I left you with a cliffhanger last time, so without further to do . . .

CH 7 Accusations

Rampage laughed at his enemies laying helplessly on the ground in front of him. The chambers of his cannon turned, ready to fire the next shot. The young femme looked away with fear.

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, energon pulsed through his body. It caused him to fall to the ground and scream in pain. Megatron was squeezing the container holding the other half of Protoform X's spark. The Predacon warlord called for a retreat.

Rampage slowly stood and glared viciously at Razorgear, who pulled the unconscious leader even closer to her body.

The Predacon crab retreated, leaving her alone to hold Optimus. Tears dripping from her optics.

A few moments later Dinobot and Cheetor were beside her. Cheetor lightly shoved Optimus Primal's shoulder, "Big bot? Are you alright?"

The leader shifted out of Razorgear's arms: his optics blinked on. "Yeah, I'm alright." Optimus pushed up, steading his own feet. "Let's head back to base." Dinobot stood behind the leader, but the other two stood motionless.

"You heard Primal! Back to base!"The exPredacon warrior snarled.

Cheetor jumped, turned quickly, and then started to the Axalon. Razorgear followed at a much slower pace.

Sliding his arm under Optimus and wrapping around his back, Dinobot helped the leader steady himself. "Thanks." Optimus smiled painfully. Almost all of the Maximal's weight leaned against the taller mech. The blast wound on Optimus' back was leaking massive amounts of energon.

Dinobot couldn't help but notice the pain of Optimus' staggered breaths. Calmly and quickly, the two took wavering step back to the Axalon.

. . . . .

Cheetor and Razorgear entered the Axalon first. The young transmetal cheetah turned to Rhinox, "Get a CR-Chamber ready!" Fear and desperation filled his voice.

Rhinox stared at him, "Who's injured?!" The medic prepared the CR-Chamber by typing on the control table in the center of the command center.

"Optimus," Razorgear answered hesitantly, brushing her hand against her arm nervously.

The rhino began to shout, "Optimus?! Where is he?!"

Carrying the Maximal leader, who barely online, Dinobt staggered into the command center. "Rhinox, get him into the chamber, now!"

Rhinox stepped on the opposite side of Dinobot and helped Optimus to the CR-Chamber. "What happened?" He demanded, as they nearly lifted the transmetal leader off the his feet. The steps taken were slow to ensure no more damage would come to Optimus.

"I'm fine, Rhinox." Optimus mumbled, his optics blinking on and off unevenly. "I just wanna' recharge."

Rhinox responded calmly, "You will, don't worry." He smiled back at Optimus as they laid him into the chamber. "That's my job." The leader smiled, and his optics powered off and he slipped into stasis. Dinobot shut the door of the chamber and powered it on, The raptor sighed heavily. Rhinox glared at the three and demanded, "What happened?"

"Shot by Rampage." Cheetor explained, he shifted on his feet.

The medic shook his head, "Anyone else injured?" Dinobot pointed at Razorgear, "She is, her neck is."

Rhinox walked in front of the young femme, "Let me see." Razorgear gingerly lifted her head as the medic examined her neck. He mumbled something quietly after she winced at his touch. "Minor bruising." He said aloud. "Go to the CR-Chamber. Get that fixed, it's not bad."

She nodded to the medic, obeying his orders. After the second CR-Chamber closed with Razorgear inside, the massive rhino faced the exPredacon warrior and asked. "Please tell me exactly what happened."

The raptor shrugged, "I'm not exactly sure. Razorgear was with him. Right before Primal was shot she was fighting Rampage." He explained; he collapsed into one of the monitor chairs. "The flyers had the young feline and I pinned down. We couldn't see much."

Leaning forward on the control table, Cheetor explained further, "I saw Rampage throw her into a huge rock, but like Dinobt said the bugs were killing us."

Rhinox slammed his fist on the table, "I don't give a slag about Razorgear right now! Optimus was barely functioning. I need to know what happened to him!"

Staring at the usually calm medic, Dinobot stood. Dinobt was a good head and a half taller than Rhinox. The two stood toe to toe for a few clicks, until Dinobt hissed at the medic. "We informed you, we did not see what exactly happened. So stop interrogating us!" Dinobot stormed out of the Axalon's command center.

Rattrap was sitting at his desk flitting with the wires of the explosive. His processor was not where it was supposed to be. The Maximal spy needed to focus, but yet nothing stayed in place. He attempted to return his processer to the job at hand, but every time his thoughts were interrupted by the exPredacon warrior, Dinobot. The warrior couldn't leave Rattrap's thoughts, he didn't understand.

He sat down his wirecuters and leaned back his his chair. Dinobot. The raptor was poisonous; he had already turned down Rattrap down once. Why should he even bother with another try.

Once a Pred always a Pred! Rattrap thought to himself. It could've been anyone, but no it had to be dat slag spoutin' Saurian.

That Predacon was the only bot that Rattrap had feelings for, and that aft didn't show a bit of interest back. It was sparkwrenching. Rattrap had already tried to push his feeling away. though it only made them worse.

"Fragger!" Rattrap yelled at the ceiling of his quarters. He started at it for what seemed like cycles, until his was pulled out of his daydream by a knock on his door. He leaned back up, and turned to stare at the door. "Who's dere?"

"Me, Vermin. May I enter?" Answered the voice behind the closed door. Rattrap's spark skipped a pulse with excitement.

He forced himself to not sound excited and responded, "Yeh' come on in." Dinobot stepped in after the door slid open. "So, Choppa' face, what do ya want?"

Dinobot leaned against the door, "Vermin, I wanted to apologize for behavior before. You didn't deserve the attitude I gave you. I'm sorry." Rattrap just stared at the warrior, why would he apologize. he didn't understand. "Vermin? Do you accept my apology?"

He looked away, and didn't answer. He wasn't going to let Dinobot win without a fight. "Yeh, whatev', ya' can leave now Choppa' face."

Growling with disgust, Dinobt stepped closer to Rattrap. "Vermin, I came here to make a formal and honest apology. Do not mock me, please."

Rattrap stared at the warrior, "I ain't. If ya' don't need anythin' den ya' can leave."

"Rattrap," that caught his attention. Dinobot almost never called him Rattrap. "You made advances to me of a relationship. Yes?" Almost automatically, Rattrap nodded. "Then, I would like to inform you that I, after much consideration . . . um accept."

"What?!"

Dinobot gulped loudly, then said. "I . . . accept being in a um relationship with you, Vermin." Rattrap didn't respond. "I have feelings for you, I just did not know how to show them."

Rattrap stood, "Why didn't ya' say somethin' before?"

"I did not know how. The relationship I was in before was . . . difficult. I was not sure I wanted another one." The raptor stared at the ground in front of the Rattrap.

Rattrap spoke without thinking, "What about Razorgear and ya'self? Everyone thinks ya' and her are a thing."

The raptor's headshot up in shock, "Vermin, why would you suggest something like that?! I would not involve myself with someone so young." He looked disgusted, as a snarled left his lips. "Do you really think that?" Rattrap again didn't answer. "She is like a sister to me, nothing else. I swear to Primus."

Rattrap gazed up to the taller mech. "But ya' were always flirtin' with her all da time. Really Choppa' Face, what did ya' expect me to believe?"

"Flirting?! With her?! She is a child! That and I'm-" The raptor paused mid sentence.

"Ya' what?" Rattrap smirked as he stood, and walked in front of Dinobot.

After clearing his vocalizer, Dinobot answered. "I'm not interested."

"Really? She's such an 'dorable lil' fem." Rattrap stepped closer and brushed his hands against the front of the warrior's chest armour.

Dinobot wrapped one arm around Rattrap's waist, pulling the spy flush against his body. He smiled down at the rat. "I said, I was not interested. Not . . . in femmes, at least."

"Oh," the rat smirked up at the exPredacon raptor. He brushed his hand down the taller mech's chest. "So only mechs?"

Dinobot smirked back, wrapping one of his clawed hand under Rattrap's chin. He lifted the rat's helm and pressed his lips against Rattrap's. "No, only you."

The next few clicks raced past, hands brushed against armour, into seems. It was only moments before the exPredacon warrior had the Maximal rat pinned beneath him on the berth.

Their lips constantly pressed and moved against each other. Rattrap arms wrapped behind Dinobot's neck and pulled the raptor into more intence kisses. While Dinobot hands lached onto Rattrap's hips, and held him in place.

Finally, they paused, panting onto each other. They stared into each other's optics, silently begging the other to continue.

"That was . . ." Dinobot began, his face flushed with rushing energon.

"Amazin'," Rattrap finished. "And I really hope we ain't done yet." He smirked as he pulled the mech above him into another kiss.

Dinobot growled in amusement into the kiss. "We better not be finished yet, Vermin"

"Not even close, Choppa' face."

LATER:

As Dinobot hummed happily to himself at one of the monitors, Rhinox typed slowly on the control table. He glanced at the scans from the CR-Chamber. Razorgear's scans showed a slight energon unbalance. Though, the medic wasn't really worried about that.

Her neck cables had been repaired perfectly.

"Am I good?" Razorgear inquired, standing on the tips of her toes, attempting to see over

Rhinox's massive shoulders.

The medic nodded and turned to face the femme. "You're a-okay. But," Rhinox began she froze in place, "Could you fill you fill me in on what happened to Optimus?"

Visibly relaxing, Razorgear answered, "Rampage shot him in the back. The crab was aiming for me."

Rhinox stared at her, his voice beginning to rise. "Why did he do that?"

Razorgear backed away from Rhinox; her steps moved her closer to the exPredacon warrior. "I don't know. her saved me. I don't know why." She exclaimed. "Rampage choked me, then threw me! Next thing I know Optimus took the shot aimed for me!" The femme was terrorized by the broad mech.

"Why were fighting Rampage?! You know what kind of monster he is!" The rhino yelled stepping closer to Razorgear.

She continued to move away from him, "I . . . I - I thought I could take him." She stuttered back. Dinobot's joyful humming paused.

"WHAT ARE YOU STUPID ?! WHY IN THE PIT WOULD YOU THINK THAT?!" Rhinox screamed , stepping right in front of her.

Dinobot turned around in his chair and stood in front of the medic. "I recommend you to stop yelling at her. She has done nothing wrong." Razorgear hid completely behind the tall raptor.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Optimus barely came back to base online!" Rhinox screamed, throwing his arm toward the CR-Chamber that Optimus was in. A solid green light blinked above it, but none of the arguing Maximals noticed.

"Punished?! Are you fragging me?! She did not know that Primal would be injured!" the raptor snarled viciously. his fists clenching and unclenching periodically. "So, calm down!" The young femme peeked her head out from behind her protector.

Rhinox pointed his think finger at the warrior, "I told Optimus keeping her here would be a terrible idea! WE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN HER BACK TO MEGATRON!"

Dinobot tensed, then bared his razor teeth and growled. Razorgear grabbed the raptor wrapping her arms around him. The warrior glanced back to the small femme, and gently pushed her back. He snapped his head back to the Maximal medic. "Don't. You. Dare." He spat. "Don't you dare say that!" Dinobot stepped closer to Rhinox, glaring down at him. "You don't know a fragging thing about what Megatron would do to her."

"Dinobot, stop. Please." Razorgear quietly spoke, keeping her distance from the angry mechs.

He didn't hear her, and continued to yell at Rhinox, " and you think yelling at a child will help?! Because it won't! Go. To. The. Pit!" Intaking heavily, Dinobot toe to toe with the rhino.

"I can't recharge for a few cycles, otherwise this place goes to the Pit!" A voice yelled from across the room.

All heads spun to the source, a cold fog drifted out the opened CR-Chamber, and Optimus Primal stood in the middle of it.

He stepped out of the CR-Chamber and walked closer to Rhinox and Dinobot, " you know I was having a wonderful recharge, for once in my life. And you two decided arguing was a Primeidea!" the usually come leader began to shout. "I expected the scrap from Dinobot, but not from you, Rhinox!" Glaring viciously at medic. "Now, who's going to tell me what the slag is going on?!"

Dinobot growled, and then pointed to Rhinox, "This, this idiot insist on arguing with a child! And-"

The Maximal leader interrupted, "Wait, what child?"

"Razorgear, you blabbing monkey!"

"I'm not a kid." Razorgear muttered, looking to the ground.

Snapping around to face her, Dinobot glared down at her, "You. ARE. Underage! You are a child!"

The femme punched the raptor painfully in the stomach and he doubled over. "And you're a spike!" She stomped out of the command center.

Silence came over the room, none of the mechs spoke. After a few moments, Dinobot stood breathing heavily. They castes each other glares. Until Optimus collapsed into a monitor chair, and sighed deeply, the tension was rising. The transmetal gorilla stretched his arms over his head and yawned.

Dinobot sat back into his seat, returning to his post. He didn't start humming, his joyful mood soured. It wasn't that Rhinox was leaning behind him.

"What did you mean, when you said Razorgear is underage?" The medic finally spoke.

Not looking away from the monitor in front of him, the warrior answered with a snarl of disgust. "Isn't it obvious? She is underage. Simple as that."

"That's not what she told us." Optimus leaned toward the raptor.

He laughed, "She lied. I bet she said she was 22." Dinobot spun in his chair to the other two mechs and smirked when he saw the shock on the leader's face.

"She did. And how did you know that?" Optimus inquired.

"It's the same age she told me when she applied for Megatron's crew. She was only 13 then." Dinobot crossed his clawed hands over his chest.

"WHAT?" Both Maximals yelled, jumping toward the raptor.

Dinobot rolled his optics, "I told you she was child. She's only about 17."

"Only 17?! None of her protoform suggests that!" Rhinox exclaimed.

Dinobot looked to the Maximal leader hesitantly, "That is partially my doing. She has already had her adult upgrades."

"WHAT?! She shouldn't have them for at least another stellar cycle!" Rhinox yelled, "The problems that it could cause would be-"

Dinobot held out a clawed hand, stopping the medic. "Those issues never arose. She was 14 when she received her upgrades."

The Maximal leader just stared at the raptor, as Rhinox continued to yell, "What in Primus' name made you think that allowing her to get her upgrades four Cybertronian stellar cycles early?!"

"To keep her safe! If some of Megatron's soldiers knew she was underage, she would not be standing today! They would have done terrible things to her. Those Predacons have no sense of honor!" The raptor snared at the medic and the Maximal leader.

Rhinox covered his face with his hand, "Oh, no."

"Rhinox?" Optimus Primal stepped beside the medic. "What's wrong?"

The medic shook his head, "Looks like it didn't help much. Did it, Dinobot?"

"Don't you dare say another word!"

The leader stared at the two larger mechs. Rhinox continued to speak, despite Dinobot's threat. "How can't I now? You said it yourself, she's underage!" He pointed at the exPredacon warrior. "Under Maximal laws, if there is a youngling or sparkling on board any vessel without a designated guardian. The commander of that vessel, Optimus in our case, is the one in charge of Razorgear! Not you, Dinobot!"

"What are you two talking about?" Optimus Primal exclaimed, loudly.

"Don't you dare pull that on me!" Dinobt smacked away Rhinox's pointed hand. "I have been basically her guardian since I first met her all those stellar cycles ago! I have protected her!"

The rhino again stepped toward the raptor, "And look how that helped!" Dinobot looked away with a painful expression on his face. The medic turned to Optimus Primal, and said. "When Razorgear arrived, I did a full check up, right?"

Optimus' head snapped between the two, "What are you getting at?"

"There were signs of a forced panel." Rhinox explained to the leader.

A snarl escaped from the warrior, "More than signs, medic."

The leader fell silent, optics wide with shock. His mouth parted slightly, though no sound left it. He hoped he heard wrong. He looked to Dinobot, who avoided his gaze. "No. Please, no."

"I don't know what else say. She was in bad shape. She wouldn't talk about it." Rhinox exclaimed calmly.

Anger boiled inside of Optimus. He clenched his fists. Razorgear was a child, and she was - no he wouldn't think of that. But as leader, he needed to find out. He glared at the exPredacon warrior. "I want to know exactly what happened, Dinobot."

The raptor stepped back, "Why do you think that I would know anything?" Optimus continued to glare at him. Dinobot shook his head and backed away. "And even if I did, she would kill me if I spoke a word about it."

"Slag, Dinobot! Tell me!" Optimus' voice rose, slamming a clenched fist down on the control table. "I want to know one thing, was she forced to spark merged?"

Dinobot tensed for a few moments, then snarled at Optimus Primal. "If you want answers you are going to have to ask her yourself! I am not betraying any promises I made to her!"

After a few nanoclicks of silence and tension, Optimus straightened then said, "Fine, you're dismissed."

Letting out a huff of annoyment, Dinobot nodded mockingly at the Maximal leader and turned to the lift. "I'm going out." The raptor left the Axalon in a storm.

"Primus," Optimus fell back into his chair. "Help me."

. . . . .

The Darksyde:

Megatron was sitting in his command chair. He tossed the small cube into the air, and caught it. And he repeated the action. He tilted up the cube to view it contains, the blue spark pulsed within it. He smirked as he carefully squeezed it in his hand.

Protoform X fell to his knees in front of the warlord, hollowing in pain. "I . . . have . . . information on . . . Razorgear!" He gasped through fits of pain.

Immediately, Megatron released the cube. "What is it then, AFTER YOU ALMOST OFFLINED HER?!" The warlord shouted, slamming the spark holder on the armrest of his command chair.

Blackarachina looked from her post at the Predacon monitors to the fearsome warlord and creepy crab. She promised herself that she would protect the very young femme, but against Megatron. The black widow spider couldn't do much, but ease the pain.

Rampage stood, "As you know my warlord, I prefer a certain delicacy. Sparks of course."

"Yess?" The warlord responded impatiently.

The Predacon crab brushed his shoulders off, "I have learned to detect those very things inside every protoform."

"YES?!"

"And you're little femme, has two in her chamber." Protoform X laughed.

Megatron leaned back into his seat. Smirking evilly. And it's mine.

End of Chapter 7 . . .

Well, well, well. This is going to go south fast for Razorgear and the Maximals.

Please Review!

~Love, ArcMaximal