Wow, I'm on fire right now, aren't I? –sniffs, sees sleeve on fire- Oh.

Well, I'm stepping away from the Autobots for a tiny bit, and I'm focusing more on BA and Scorponok. Oh, and Airslash and Tendril. If BlackArachnia thinks she's a freak now, wait 'til she gets a load of Tendril's alt mode.

A bright flash of light lit the sky as Optimus and Prowl left the battle field.

Tendril wasn't the strongest creature on the planet, but thanks to Sari's key, she was now fully functional. "My thanks, fleshling." Tendril said, voice filled with gratitude.

"My name's Sari. And what happened to you earlier anyway?"

"Hmm…" Tendril sighed, "I don't really recall. Whatever happened was a bit too fast." In truth, she knew exactly what had happened to her, but she preferred to keep that to herself. It would seem some of Megatron's influence was showing on her. Her lying skills were superb.

"Well, are you able to transform?" Sari asked.

Silence. "I have no vehicle mode, Sari." Was the response.

"Why don't you come back with me to the Autobot base? I'm sure Optimus can help you get one."

"Sorry, kid, but I'm not really a team player. I'll see you around." As Tendril walked on, she shuddered. Megatron had told her the Autobots were the enemy, and they were to be avoided at all costs.

-

Optimus and Prowl had found a large mantis sitting on their couch, watching what appeared to be Animal Planet, and experimentally munching on a rat. "BLECK." The mantis coughed up a large wad of fur. "Is this seriously what organics consume to fuel up? Gross…" He tossed the furry thing aside.

"Actually, seeing as how you're more machine than organic, you don't need food, you need oil." Ratchet replied from the other room. "Bulkhead, do you mind giving him something to drink so I won't have to clean up the couch later?"

"Can do." Carrying a large barrel of the inky black stuff, he punched a hole in it and set it down in front of the ravenous mantis.

Airslash peered over the side of the container. Dipping a scythe into the drink, he placed the tip in his mouth, as though unsure of how it would taste. "Mmmm…Much better." He said, and dunked his head into the barrel, loud slurping noises coming from inside.

Unable to watch the mantis consume his weight in oil anymore, Prowl entered the Med bay, where Ratchet was making the finishing repairs on Bee. "Will that creature be leaving our base any time soon?" He asked, "I'm not sure my fuel tank can take his…eating habits."

"Why do you think I made him watch Animal Planet?" Ratchet replied without looking up. "As much of a machine he is, he's still partially organic, and he'll miss his friends."

"What friends?"

"That scorpion," Ratchet said simply. "And BlackArachnia."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Look at him right now."

Prowl peered at the mantis, who'd taken his now inky black head out of the oil to see a scorpion on TV, munching contentedly on a mouse. To the ninja bot's surprise, there was a pronounced sniffle from the mantis. "I miss Scorponok…" the bug whimpered.

Turning back, Prowl asked, "But how did you…?"

"I scanned that thing's CPU, and he's got the mentality similar to Bumblebee." Ratchet replied. "He'll be homesick after a while, and he'll scuttle on home."

"So he's the equivalent to a fifteen year old with ADD?"

"Exactly."

-

Scorponok snoozed contently on the floor of BlackArachnia's temporary HQ, an old warehouse near the port. The spider had grudgingly allowed him a place to rest, as much as she hated how he stared at her while in her robot mode.

She could practically see the hearts in his optics.

Looking down from her hammock slash web, she snorted. How could an idiot like him be part organic like her? Speaking of which, how had he gotten to Earth anyway? There were no records of any other techno organic beings in the Autobot OR Decepticon ranks. So he had to be man made. How he'd gotten to be a sentient being was simple. That brat Sari used her key on him. There was only one thing she didn't understand though.

How had he gotten to be part organic? That was what confused her.

Her thought were interrupted by a faint scuttling sound from below. Looking down, she saw the scorpion heading towards the door. Transforming, she followed him, keeping her steps in time with his so as not to alert him to her presence.

-

"What is it, Lord Megatron?" Scorponok whispered into his COM link.

"Get to the tower as soon as possible, Scorponok," The Decepticon leader ordered. "I have been tinkering with some organic venoms and Cybertronian technology, and I've developed an upgrade for you."

"Really? My thanks, Lord Megatron." The scorpion replied.

"Remember this, Scorponok: This venom is for one bot and one bot only: That Autobot leader." Megatron hissed over the com link. "This venom may be organic, but I've modified it so it to the point where it could be considered corrosive acid to any machine whatsoever."

"But what about me? It'll kill me too!" Scorponok whined.

"Your organic half will protect you from the venom's effects, so you need not worry." Megatron replied curtly. "But I'm warning you: This venom is in limited quantity, so DON'T SCREW THIS UP."

"Y-yes, Lord!" Scorponok replied nervously.

"Excellent. Find your brethren, and report back to me as soon as possible." Click…

-

BlackArachnia's optics were wide. They were planning on killing Optimus?! She had to warn him…But something was stopping her.

Wasn't it Optimus' fault that she was an eight legged freak? And wasn't Optimus the one who'd abandoned her alone in that spider pit? And didn't Optimus choose SENTINEL to save over herself?

Optics narrowing, she decided it was about time she located the Decepticon leader who'd eluded her for so long.

-

The next day…

"Hey Prowl, come look at this!" Bumblebee had made a full recovery, but was still confined to the base until Ratchet deemed him well enough to continue his duties. He was currently watching TV, when a news report came on.

As the ninja bot sat down, the newscaster announced, "A mysterious amount of plant life has sprung up overnight behind Sumdac Tower. Local environmentalists and scientists are investigating the sudden burst of greenery in the area. We take you to Michelle, live at the scene."

"Thanks Cory." A woman standing before what appeared to be a vast garden replied. "Reports are coming in about this mysterious garden which appeared to have come up overnight. Apparently, a local group called 'Pro Earth' is claiming responsibility for these plants sudden appearance, but these claims are still unconfirmed."

"Sounds like your kind of thing, Prowl." Bee said, grinning. Prowl's expression hadn't changed, but he was seriously considering taking a look at this 'garden' for himself.

Hmmm…an assassination attempt and a strange garden. Is there any connection? You'll have to wait to find out.