. Squeakers," he squeezed the rubber duck, "Now I have the whole day to re-" Metalsound came out of nowhere plunging her front paws in the water, sending most of it out onto the ground, "Lax," he finished with a groan, "What's going on?"

Soundwave and Thunderhoof caught up, "Metalsound, what's going on?"

Sitting down she took one of her paws out of the water, "My paws were on fire," she squeaked.

"What brought that on?"

"I don't know! I woke up and they were on fire."

"Huh. Well, how are you feeling other than that? You seem to be better."

Feeling the rush fading she laid down, "Other than the freakout I'm still tired. How are the others?"

Thunderhoof moved in closer to her and pulled her into a hug, "I'm just glad you're out of the danger of offlining. The others are doing good. Arcee finally got her sight back. It's just Strongarm, she's still in stasis lock and has crashed once. Steeljaw is so worried he's refusing to sleep, we have to force him to take in some Energon and he right up refuses to leave her side."

"I'm glad Arcee's better, Strongarm has to make it. She has to," the wolf Predacon whispered as she drifted back to sleep.

Steeljaw is laying next to Strongarm, holding her and wishing she would wake up when he suddenly hears a noise at the door, naturally the first thing he does is growl and get into an attack position to protect Strongarm, "Whoa Steeljaw, it's just me," Magnus says as he walks in.

Realizing who it was he relaxed, "Sorry, I'm just on edge. I thought she would have woken up by now."

"She was hurt pretty badly, it's gonna take time. Just be patient."

"I'm trying, but I'm just so worried about her. I want her to wake up to show that she's fine and let me explain myself to her," he looked at his mate in sadness. He was trying to stay positive, but how could he when she was so close to leaving him?

"I know you are, I am too. Hopefully, she'll wake up real soon."

"Hopefully. What was that noise earlier?" He asked. He had been woken up by something screeching. That was also why he was ready to attack whatever would have come through the door. In case they were under attack by an unknown opponent.

"Was just Metalsound, somehow her paws got on fire."

"What? How did that happen?"

"Not sure, she just woke up with them on fire."

"That's a first. Have you ever been under some sort of control where you weren't in control of your own body?"

"No."

"Oh," Steeljaw looked to the ground.

"Why?"

"I was just wondering. When I was under that femme's control and she wanted me to..." He growled softly at the memory of it, "All I could think of was Strongarm, I had to get back to her somehow. I wasn't about to let some slut tell me what to do. But when all three of them put me under, it was like I was trapped within my own body. Powerless to stop them. I tried so hard to regain control of my body, to get away from her."

"How were you able to break their control?"

"I just kept thinking about Strongarm."

"And that got you out of your trance?"

"Yes, and the thought of Strongarm seeing what could have happened... It just tore my spark apart. I wasn't going to hurt her like that, and when that femme told me to finish her off I kept fighting for control of my body. Seeing how she was looking at me was what made me break free," his arm still hurt. He wouldn't let Fixit or anyone else tend to his wounds.

"Why won't you let Fixit fix up your arm?"

"When Strongarm wakes up, until then I'll just have to endure the pain."

"Why are you waiting until then?"

"I've been too worried about Strongarm to think about it," Steeljaw replied, keeping his optics on his mate.

"I have to ask. What will you do if she offlines? Primus forbid."

"I don't know, I pray that it won't come down to that."

"As do I. You may want to sparkbond with her, it will save her as well as help her see the truth."

"Can I even bond with her in her current condition?"

"Yes, just remove her plating, reveal her spark, and merge your spark with hers, since she loves you it will accept your spark even though she's in stasis lock."

"Is our deal still in play, or did you find the answer you were looking for?"

"I found what I was looking for, the deal is off. I see you love my daughter and will do anything to keep her safe."

"Thank you, I just hope she will be able to see that."

"She will. I'll leave you now," he replies as he walks out of the room. He closed the door to give them some privacy.

Steeljaw started removing her breastplates and uncovered her spark, he then uncovered his own and laid on top of her putting his spark right on hers to let them merge together. Please let this work. Venting out a sigh he thought about his encounter with the snake femme, hoping Strongarm would see his side of the battle within his mind.

Just as he had told Ultra Magnus he had been fighting the whole time trying to regain control of his body. It made him feel sick when the femme kissed him, he wanted to push her off of him when he found out that she had her arms around him. He roared in anger when his body was listening to that she-devil's command to attack his mate. He would never end his mate's life, he would sooner end his own life than stain his claws with the blood of his love.