Disclaimer: Hey guys! Shadow Katakura and DragonScouter here and we brought an awesome chapter with us. Let me just say that one of the biggest plot twists of this entire story is going to occur in this chapter and I'm sure it will leave you all on the edge or your seats. *pauses* Or very angry with Dragon and I for putting you through such a surprise. Either one is possible. But that's all I have to say besides that we don't own Transformers Prime. We only own our lovely OC's.

Both of us: Enjoy the chapter! *grins*

"HAHAHA! Cliff, put me down!"

Remember during the whole Orion Pax fiasco when Cliff said he would take me on our first date? That's exactly where we were now. It wasn't anything too fancy. Cliff decided to be a cheesy mech and sat up what could possibly be the Cybertronian version of a picnic on top of the base. As you can see, I'm enjoying myself.

Cliff laughed and spun me around again, causing me to squeal. If he dropped me, I was so kicking his aft the next time we trained. But given the firm grip he had on my waist I don't think I had to worry about being dropped. "No can do Shadow. I'm enjoying myself too much."

"Cliff!" I yelled, but the grin on my face didn't help me appear angry.

Cliffjumper laughed again and sat me on my pedes. I glared at him playfully as he gently grabbed my arms and placed them around his neck. "I could've did it myself you know." He wrapped his arms around my waist.

He smiled. "I know but I prefer to save your the work and do it myself."

I rolled my optics with a smile. "Silly mech."

"Only for you Shadow." Cliffjumper ended his statement with a quick kiss. I couldn't help but smile. Who knew that I would end up loving Cliffjumper of all the mechs in this universe?

We pulled apart and Cliffjumper groaned. "Frag. It's time for me to go on patrol."

"Already?" I frowned. Time sure is passing by quick these days.

Cliff sighed. "Unfortunately yes." He smirked. "But don't worry. We'll pick up where we left off when I get back. For now you have the spend your time in the company of Bulkhead, Jazz, and Ratchet. Everyone else is on patrol."

He grabbed my hand and we started to head back to the main room. I hummed in thought. "I'm sure Pandimala is enjoying herself. She's been stuck in base for a while now." I sighed. "Though I can't help but worry about her when she's by herself. Primus knows she gets herself in to trouble too much."

"Hey, have faith in her. She's not leaving you just yet." Cliffjumper smiled. We made it in to the main room and he gave me a quick kiss on my cheek. "I'll see you later sweetspark."

I grinned and waved at him as he transformed and drove out of base. Jazz walked over to me from his spot beside Bulkhead. His visor was glowing and his trademark grin was on his face.

"You two are such sweethearts." Jazz grinned at me. "Honestly makes meh feel like going out there and finding me a lil lady."

I smirked. "Don't worry Jazz. Your special someone is out there waiting for you."

Our conversation was cut short by a beep coming from the monitor. Jazz and I walked over to Ratchet and Bulkhead. The former Wrecker glanced at the screen and asked, "What is it?"

Ratchet stared at the monitor for a minute before answering, "A high frequency signal with an embedded message."

"Again?" I asked. I hadn't been there for the last time 'Scream did this but 'Mala told me all about it. I guess it was my turn now.

"Starscream." Ratchet confirmed my thoughts.

"What do ya mean again?" Jazz frowned in confusion.

I patted his shoulder. "We'll explain later Jazzy."

Ratchet started reading the message before Jazz could say anything about his new nickname. "I have received information that is of extreme interest to you. Bring medical kit."

"I'll go with." I volunteered. "Mala got to go last time so it's my turn now."

"I'm coming with." Bulkhead glanced at me. He then smirked. "You are still a rookie."

I placed a hand over my spark in fake hurt. "Bulk, you wound me!"

"Save the dramatics and get your afts through da bridge." Jazz chuckled as he activated the ground bridge.

"At least you still have some sense." Ratchet grumbled as he led Bulkhead and I through the ground bridge.

When we came out on the other side, I couldn't help but smirk as I saw the state Starscream was in. It was a little cruel I know but I absolutely cannot stand this guy. He's a coward, plain and simple.

"Clear." I said and Ratchet and Bulkhead came out behind me.

"What are you doing here?!" Starscream, well, screamed as he backed away from me.

I put a servo on my hip and smirked. "Aw, you do remember me. I'm flattered."

"Make it fast." Ratchet snapped before Starscream had a chance to make up a come back.

The seeker glared at me before turning to Ratchet. "It would appear that like myself, Airachnid has gone rogue."

"What's it to us?" Ratchet asked.

"She's planning to retaliate against Meg.." I honestly don't see how Ratchet and Bulkhead didn't notice this slip up. "Um mankind. I can provide you with her current location."

"I don't believe you." I said, kinda bluntly.

"Why wouldn't you?" Starscream seemed to get irritated. "I directed you to the Decepticon space bridge so you could rescue Orion Pax didn't I?"

"Yeah but then you helped MECH still Jazz's t-cog!" Bulkhead growled.

"So? He got it back didn't he?" Starscream snapped. If Jazz were here, I'm pretty sure Starscream would not have said those words.

Ratchet scoffed and we began to walk back in to the ground bridge. I hated this part. Of course I knew that we would eventually get some information out of Starscream.

"Okay I admit!" And here it comes. "Aligning myself with those vile humans was a colossal error in judgment! But I am alone. I do what I must to survive!" I turned around just as Starscream collapsed to his knees. "But I paid the price. I am now the one missing his t-cog."

"You're grounded?" Bulkhead was in shock.

"Thus of little, if any, threat to you." Starscream looked up at us with the most pitiful look I've ever seen. "But Airachnid and her insecticon intend to..."

"Insecticon?" Ratchet gasped. "Here?"

"How?" Bulkhead demanded.

"I would have asked." Starscream started bitterly. "But I was too busy squeezing through a narrow crevice trying to keep the vermin from chewing my leg off while Airachnid watched."

I crossed my arms and couldn't help but growl. "Guess today's your lucky day Starscream."

After Ratchet repaired Starscream's leg, we received Airachnid's coordinates and went back to base. When we got back I immediately walked over to Pandimala and Cliffjumper.

"Where were you?" 'Mala asked though I could tell from the look in her optics that she already knew.

"Oh you know...fixing up Primus forsaken excuses of seekers. The usual." I remarked sarcastically.

"Aw, don't worry about him." Cliffjumper laid a hand on my shoulder. "He's gone now."

"If you two kiss while standing in front of me..." Pandimala trailed off dangerously.

Before Cliff and I had a chance to actually do that, Ratchet started speaking. "The coordinates Starscream provided are in an abandoned Decepticon mine."

"Hold on!" I jumped when Jazz yelled that. Since Cliff didn't die, Arcee didn't have a reason to speak out against this. But Starscream was the one who helped MECH get Jazz's t-cog. Jazz continued, "You just fixed 'Screamer up and sent him on his way?!"

"What were we suppose to do? Take him back here?" Bulkhead retorted.

"Not that anyone here wouldn't jump at da chance to get Airachnid," Jazz's visor flashed dangerously. "But dat mech helped those humans steal my t-cog!"

"You weren't there Jazz!" I decided to put in my two cents. "I don't like him either but he was weak and defenseless!"

"And learning about the insecticon could prove highly tactical." Ratchet added. "Starscream's intel has proved credible in the past."

"Sure! When he wasn't busy stabbing us in the back!" Jazz lost his accent for a moment there as he got in Ratchet's face. I shuddered. Small or not, Jazz could be scary when he wanted to be.

"Without the resources we possessed on Cybertron," Optimus started and I could've sworn I saw Pandimala cringe at having to hear another lecture from Optimus, even if it wasn't directed at her. "We lack ready means of capturing and imprisoning our enemies. None the less, I do not condone the termination of any defenseless life form."

A cold feeling washed over me. Why did I have the feeling that something bad was going to happen? Pandimala walked over to me and asked quietly, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I pushed those thoughts away from my processor for the moment. Then I studied 'Mala's face. "More importantly, are you okay?"

"Ah, I'm fine." Pandimala waved off my concern. I was still worried though. She looked as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

"Ratchet, prepare the ground bridge." Optimus requested. "Shadowstalker, Pandimala, Bulkhead, and Arcee, you four will come with me."

We all nodded. Cliffjumper looked disappointed but then he looked at me and said, "Be careful."

I smiled. "Always am."

Ratchet activated the ground bridge and the four 'Bots Optimus called on ran through behind him. When we came out, we were in front of a large opening. I knew that Megatron, Airachnid, and an insecticon were down there.

"Proceed with extreme caution." Optimus advised before we all began to climb down in to the hole.

The hole wasn't as deep as I thought it would be, so we made it down in record time. We crouched down by a ledge and watched Megatron and the insecticon duke it out. Airachnid was watching on a rock nearby.

"Woah! 'Scream never said anything about Megatron." Bulkhead gasped.

"It would seem that Starscream orchestrated this convergence in the hope that all his enemies would destroy each other on his behalf." Optimus stated. That wasn't exactly true. Starscream actually didn't know that Megatron would be here so we can't blame him for this one.

"Well, you can have whatever's left of Megatron." Arcee spat. "Airachnid's mine."

"Arcee! No!" Optimus tried to stop her but the blue femme wasn't having it as she transformed and sped over to Airachnid.

I watched Megatron battle the insecticon. That bad feeling wouldn't leave me. Is something seriously bad going to happen today? I winced as Megatron punched the insecticon back in to the wall. It was stunned for a moment. Megatron looked around until his optics finally landed on us. I narrowed my optics as he stared at Pandimala longer.

"So many surprises today." The warlord remarked.

The insecticon tried to sneak up on ole buckethead but ended up being punched across the room. I watched as Megatron brutally destroyed the insecticon, ending the battle by finally chopping his head off. Megatron chuckled darkly and threw his arms in the air.

"Let that be a warning to anyone who dares to cross a gladiator from Kaon!" He yelled. "Be they Decepticon..."

We all jumped down from the ledge and surrounded Megatron. The warlord glanced at us before finishing, "Or Autobot." He then looked at Pandimala, who was shocked. "Ah, femme. You do not have to be an Autobot you know. I can look at you and tell you have the bearings of a Decepticon. Join us."

Pandimala didn't say anything. She only looked on in shock. I growled and said, "No chance Megatron. She's staying with us."

Megatron only narrowed his optics before charging at Optimus. We all tensed up but Megatron only made it a few steps before he collapsed from his injuries. It didn't seem to faze him through as he slowly looked up at Optimus.

"It would seem as if I am unarmed and at your mercy." Megatron remarked coldly. "So tell me Optimus, do you intend to take me alive or end this here and now?"

Optimus didn't say anything for a minute. Finally he aimed his ion displacer at Megatron's helm. Megatron glared in to the barrel of the weapon. I thought we would actually pull it off but two things stopped us. The first thing was the blasters shots raining down on us which reminded me of the fact that Dreadwing was coming. The second thing was the one that made my processor go completely numb with emotional pain. What was it you ask?

Pandimala aimed her cannons at Optimus and set them to fire.

Shock overtook me so bad that I couldn't find the strength to aim my blasters at the vehicons that had surrounded us or at Dreadwing.

"The surprises never cease." Megatron commented.

"Oh scrap." Bulkhead mumbled.

My mouth finally managed to form a word. "Pandimala?"

She couldn't meet my eyes.

"Mala, what are you doing?!" Bulkhead asked the question that was running through my processor.

"Making my choice." She responded. Kind of bluntly too.

"The right one, I assure you femme." Megatron smirked, even though he was currently weak and at our mercy.

"Mala?" My voice came out as a whisper. "What are you doing?" Tears formed in my optics but I wouldn't allow them to fall.

Pandimala opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She only stared at me before shaking her helm and looking away.

"Return Megatron to us and I will allow you to live." Dreadwing stated.

"Never trust a 'Con! Kick buckethead's bucket!" Bulkhead roared.

Any other time I would have laughed at that. But my only focus now was 'Mala and my body seemed to completely shut down. After the longest pause in history, Optimus asked, "Dreadwing, do I have your word?"

Dreadwing was silent for a moment before putting his cannon away and holding out his arms. Bulkhead guided me back to Optimus because I was still in shock. But that simple movement woke me up and emotions finally registered in my processor again. Pure hot anger flooded through me and I pushed Bulkhead off of me and growled at 'Mala, who stepped back.

"That's it, huh?!" I yelled. "Years of friendship only for you to turn your back on me and join the 'Cons?! What about me, huh 'Mala?! Were we ever really friends?!"

"Shadowstalker, stand down." Optimus quickly said before things could escalate.

"My liege." Dreadwing addressed his master as he helped Megatron to his feet.

Megatron growled. "Dreadwing may have given you his word but I didn't. Femme, come along." He then addressed his troops."DESTROY THEM!"

I yelled out in anger and released it by ending the lives of the vehicons. I stood back to back with Bulkhead and Optimus and between the three of us the drones were down in minutes.

"That was intense." Bulkhead remarked before glancing at me. "Hey kid, you okay?"

"I'm fine." I said quietly.

Bulkhead's anger soon matched my own. "I can't believe Pandimala! After everything we've done for her!"

"Enough." Optimus said firmly. "We will deal with that situation another time."

Another thought occurred to me. "Oh scrap. Arcee!"

I ran towards the direction she went in and the footsteps behind me told me Optimus and Bulkhead were following. Optimus opened up the com-link and asked, "Arcee, what is your status?"

The reply was quick. "In need of assist, but alive. And so is Airachnid." Her tone took on a bitter tone at the end.

"At least Megatron took care of the other bug problem. Hey 'Cee, get a load of this. Pandimala defected." Bulkhead scoffed.

"She WHAT?!" Arcee yelled. "Wait...Primus, Shadow are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I snapped. "I don't wanna talk about it right now."

Everyone was silent after that. We all had a lot to think about right now.

Some Time Later

"PANDIMALA DID WHAT?!"

Everyone winced when Ratchet screamed that. Jazz's visor flashed as he said angrily, "Why would she do that?!"

"How are we supposed to know?!" Bulkhead snapped. "Megatron gave her the offer and she accepted. We don't know what was going on in that processor of hers."

"After everything we did for her!" Bumblebee's armor shook in anger.

I was relieved when Cliffjumper quietly pulled me away and led me to his room. We sat on his berth and I only stared at the floor. Cliffjumper tilted my chin up to look at him and asked softly, "Shadow, are you okay? Like really okay?"

Just by staring in to his optics, I completely broke. The tears I had been holding back flowed freely now and I whimpered. Cliff didn't say anything. He just pulled me close and I sobbed in to his chest. I kept mumbling 'Mala's name over and over again and Cliffjumper kept muttering "it's okay" in my audio receptors. Somehow, I managed to calm down enough to the point where I wasn't completely sobbing anymore. Wow, who knew a Cybertronian could cry this hard?

"Feel better?" My mech asked softly as he rubbed my winglet.

I nodded, not trusting my own voice right now. He then asked, "You wanna sleep in here tonight?" I nodded again.

Cliffjumper made sure to turn the lights off before laying down on the berth and pulling me close. Now that I've went through the pain of losing Pandimala, I don't wanna think about what would happen if I lost Cliff.

"Cliff?" I asked weakly. The sound of my voice sounded foreign to me after crying so hard.

He opened one optic. Okay, so at least I didn't wake him up. "Yes Shadow?"

"I love you."

Cliff smiled at me before kissing my forehead. "I love you too sweetspark. Now get some sleep. And I promise I'll be right here beside you when you wake up." Who knew this chatter box and cocky mech could be so sweet and loving?

"Okay." I mumbled before closing my optics.

I was out like a light.

And THAT my good friends is the end of this particularly emotional chapter. Next chapter will be written by Dragon and posted by me. Hopefully, we won't have to wait long to see what Pandimala's going to be up to next chapter.

Me: How'd you like it?

Dragon: I loved it! It looks like our plans are coming together perfectly.

Both of us: Good bye for now! *goes to sleep*