This chapter is longer than the others to span a large distance of time, and I'm sorry this one took so long!

In this story, you can expect...

Mentions of slash between Cybertronians.

At least one important OC.

Cursing.

General teenage themes.

A Gothic girl who is violent, can be a total bitch, and something like mutant abilities, but isn't mutant abilities.

Possible OOC-ness, but I will try to keep that to a minimum.

Is that all? I think so. If you don't like any of the things mentioned above, kindly click the back button. Consider yourself warned.

Things you need to know...

[Blah] is Bumblebee's speech.

'Blah' are thoughts Lae hear through her powers

Blah is Lae replying using her powers

"Blah" is Sonar using her powers to talk to people

Disclaimer-I don't own Transformers Prime

Danger is My Middle Name

Chapter 9

When the Autobots arrived on scene, the carnage was telling enough. The Decepticon commanders had fled, leaving only the Vehicons behind, fighting off the vicious Freaks that refused to back down. One Freak, a girl covered in thick black clothes and purple skin that peeked out along her arms, noticed them first.

"Freaks! Defensive formation Delta 2!" The Freaks abandoned their currents fights and formed a make-shift V-line, formed like a flock of geese when they fly together. Freaks that might be considered weaker had been pushed towards the back of the formation, while the ones that were stronger stayed at the very tip of the V shape.

Two Freaks, a boy and a girl, suddenly jumped forward, throwing their hands out as one towards two Vehicons. Fire burst from the boy's hands, while water was created by the girl. If not for the fact that they looked nothing alike, and the fire and water difference, it was like the two were mirroring each other.

The two Vehicons were easily defeated, and the two could have kept going, but all of a sudden, they stopped their attack, pulled together, and dropped to one knee. A pale boy who looked like a vampire dashed forward. The boy and girl cupped their hands, and vampire boy leaped up, landing on their hands. The other two pushed up and out, causing the vampire kid to go flying through the air, straight towards a large group of Vehicons. The vampire boy landed in the middle of the group, instantly vanishing from sight.

For a moment, they thought he was as good as dead.

They were proven wrong when, not even a minute later, many of the Vehicons fell to the ground, offline, and the Freak boy stood in the middle, seemingly drinking in the energy crackling through the air from the Vehicons lifeless shells. The boy's eyes were black and soulless. They were so black, it seemed one could drown in their dark depths. He grinned an evil vampire grin, and the Autobots were illogically terrified by this human's look. So were the Vehicons. Without a glance back, the rest took off, scattering to the four winds in an attempt to escape the demon boy.

The three fighters, the ones who had defeated a large group of Vehicons in mere minutes, pulled back to rejoin the admittedly small group.

"Friend, or foe?" one girl called out, stepping forward slightly. She had dark blond hair, headphones around her neck, and wore typical punk clothing. Nothing out of the ordinary among Freaks.

"Friend. We do not wish to fight you," Optimus replied, optics wary as he studied the rag-tag group. They didn't seem to be much of a threat and were very disorganized. But looks could be deceiving. They had shown that, despite their appearance, they were capable of organizing themselves and forming a coördinated attack, able to take out those who normal humans would run away from.

The girl nodded in acknowledgement and continued speaking, "I know who you all are. The Puppetmaster had me watch you for a few weeks. You kept her alive until she returned to lead us. For that, I thank you. As for who we are, we can not tell you are real names, you understand of course. It's simply too dangerous. But you may call me Sonar."

The girl with purple skin spoke next. "I'm Toxin, black eyes over there is Soul Stealer," the boy who looked like a vampire waved and gave another evil grin, "Fire is Flamethrower, water is Tsunami, then there's Ripjaws, Siren, Blackout, Lifeforce, Whirlwind, Mother Earth, Immortal, and Warp."

Each person waved as their name was called, but the only one who seemed even remotely friendly was Lifeforce.

"And, where is your leader?" Optimus dared to ask. He watched carefully for a reaction. Their eyes flashed with rage and sadness, before determination settled over it all.

"Optimus Prime, you must understand this. None of us are ordinary humans. But even we could not protect our leader or our second in command. As third in command, it is my job to step up and organize a search and rescue party. I know what these Decepticons are after; what they are planning. We will not leave the Puppetmaster or Razor with them any longer than nessacary. So, if you know their whereabouts, can give shelter, can get us there, we will aid you in regaining these Omega Keys and reclaiming your home," Sonar said as she stepped forward and glared right up at him.

This statement upset the group. How could this girl possibly know any of the things she spoke of? Had Lae or Miko told them?

"I know what you're thinking. No, I was not told. I found the frequency the information was on by mistake and took a look. Purely accidental, but my offer in assisting you still stands."

Optimus thought about it for a moment. Agent Fowler would not be happy if he brought more humans to base, but considering what he'd seen and just been told, these were not humans, they were very strong "Freaks" and would not stop until they had completed their "mission". He could not, on good conscience, leave them, only for them to chase after the Decepticons anyway. "Very well. Your help would be appreciated," Optimus finally said.

Sonar visibly relaxed and turned to her troops. "Alright Freaks! You heard the 'bot! We're heading out! Anyone wanna back out, speak now or forever go to the battle of death!"

No one spoke, so Sonar continued, "Warp, you and Immortal head to the other base and meet up with everyone else. Fill them in on what's going on, and Immortal is in charge until we return with Puppetmaster and Razor. Let's move out, Freaks!"

Warp grabbed Immortal's arm, and then in a flash of red light, they were gone.

The other Freaks went about their business. Siren picked up her guitar, looking at it mournfully as she saw the damage done. Soul Stealer grabbed some kind of device and stocked up on them, having about twelve when he was done. Toxin grabbed another heavy black coat, Lifeforce grabbed a first aid kit, just in case. Sonar had Flamethrower and Whirlwind pick up some heavy machinery, shouting, "Be careful with that!" when they almost dropped it.

The rest of the Freaks gathered little odds and ends, things with sentimental value and nothing they really needed.

"Optimus Prime, we're ready to go," Sonar said.

Arcee spoke up for the first time, "I just asked Ratchet to give us a Ground Bridge." No sooner had she spoken than a swirling green portal opened to their left, and they all headed out.

Smokescreen brought up the rear, and as he watched the Freaks walk ahead of him, he couldn't help but think of them as determined, slightly sentimental drones marching to war and certain doom, but still determined to win or die trying.

~E.l.s.e.w.h.e.r.e~

Lae shouted in alarm as she was dropped into a containment unit aboard the Decepticon warship, which Miko had called the Nemesis.

"You think you can hold us here? Think again, glitch-headed 'cons! We're Freaks! We won't give up; you're as good as dead!" Miko shouted at the two retreating Decepticons, one whom Lae recognized as the one who had attacked her a few weeks ago.

"Razor, shut up! I'm trying to think!" Lae shouted, using their Freak names purposely. No need for these aliens to know their real names.

Miko, thankfully, fell silent, and Lae allowed her mind to wander, tentatively reaching out to every mind aboard the warship. There was a massive amount of those non-sentient drones she had taken out, and an even greater number of primitive minds, all tied as one called a "hive mind", and finally there were about six higher minded Decepticons. She gently probed their brains for information, careful not to be detected, and being careful to not be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information there was.

The red 'con called Knock Out, 'I can't wait until Lord Megatron says we no longer need that copycat. I'll dissect that abomination and avenge Breakdown at the same time! Oh, but I'll still have to seek and destroy Arachnid...'

The flying 'con, Dreadwing, 'I can't believe Megatron let that treacherous worm Starscream come back, knowing that he killed Skyquake! I want to kill him! First, I'll give the Autobots a one-up. This faction is no longer worth my time.'

The one Dreadwing mentioned, Starscream, 'I can't believe I'm back with the Decepticons! How wonderful! I finally feel a little safer, and Knock Out gave me a new T-cog! Oh, joy! ...Ugh, I sound like a sappy femme in my head. Good thing no one else can hear my thoughts...'

Lae snickered at that last one. Oh, if only he knew.

Next, Megatron, their leader, 'Hm...how to make those Freaks obey me? Are they noble like Optimus? Would they comply if I threatened little humans? Hm...maybe I should just kidnap those other little pets Prime's team has...'

The silent one, Soundwave. His thoughts intrigued Lae, 'Why am I even here anymore? Megatron has gone off the deep end, Starscream is corrupt, Dreadwing is plotting something to help the Autobots, the only one I don't find annoying is Knock Out, and he's become obsessed with avenging Breakdown. I wish I could scream like those humans. It seems to make them less angry and annoyed. Maybe I should just leave the planet and become a neutral? ...No, if Rumble and Frenzy come looking for me, they'll look first for Megatron, and if I'm not here when they come back, he might kill my younglings...'

Finally, Lae reached for the last relatively advanced mind, '...Help. I can't return to the Well. There's some organic thing in my helm.'

Lae recoiled in shock. There were two minds in the last Decepticon! She reached out again, 'Hello? Who are you?'

I am Puppetmaster, a Freak. Who are you, and why are you trapped?

'They call me Breakdown. You're a human-Freak, aren't you? I've learned about your species a little from this organic being in my head.'

Lae reached a little more when the signal became static, Who did this to you? I might be able to expel their subconscience so you can be at peace.

'He calls himself Silas. I don't think you can get him out of my head though.'

'He's right, Lae, you can't kick me out. I've become one with the machine.'

Lae almost pulled away when the second mind, who had been unaware of her presence, suddenly spoke. Silas...she knew him, and she'd recognize his voice anywhere, Uncle, you are not "one with the machine," you've become an abomination! Freaks are better than what you have become!

'Now, now, Lae, no need for that. Remain calm and rest is advised. Megatron will be asking a favor of you and your little Freak friend sooner rather than later.'

The way he spoke... You bastard! You turned my file over to that warlord, didn't you? What the hell is your problem?

'Look after your own skin before any other's. Isn't that what my brother used to say, hm?'

Lae started cursing up a storm at him, but his mind had already withdrawn from the conversation, leaving only Breakdown clinging to her as though she was his only hope, which she likely was.

'You've got to convince Knock Out it's in his best interest to dissect this organic inside me so I can be free, in one way or another. I normally don't beg, but you're the only one who can hear me and I can't very well threaten you, but please! Please convince Knock Out!'

I normally don't make a habit of helping others unless it benefits me...but I hate my Uncle Silas, so I'll help. Just wait, Breakdown. I'll get Knock Out for you.

Then Lae pulled away from Breakdown to reach for Knock Out's mind, only to pause. She couldn't find it...maybe he was out of range of her powers. Soon, she became bored waiting for the red 'con, and let her mind wander.

Strange...now there were only four advanced minds on the ship. She brushed all of them carefully, wondering who was missing.

Dreadwing and Knock Out. She couldn't find them anywhere on the ship.

"Shit," Lae muttered, and reached for Megatron and Soundwave's minds. They'd probably know where the two had gone.

Soundwave, 'I think Knock Out is going crazy. He swears he can still feel and sense Breakdown, but Breakdown's dead. Now we're stuck with that ignorant organic inside Breakdown's body. I wonder why Megatron sent a mentally unstable mech to retrieve Prime's pets?'

Ha, funny, Soundwave. Doesn't know Breakdown's still hanging around. ...Shit, I think I said that out loud.

Quickly, she withdrew from Soundwave's mind before he figured it out. Hopefully, he hadn't even heard that.

So, that answered that question. Knock Out had gone after Jack and Raf. But there was no mention of Dreadwing, so where had the flying 'con gone? Probing Megatron's mind provided no answers about Dreadwing. Although, she was interested to learn his plans.

He had something called the Omega Keys hidden away on the ship, and he planned on using Freaks to destroy Team Prime and enslave all humanity. He'd captured Raf and Jack as insurance, to make sure Optimus Prime complied with any and all requests he made, and...Lae now knew every plan, every step he was going to take.

Her eyes lit up as an idea came to her.

~E.l.s.e.w.h.e.r.e~

"Prime! You're job is to stop the Decepticons, NOT START A DAY-CARE!"Agent Fowler bellowed upon their arrival at base. Apparently, he'd stopped by, found everyone gone, and Ratchet had no choice except to tell him what was going on.

"Excuse me, Mr. Stuck-Up Government man, but we don't need watching. I am twenty-seven years old; I think I can take care of myself," Sonar snapped as she stepped forward. Everyone recoiled in shock; the girl only looked about sixteen!

"Oh, come on! You can't seriously be that old! You must be delusional!" Fowler snapped.

"I'm thirty!"

"I'm twenty-two!"

"Ditto!"

"Hey, Toxin is thirty-one!"

"Don't tell them how old I am!"

"Sonar started it!"

Sonar rubbed at her temples and shouted, "Freaks, shut it!" They all fell silent. "Thank you. Now, you seem to misunderstand something about Freaks," Sonar began, and then gestured for Lifeforce to continue.

"Freaks age like humans, but when their powers develop, the aging process slows. At a certain age, you will stop completely aging in appearance even though you've been alive for maybe forty some years. We are healthier, and have longer lives than any average human. In fact, if you looked back in the Bible, Japheth, one of Abraham's sons, aged rather slowly as well, and the day he died, some say he didn't look a day over eighty," Lifeforce said, her look professional, and her tone even more so.

"Not. Possible." Fowler said through gritted teeth.

"It's not possible for Freaks to exist, or alien robots from another planet, and yet, here we are," Siren pointed out.

Other Freaks muttered in agreement, glaring at Fowler as though he was the devil in disguise.

"Look, we can stand here and argue all day, or we can work together to stop these Decepticons!" Sonar snapped, glaring equally at each person.

Optimus nodded, eager to get away from this conversation and back on track with everything else in life, "She's right. As long as the Decepticons have those two Freaks, they have too much power. We must find them."

"Believe me, Optimus, I've tried! I try to get a lock on the Decepticon warship, but every time I almost have the frequency, they're gone again! No doubt thanks to Soundwave," Ratchet muttered the last part under his breath, typing frantically at his station.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Sonar offered, walking over to stand at Ratchet's feet. The Autobot medic looked down at her doubtfully. "If you would be so kind as to lift me up," Sonar continued, gesturing to the machine. Ratchet shot a glance at Optimus, who nodded. Still looking displeased, Ratchet lifted Sonar up and set her down on the machine.

Sonar studied it for a moment, placing her hand against it as though she was blind and could only do this through touch. "Ah-ha! The machine is not tuned properly. Luckily for all of us, it does not need to be tuned for me to use it as an amplifier," Sonar explained, pulling her headphones on and closing her eyes.

A wave of energy passed through the building. The Autobots recoiled, but the Freaks went absolutely still, stopping their conversations and turning to Sonar. Their eyes had all glazed over, and they seemed to be having a mental conversation.

"Sonar, what's going on?" Immortal's voice rang through Sonar's headphones.

"Not now, Immortal! I'm searching for our leader!" Sonar snapped, and then mentally disconnected from Immortal.

In the background, Sonar could hear the other Freaks in the immediate vicinity speaking quietly to each other, unused to such strong reception from Sonar. With great difficulty, she blocked them out and expanded her senses farther, reaching for Puppetmaster and Razor.

Minds brushed hers, Freaks she knew, Freaks she didn't know, humans, they all rushed past as she searched.

Then, high above the clouds, she sensed a familiar brain frequency, and she latched on to it. When she opened her eyes, she saw through the Puppetmaster's eyes. Of their own accord, the machine she was sitting on sprang to life, feeding a live video feedback to the base as Sonar began to converse with her leader.

"Puppetmaster, where are you? We will rescue you and destroy your captors," Sonar stated.

Sonar? No, stand down. I will give you an order when I need you to mobolize our troops, the Puppetmaster replied.

"But, leader!" Sonar protested.

Stand down. That's an order. Now stop speaking and start relaying anything I send to you to the Autobots and our fellow Freaks.

With a resigned sigh, Sonar withdrew slightly from her leader's mind and broadcast whatever was sent to her.

"By the Allspark," Ratchet gasped in wonder as he was databurst a file from Sonar's mind. It contained schematics for every Decepticon, showed detailed information on how the warship functioned, and files upon files of Megatron's plans. They also recieved a message saying the Decepticon Dreadwing had dumped the Forge of Solus Prime in the desert, hoping the Autobots would retrieve it.

"I will retrieve the Forge of Solus Prime. Everyone else, prepare for war," Optimus ordered. The other Autobots scattered, while Optimus exited the base.

~E.l.s.e.w.h.e.r.e~

"Time to go, my little weapons," Knock Out practically sang as he came to retrieve Miko and Lae to hand them over the Megatron. Lae rolled her eyes. Was it possible for Decepticons to get high? This one sure acted like it. However, she had a job Breakdown wanted her to perform.

Hey, you know, you should dissect Silas. That thing is an abomination. Get that ugly organic out of Breakdown Lae sent the thoughts at Knock Out, and as the Decepticon was approaching Megatron, he faltered, glancing around in confusion, before shrugging and continuing to walk.

Frustrated, Lae tried to enter his mind again, only to be hit by a wall of static. She gasped quietly and glanced around. Then noticed Soundwave. The Decepticon TIC stood off to the side, seemingly watching carefully.

'Talk: what do you mean? Breakdown: alive?'

You don't have to talk life that you know. I heard your thoughts earlier. And Breakdown may or may not be alive; I'm not certain. All I know is when I heard Silas' thoughts, there were two minds, one claimed to be Breakdown, and wanted me to convince Knock Out to dissect Silas.

'...Very well. I suspected Breakdown was still alive. I will speak to Knock Out... Thank you, young Freak...'

Then, Soundwave was gone, and Megatron was taking Miko and Lae through the Space Bridge in air-proof containers.

That's chapter nine! It was long. Don't worry; there will be more action next chapter, which will very likely be the last chapter. Review please!