The single optic burned a hateful crimson as the sleek, black metal encased her body, freeing Black Charade again. A sharp 'mask' covered her left optic and her nose too, ending in a sharp point on her right cheek then curving back around again to arc around the mouth before disappearing down the neck; the black mask blotted out the left side of her face completely, like it was a death mask. Her fingers elongated into claws of tarnished silver, the joints a gold/copper colour as she flexed them experimentally. The humans, those pathetic worthless creatures holding her down were flung off like dolls, hitting the Xyleon with a soft thump, then the floor with a harder thump.
'I Am FrEe…' Black Charade thought as she altered the human girl's form to suit her own. The trainers, clothes and hair – with the exception of the long black fringe, dyed with red streaks that she actually took a small liking to – were covered in the metal hide, concealing the host's body before anyone could do anything about it. Then four black-hooked fleshy tentacles slowly spiralled out of her back, each growing one red optic that was just as a hateful crimson as her own.
From what was left of her face Black Charade contorted it into a twisted smile, sneering at those staring back, horrified, at her sudden and violent transformation.
The Autobots, humans, and Xyleon alike fell victim to fear. No one quite understood what was happening. Black Charade jumped down from her perch on the berth; her feet hitting the ground with a solid clang.
Her claws grasped her weapon again, "DeArEsT OlDeSt FrIeNd..." she purred, "HoW DoEs It FeEl To Be My InStRuMeNt OnCe AgAiN? YoU'Ve MiSsEd It, HaVeN'T YoU?" A cackle rose from Black Charade's throat as she inspected the room around her.
The human soldier's battle-hardened faces stared back at her, white as snow, yet to be spattered with blood. Those soldiers had seen everything and yet here they stood, supposed discipline ground into them, stock-still in terror as the machines towering above her whirred and hissed. They held tightly onto their weapons, knowing that such an action would be useless. The bullets would bounce off Black Charade or one the Autobots. And there were still three in the room who could, in fact, be injuried from the rebound.
The burning red optic then switched to stare, in spite of herself, at the Xyleon. The bandages wound around her ankle provided weak defence against the blade that had got her once before. Black Charade laughed softly, no doubt creeping out everyone present.
"What have you done with Chloe?" a strong voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
"ChLoE Is No MoRe."
"WHAT?"
"ShE Is DoRmAnT... NeVeR To AwAkEn..."
"But she's still there then."
"PeRhAps... BuT WhEtHeR ShE CaN HeAr YoU oR NoT Is AnOtHeR ThInG..."
"What have you done to her?" A soft, more than likely scared, female voice asked. Black Charade focused on her solely, taking in every detail of the female's body. Assessing her weaker points. Noting her strengths. Waiting for the perfect time to strike her down.
"ChLoE KnOwS YoU," she whispered. She tried to place the face with one of Chloe's memories that would reveal who she is. "YoU... XyLeOn... I KnOw YoUr NaMe..." She almost laughed when one of the giants stepped in front of the Xyleon. "AlExIs LoVeLl." A collective gasp escaped from the blue creature, giving satisfaction to Black Charade that she'd successfully scared her opponents. Taking another step forwards, Black Charade hissed.
"I will ask once more, what have you done with Chloe?" the flamed mech asked threateningly. Instantly, Black Charade knew she'd hit a nerve within the stoic leader.
She laughed in her insane way and turned only her head to him, "ArE YoU AfRaId? Do YoU WoRrY FoR YoUr FrIeNd'S LiVeS?"
"Perhaps you should answer his question," growled the black mech next to the flamed one. She laughed again at their foolishness; they solely believed they could free the girl?
"YoU WiLl NeVeR GeT HeR BaCk. I Am In CoNtRoL. NoW AnSwEr My QuEsTiOnS."
The black mech made a move to attack when the flamed mech held his arm out, pushing him back, "Go on with your questions."
"HoW FaSt ArE YoUr SqUiShY AlLiEs?"
A look of confusion spread across his face before his optics widened in alarm.
"LENNOX! RUN!" Was all anyone could shout before Black Charade sprang into killing mode. The human called Lennox barely had time to react when Black Charade brought her bladed staff down where he had been a mere few seconds ago.
"WiLl Be NiMbLe.."
Lennox bolted through the open door and into the corridor, tipping over things, praying that it'd slow her down.
"WiLl Be QuIcK..."
Black Charade blasted through the debris and came sprinting after the terrified soldier, malice and evil glee smothered the fleshy side of her face.
"WiLl JuMp OvEr ThE cAnDlEsTiCk..."
There were smears of petrol that had leaked on the floors by an SUV; an idea sparked in her mind. She brought down the blade of the staff so it scraped along the floor, showering her foot in sparks. One caught the petrol, sending raging lines of fire along both ends of the corridor... one line hurtling towards Will Lennox. She could hear the Autobots behind her, running to Will's aid. But she knew that they would be too late. Every thing was perfect. Everything slotted into place.
Thick black smoke billowed along the corridors, turning day into night with ease. Screams and yells filled the air, along with coughing. Soldiers' cries filled her audios as they threatened to fire blindly into the darkness. From vague memories, Black Charade knew there was stairs running along here at the end of the corridor. She also knew Lennox would hope to outrun her by going up those stairs. She laughed menacingly and followed the fleeing soldier up the stairs, his shouts mingling with the screams and yells.
"WiLl JuMp HiGh..."
Another fusillade of debris rained down the stairs towards her but she didn't fumble for a second and wasted no time in scooping up a small empty box and threw it into the soldier's path.
"WiLl JuMp LoW..."
As she almost predicted, Lennox jumped the box and carried on running. Black Charade slowed her pace and assessed where she was now. 'A BaLcOnY Of SoRts...' She thought as she jumped onto a wall and began her pursuit again. Faintly from the darkness could she hear the pants and wheezes as Lennox struggled to maintain his lead on the monstrous killer that pursued him endlessly. Catching up with him quickly, Black Charade decided that it wouldn't be fun nor fair if she ended it so fast. 'LeT's PlAy CaT AnD MoUsE...' she thought darkly as she slowed her pace slightly, toying with him. It was then that he made a very grave mistake for his survival. He had turned into a dead end room.
"WiLl JuMpEd OvEr AnD BuRnEd HiS ToE!" She shouted as she leaped into the room, towards Will for the final kill.
"NO!" came a voice as tendrils of thick, scaly metal coiled around her waist, dragging her away from her prize.
"ReLeAsE Me!" Black Charade shouted as she drove her claws into the tendrils, leaving nothing but a scratch and a dent. It was no use, the coils were quickly tightening their grip and one coiled around her neck, obstructing her view of the room and the one holding her. Then a short, sharp burst of electricity jumped down the coil around her neck, damaging her processor.
'DAMAGE TO MEMORY ACCESS DISRUPTOR DETECTED! MEMORY LEAK IN PROGRESS!' a deep voice bellowed in her mind.
Black Charade struggled and kicked and bucked in her captor's grip, trying to break free of not only them but the memory leak as well. "LET ME GO!" She screamed as the coils relaxed, obviously she had deafened the mech holding her tightly. She made her move and broke free only to collapse to her knees, clutching her helm as the pictures and voices started up again.
'Vhere is zat zhing? Vhat are you all doing down zhere? Get her back up here now!'
'Wh-where am I?'
'Ey, amigo, hold still... this won't hurt at all!'
'NO! DON'T LEAVE ME!'
The pictures were just as gruesome as they had been before. The same bunny toy filled her vision, that same crazy old professor that had cursed her into being what she was now... the soldiers that had confronted her on her first-
Then it all stopped.
The pain faded, allowing her to look up; her hands still holding her head as small whips of more electricity cracked around her. "What just happened there?" came an innocent voice, full of fear and pain as the heavy weight on her mind lifted. But for how much longer? "A-Alexis? O-Optimus? G-guys?" Her throat was so dry that the words came out as hoarse wheezes. The thick smoke spilled into the room, forcing her onto her hands and knees, clanging as she crawled out. She looked up into the optics of the one who saved her. But there was no one there. It was all a lie. There had been something coiled around her, that was for definite but now, whoever it was, was gone. Tears filled her optics when she looked around. Seeing the destruction.
Lennox came out into the hallway afterwards, coughing badly from the smoke. Upon seeing the still-black metal body infront of him, he drew his gun, forgetting all about the smoke and the damage it was doing to his lungs, and fired. Chloe screamed, curling up. Then the gunfire ceased. Lennox approached the black form, wary of who it was, but equally as puzzled. From the brief experiences he'd had, Black Charade didn't scream like that nor did she curl up. She would stand, and fight. More shouts erupted from below them, snapping both back into reality as Optimus shouted up to him. Lennox didn't even bother to reply as he edged closer to the black body. "Chloe?" He asked gently.
"LENNOX!" everyone was shouting, footsteps came thundering up the stairs. It was Epps with a breathing apparatus on and was carrying a set for Will. The white soldier stretched his hand out to meet the shaking black frame when Epps pulled his friend away and down the stairs. She was fortunate that her lungs had been surgically altered to cope with things like this.
A few minutes passed before Chloe pushed herself into a seated position. The smoke was starting to die off, and the hallway was empty. Her eyes darted to the stair when she heard footsteps. "Hello?" she wheezed, her throat as dry and as coarse as sandpaper. She heard guns clicking in response, magazines being slotted in. Tears stained her cheeks, but she shakily got to her own feet. Except they clanged on the floor. In horror, she looked down at herself and saw the metal she was coated in. No wonder Will had fired on her. She collapsed back to her knees, crying and coughing as she did so.
"Hold here, wait for my command to move in," she heard a gruff voice say. Heavy footsteps pounded closer to her; boots. Army boots. Army boots with an angry soldier in them. She waited for them to come and kill her for attacking. Then she felt the cold bar in her hand. The bladed weapon seated on a long staff handle. She tossed it away with a yell, the weapon clattering to the floor. The foosteps ceased sharply. Another magazine was slotted into the gun. She heard shouts below her, where she guessed the Autobots were gathered. One voice stood out the most, one that was hitting almost shrill notes, along with sounding digitized. The soldier on the stairs was within swiping distance of her long, black arms.
"Ja-Jazz?" she whispered, her voice cracking terribly.
"Yeah, baby. I'm right 'ere," he responded. He got to his knees beside her and gently pulled her into his arms. "What happened? Why are you covered in metal?"
She made a weak attempt to reply before succumbing into her bondmate's arms. "Jazz..." she whispered as he stroked her blackened hair.
"I'm right 'ere," he repeated. He looked up at the sound of a scream, but didn't move.
"What's... going on?" Choe asked.
"Fire started downstairs."
"That sounded..."
"Shh, you're alright."
"... like a scream... Jazz, what happened?" He fell silent, just stroking her hair until she pulled away. "Jazz. What. Happened?"
"I don't know. I came up here before anyone could fill me in."
"Fire?"
"Yeah. They put it out. You don't have to worry."
She jumped when more shouts filled the air.
"Why shouldn't I worry? I nearly killed Lennox!"
"You didn't do it on purpose. An' you didn't kill him. Ratchet's checking him over."
"Jazz, IT WAS ME! I COULDN'T CONTROL IT ALL!" Chloe nearly screamed.
"Chloe, calm down. We don't blame you," Jazz cooed. The screams returned, along with the shouting. Now that she was paying attention, she could make out voices. Alexis'. Optimus'. Ironhide's. She struggled out of her bondmate's grip and jumped onto the edge of the balcony overhang, not really registering what she was doing before she did it. Chloe jumped and landed quickly landed on the floor below. "CHLOE!" Jazz yelled. He deactivated his holoform, and transformed back into his robot form. But Chloe had already landed on the ash-covered floor below in a neat landing. However, just before she'd jumped, Chloe'd swept up her weapon and had hooked it onto her back. She swung around to come face to face with Epps who wore a look of suprise and fear.
"AT ARMS!" one of the higher ranked officers ordered and all guns were pinpointed on the black framed girl.
"No! Stop!" Jazz shouted as he skidded to a halt in front of Optimus who was holding his arms out to stop the saboteur. It was chaos, but no shots were fired at Chloe. Not even the trigger-happy moronic-rookies. Chloe caught sight of Alexis halfway draped across Ironhide's arms, and for a moment she feared that she'd hurt her closest friend again. But then she saw the black streaks of ash and soot that lined her friend's body and relaxed slightly... until she realised that she was the one who had started the fire, whether she was possessed or not didn't matter, all that did matter was that it was her fault.
"Is... she okay?" Chloe asked softly. The others around her, including Optimus and Epps, stood down. Optimus frowned at the sudden change in behaviour from her, for he had not been present at the time of Chloe regaining control of her body.
He didn't get a chance to reply as Ratchet answered Chloe's question, "Okay, not really. Her lungs are damaged from all the smoke she inhaled, and she has several burns. And I wouldn't be suprised if her vocalizer decides to short out from all the screaming. She'll heal. In time." But there was a cold edge to the medic's seemingly gentle tone; hate. Chloe winced and took an automatic step back, towards the gunners. She was instantly restrained. But her eyes never left Alexis.
"What about Will?"
"He'll be fine." Ratchet replied as he tended to Alexis' burns. Chloe knew better than to attack again, so she untensed her metal body and allowed the small stasis cuffs to be clipped around her wrists. A small shock passed through her body and she felt all the gears seize up and grind to a halt, her processor clouded by the stasis and she slipped into the darkness again, all the while worrying about her friends.
The next time she awoke, the metal was no longer coating her, and she was cuffed to a hospital bed in Medbay. Will was on one across from her, and Alexis was on a berth beside him. Optimus was pacing near Alexis. "I cannot believe no one called me earlier.." Optimus ranted as he paced. Chloe couldn't help but cough slightly to clear her airway from the thick smoke that had made its home in her throat, bringing the trio's attention swinging back to her.
"C-Chloe," Alexis croaked. At the glare she received from Optimus, it was clear that she had orders not to speak. Guilt overtook Chloe at Alexis' voice. It was so mechanical compared to what it normally sounded like. Usually, she sounded human. Now, she sounded like an Autobot. A robot.
"You. What in Primus' name were you thinking when you set the place on fire?" Optimus nearly shouted at the child; Chloe could feel tears stinging her optics again as she recieved a full lecture from the Prime.
"I-I..." Chloe couldn't bring herself to continue. A sob choked her as tears rolled freely down her cheeks. Then Optimus stopped shouting and his foot started tapping, awaiting a reply.
"Well?"
"Optimus," Alexis broke in. She pulled the needles from her arm and forced herself to get up. She pushed away his hand when he tried to stop her.
"I wasn't in control-" was all Chloe could get out before Optimus exploded into another tirade of questions and how disappointed he is in her.
"No! Can't you see that Chloe didn't even mean to do that? It wasn't her fault!" Alexis shouted at the Prime. Optimus tried to make her sit down again when she screamed at him. "Stop it!" Alexis screamed. Optimus winced, and for once, Chloe was glad that she wasn't a full Autobot. Alexis had a habit of hitting extremely high notes that could be painful for Autobots. Alexis finally just pushed away from him and stumbled towards Chloe's bed. "Why?" Alexis sobbed a bit, "What happened in that head of yours?" the tears that were free-wheeling down Chloe's cheeks were wiped away by one of Alexis' fingers very gently. Chloe still flinched away. She was afraid that guilt would eat her alive when Alexis began her own coughing fit. The Xyleon turned away slightly.
"Alexis," Chloe said quietly, "how much of that smoke did you inhale?"
"Not a lot-" Alexis held her hand up and started coughing again, this time several wheezing coughs wracked her body.
"Alexis... I'm sorry..." Chloe said, yet more tears rolled down her cheeks, leaving white trails against the black ash that covered her face - she looked like that Pit-forsaken mask had crawled back over her face again.
"It's *cough* ok *cough, cough* Chloe, it isn't *cough, cough, cough* your fault," Alexis managed to get out.
"It IS my fault!" Chloe shouted. Alexis actually smiled and shook her head.
"No it isn't, daft head! It's that cursed thing in your head!" Alexis said. Chloe couldn't help but laugh at her friend. The moment faded quickly though. Alexis' face contorted in pain.
"Alexis!" Chloe cried out in alarm.
"I'm fine," she lied. She sat down beside Chloe. Her breathing was shallow, betraying the damage.
"Optimus," Chloe whimpered, already afraid for her friend, "please get Ratchet!" Optimus, although still furious with the techno-organic, complied and opened a comm. link to the medic.
Ratchet was quick to respond. He sat down beside Alexis and took her hand.
"Alexis, I need you to breath deeply, ok?" the veteran medic said gently, holding an enlarged oxygen mask to the Xyleon's face. Alexis gave a slight nod as she tried, but quickly pushed it away when she started to cough.
"Alexis," Ratchet said firmly, "You need to do this!" Alexis tried to stop coughing but to no avail. With a look that frightened Chloe, he moved away from Alexis to get something. A needle. But whether it was a needle or not Chloe wasn't sure, her optics began to blur again and she saw twisted images. Optimus gave a shout of warning, and instead of caring for Alexis, Ratchet grabbed another needle and plunged this one into Chloe's arm. The world faded into nothingness.
With Chloe knocked out, and Ratchet returning his attention to Alexis, Will turned to Optimus. "Prime, Chloe is right. She wasn't in control when she started the fire." Optimus looked down at the ash-covered soldier. "Black Charade was."
"Black Charade is Chloe," Optimus responded.
"Save the arguements. Prime, give me a hand," Ratchet cut in. As Optimus walked over to the medic, Lennox spoke.
"No, Black Charade is another part of another thing entirely."
"Help me lift her," Ratchet ordered. Optimus gently hooked his arms under Alexis' when the Xyleon weakly lifted them. Ratchet grabbed her feet and together the mechs lifted her onto a berth next to Chloe's bed knowing that Alexis would just get up again. As soon as she was settled and Optimus had moved back, Ratchet carefully put a tube in her mouth and down her throat.
"Ew..." Lennox muttered as he turned away from the scene. Ratchet chuckled slightly, even as he reinserted the IV back into her arm. Alexis was still semi awake when she felt a sharp scratch. She tried to pull her arm away, but a gentle hand on her head and arm stopped her. She looked sleepily into Optimus' optics, and any hard feelings between them slipped away as she did.
"Hey..." she almost slurred to her Prime. "where's Chloe?" All Alexis' mind could focus on was the fate and status of her best friend.
"Sleeping. And you should be doing the same. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise," Optimus whispered.
"Ok..." Alexis slowly drifted to sleep as ordered by her mech, her mind still replaying the day's events slide by slide.
When Alexis fell asleep, Optimus withdrew his hands and nearly slumped backwards. The entire day was weighing on him, and all he could feel was misery. The whole situation, as new as it was, seemed to be tearing them apart. And it hurt him to watch the girls suffer. When one was in pain or upset, the other would be the same way. It was as if there was a special bond between them both; more special than a spark bond between two lovers. Almost as if it was a sibling bond. And that was a kind of bond that, if severed, no one could survive. It was crushing though, to those who watched them. To see one drag the other down. What would happen if this Black Charade managed to kill Alexis? What was even more worrying to the Prime, was that if Black Charade could possess Chloe, a human techno-organic, could she take over a Xyleon techno-organic?
No one knew the exact origins of the dark character or the full extent of her power, but one thing they all knew was that everyone's lives were held in the balance and that Black Charade eminated fear. And nothing can defeat fear itself. Did that mean that Chloe was beyond saving? If that was the case, both girls would be lost to them.
Unable to dwell on such thoughts, Optimus merely stepped over to the berth that Alexis had started out on. He took a seat there. "Prime," Ratchet's gruff yet soothing tone filled the room, Lennox wisely leaving, "Are you ok?"
"I don't know," Optimus responded. He looked so lost, that it made Ratchet compare him to both girls for a moment. Optimus sighed and rubbed the back of his helm, trying to rub away the processor ache that was currently forming there.
"Get some rest. Nothing's happening here right now. Both of them are asleep," Ratchet suggested. Optimus shook his helm.
"I think I should find Jazz."
"That might be an idea." Ratchet replied. He watched Optimus leave the room before turning to observe the girls. "Oh great!" Ratchet said as he saw the blips on the two girls' monitors rise and fall steadily, "babysitting!"