As always, thanks to those of you who reviewed. I know I'm mean and I don't often reply, but your reviews really do mean a lot to me. Well, I couldn't wait to put this chapter down to paper, it had been wanting out of my head for a long time now.

Chapter Eight: Goodbye My Friend

Mercy got a feeling in the pit of her stomach that something bad was going to happen. She knew whoever that guy was that he wasn't supposed to be here. Not sure what else to do, the android continued to listen.

"Get out of here now," Brenna stated in an extremely stern voice.

"Come on baby, it's been a few days since I've last seen you. Can't we catch up?"

Mercy realized that the man was most likely Brenna's stalker and that he had somehow found her here in New York. The android got up and quickly went to her friend's aid. She was horrified to see a man dressed completely in black with a black ski mask on and with a gun in his hand. The ski mask had an opening for each of his eyes and his mouth.

The man looked up seeing Mercy and grinned, "Oh Brenna…I like the looks of your friend."

"Leave her alone," Brenna exclaimed.

The man waved the gun threateningly at her and said, "Let me in baby, or else."

With no other choice, Brenna backed into the living room. The man entered shutting the door as he came in, and looked to Mercy saying, "Be a good little girl and go sit over on the couch while daddy deals with Brenna."

Mercy didn't move and Brenna started to panic, "Mercy, do it!"

The android glanced at Brenna and then went over and sat on the couch. She considered notifying Megatron, but then thought better of it. He'd offer no help, and after what he had done to "help" her during swim class yesterday he'd probably only end up putting Brenna and her into a worse predicament.

"Brenna, I must say that you've runaway from me for the last time. I'm sick of you rejecting me. Now, you either choose me now, or you die," the man threatened.

"You don't need to be heroic on this Brenna," Mercy piped up though she was extremely terrified.

"You know what Brenna, hold that thought. I think I'll torture your friend for a few minutes because I just can't resist her anymore," the masked man stated and headed over towards Mercy.

"What a pervert."

"Excuse me Mercy? Is something happening that I should know about?"

Mercy didn't answer as she watched the man slink towards her. The android stood up from the couch attempting to move away from him. He pointed his gun at Mercy saying, "Sit back down."

"Leave her alone," Brenna exclaimed again, "She's got nothing to do with this. If it's me you want, then come after me. Leave Mercy alone."

Mercy was kind of surprised to hear Brenna saying her first name for once but shrugged it off. The man stopped his approach and walked back to Brenna. He ceased his advance once he was standing inches away from her and cupped her face with his free hand. Brenna looked absolutely terrified when she felt him press the gun directly against her abdomen.

"I may be seven years older than you, but who really cares?" he said and proceeded to kiss Brenna deeply.

Mercy felt sick, she felt her face twist with disgust and horror as she watched the perverted man kiss Brenna. The android could tell from Brenna's face that she was just as disgusted and sickened as her. After a few moments the man pulled away and asked, "What's your answer Brenna?"

"No."

Mercy jumped when she heard the gun fire. As if in slow motion Brenna's body fell backwards onto the white carpet of the living room floor. Blood began to pool around her and Mercy thought for sure Brenna was dead. She looked to the man who grinned and turned to her. His shirt had spatters of blood on it though he didn't seem to mind. The android felt fire begin to pulse through her circuits.

"Now Mercy, I honestly do not care Brenna refused me, I really am starting to like you much better anyway. So what do you say?"

"You shot Brenna."

The man laughed and Mercy felt the burning sensation in her circuits begin to increase tenfold.

"She had it coming to her," explained the man, "Don't tell me you want the same fate beautiful."

"No," Mercy said in a voice full of bloodlust, a voice she did not know she possessed, "You evil…sick man!"

He laughed again and Mercy felt the burning within her explode. She glanced down at her hands only to see they were engulfed in flames, but there was no pain. She really was going to burn someone, and it was going to be the man before her.

Mercy watched as the man dropped the gun in surprise. She quickly started advancing towards him. The now terrified man ran out of the house and the android went to pursue him until she heard Brenna's weak voice say, "Mercy."

The fire went out on her hands and Mercy quickly went to Brenna's aid. Mercy nearly gagged at the amount of blood their was pooled about her dying friend. Brenna reached out to Mercy running a blood soaked hand down the android's shirt. "I'm sorry Mercy," she whispered, her chest rising and falling heavily.

"This isn't your fault, nothing ever was."

"I…hope they don't…blame you for this crime."

"You'll be okay Brenna. Just tell me who that guy was."

"Travis…Travis Chase."

"I will make sure he is brought to justice. Just hang in there Brenna, everything is going to be okay."

Brenna grasped Mercy's hands with her own bloody ones, "Thanks Mercy…for being my friend."

Mercy felt tears in her eyes and said, "And thank you so much for being mine."

Brenna smiled and suddenly fell limp. Mercy's heart caught in her throat when she checked for a pulse and found nothing. The android struggled to hold back the tears as she stood and ran out of the house. She walked down the street attempting to hide the bloodstain on her shirt. It was freezing out, colder than it had been all week. Walking seemed more difficult than usual, and she was walking at a slower than normal pace.

Mercy had just started walking up her road when she heard police sirens in the distance. She knew where they were headed and suddenly she remembered she had forgotten her backpack. Groaning, Mercy quickened her pace knowing she had to get home and change her clothes quickly.

A few minutes later the android found herself walking up to her front door. For a moment she was afraid to go into her own home since she knew a very angry Megatron was waiting inside. Mercy put a hand on the icy cold doorknob and slowly turned it. The door opened easily and Mercy entered her home and shut the cold world out behind her. She was in the mudroom, and she took off her shoes and examined them. To her luck, there was no blood on them. Mercy then sighed and stepped into the kitchen.

All the lights were off in the house, not one of them was on. The sky was darkening with the approach of nightfall. Mercy heard his footsteps before she saw him. The android hung her head not wanting to look at the decepticon leader. She could hear him saying I told you so and she didn't want to hear it.

Megatron stood in the kitchen a few feet back from Mercy. Her arms dangled loosely at her sides, her bangs created a dark shadow over her eyes. Silver tears streaked down her face soaking her cheeks. Megatron noticed the smeared bloody handprint on her chest and felt his mech fluids freeze. He then saw her bloodstained hands. "Oh Primus, Mercy! What happened?" Megatron exclaimed shocked.

"She's dead," Mercy replied softly, "Brenna's dead."

Megatron was upon her faster than what Mercy thought possible. He grabbed her by the hair and lifted the android up to his optic level. "Didn't I tell you not to stir up trouble? I told you that wretched girl was nothing but that. Why…what the slagging hell possessed you to kill her?" the decepticon leader hissed with a livid fury.

"I didn't kill her," Mercy whispered afraid to raise her voice against Megatron.

"Quit lying to me witch," he spat back, "Is that not her blood you're wearing right now?"

"It was her stalker, Megatron, he tracked her down and when Brenna refused him he shot her—

"Lies!"

"Megatron, you have—

"How do you expect me to believe you when you just stood me up? And this wouldn't be the first time you've lied to me."

Mercy glared at Megatron and snarled, "Do you really think I would kill Brenna?"

Megatron narrowed his optics at her and threw Mercy to the floor. The android landed roughly on her back. She cringed as Megatron repeatedly kicked her in the side. His foot sliced into her metallic skin and Mercy could feel as she began to bleed and bruise. It seemed like hours had gone by before he lifted Mercy again by the hair saying, "Why wouldn't you kill Brenna? You've been wanting to kill someone ever since I met you."

"He shot her, I don't own a gun."

"You went to her home, and you know I didn't want you going there. I told you to listen to me Mercy, and did you?" he scowled.

"Megatron, I'm sorry."

"Being sorry isn't going to fix anything," exclaimed Megatron furiously as he set Mercy down and punched her in the lower lip.

Mercy stumbled back and wiped the energon flowing from her split lip. She didn't say anything; she just stared down at the floor. Her side was sore, badly bruised and bleeding, her lip wasn't any better, and her heart was mourning the loss of her only friend.

"Did you leave behind any evidence?" Megatron asked this time calmer.

"My backpack," Mercy answered. The android watched as another wave of anger coursed through the decepticon leader.

His right hand began to pulse with a blue energy charge. Mercy was too frightened to take a step back and looked on as Megatron lifted his electrified hand. Several bolts suddenly shot from his fist and hit the android dead on. She was flung backwards into the door and upon impact there was a loud crack. Megatron flinched knowing he had broke something, he just wasn't sure what.

Mercy sat there dazed for a few minutes and then slowly climbed back up to her feet. Megatron saw a large crack in the door and was rather relieved that he had broke the door and not Mercy. The decepticon leader looked Mercy over and decided that he had done enough damage. "Go get cleaned up and repair yourself. Once you're done give me that shirt and I'll dispose of it. As for you backpack, chances are the police already found it. Be ready to deal with the cops within the next twenty-four hours."

"Yes Megatron," she responded as tears threatened to spill from her eyes once again.

Megatron approached her and stopped merely inches away from her. He gently cupped her face with one hand and tilted her head back so she was forced to look up at him. Mercy felt her heart beat increase as he took a lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. "Poor Mercy," he exclaimed mockingly, "Forced to suffer yet again."

Mercy looked away from the decepticon leader wishing she didn't have to deal with him right at the moment. For an instant she wished her parents were there, the parents that used to care so much about her, the parents who always lifted her back up when she fell down. The parents who would graciously give her a shoulder to cry on. But not anymore, never anymore.

The android suddenly felt herself leaning in against Megatron praying for once that he would hold her in his arms while she cried the night away. He only shoved her away saying, "Don't expect any comfort from me Mercy, this is all your fault."

She had enough; Mercy shoved past Megatron and disappeared down the hall into her bedroom. She grabbed her pajamas and then went inside the bathroom where she took a hot shower trying to wash away the remnants of that day that still clung to her. When the water turned cold, Mercy turned off the shower and got out, dried off, put on her pajamas, and thoroughly dried her hair. Mercy then grabbed her dirty clothes and threw them in the hamper, with the exception of her bloody shirt. When she opened the bathroom door, Megatron was standing right there.

"Shirt?" he asked plainly and Mercy gave it to him.

"Do you have some sort of soldering tool?" Mercy questioned.

Megatron produced one from his subspace and then walked away. Mercy went back in the bathroom where she repaired her lip. When she went to repair her side, she realized it was impossible to do it on her own since the majority of the wound was on her back, which she could not see.

Mercy went out to the kitchen where she waited, seated at the table, for Megatron to return from disposing her shirt.

Megatron ripped the shirt apart. He absolutely tore it to shreds, and then he buried the shreds in different locations nowhere near Mercy's property. As he buried the last shred, he couldn't help but recall how mad he was at her. He didn't know exactly how Brenna died, but he was one hundred percent sure that Mercy had killed her.

He sighed having finished burying the last scrap beneath the snow-covered ground. Standing, he glanced across the distance to Mercy's house. No lights were on, they were all off still. Megatron was curious to see Brenna's body, just to see if she had been shot like Mercy claimed. And it wouldn't hurt to see what the police were planning to do with Mercy. The decepticon leader shook his head; it probably wasn't the best thing to leave the android alone at the moment. Not when she was probably on her last nerve.

Mercy moved into the living room and curled up into a ball on the couch. It really didn't surprise her that Megatron didn't believe her, and considering how angry he was, her punishment really hadn't been too severe. She sighed, she missed Brenna.

Brenna was her only friend, the only one who had believed her and actually cared about her. Megatron only helped her for his own benefit; he didn't care an ounce about her. But Brenna listened to her, she understood, and she did everything in her power to help the android. Mercy felt alone, like someone had torn out a part of her heart and thrown it away.

Mercy felt a severe headache coming on. When Megatron had electrocuted her and she went flying back against the door, she had really hit her head. She was thankful her skull was made out of titanium or else it would've been her head that was cracked and not the door.

Feeling depressed and hallow, Mercy lifted up her hands and looked at them. No more blood was on them, no burn marks from the flames that had come out of them earlier were present. It then occurred to her that she hadn't told Megatron how she had projected his image from her eyes, she hadn't told him how she managed to self-combust. Mercy shook her head knowing Megatron would never believe her, and she was quite certain that she couldn't will the flames to come out of her hands again. Her eyes were too teary to even try and launch a projection. When she tried to summon the fire out her hands again, she failed. It was no use.

Mercy reached over and took the TV remote in her hand and turn on the TV to the local news station. The news of Brenna's death was their top story. The android sighed; she never watched TV, she was just curious to know what was going on. She heard Megatron come in suddenly and listened as he walked into the living room, paused, and looked at the television.

"…authorities have found a backpack that belongs to one of Brenna's classmates, the name of the owner of the backpack has not been released at this time. According to the victim's parents, the owner of the backpack was a very close friend of Brenna's," the reporter explained, "At this time, the gun found at the scene of the crime has been identified as stolen."

Megatron heard as Mercy groaned in disgust and then he turned his attention back to the television.

"A single gunshot wound to the abdomen had been determined as the cause of death. Please stay tuned for further updates. If you have any information on this case please contact your local authorities," the reporter said and then Mercy turned off the TV.

"So you stole a gun?" Megatron remarked.

"No," Mercy replied, "Megatron…could you help me repair my side?"

"Why should I? You've ruined everything."

"You're right, I did," she retorted, "My life was bad before I met you, and now it's even worse. Maybe I'll get lucky and that man who killed Brenna will come back kill me, then you'll get sent back to that damned void where you belong!" Mercy then threw the soldering tool back at him.

It landed at Megatron's feet and he picked it up. He squeezed it in his hand, his temper flaring. "Repair you?" he exclaimed raising his voice and clenching his teeth, "Oh, I'll repair you!" He lunged at Mercy and threw her to the floor where he pinned her. Roughly, the decepticon leader lifted her shirt and carelessly started reconnecting her torn wires. Sparks flew as each wire was reconnected causing Mercy to yelp in pain. Megatron then began soldering her metallic skin back together making sure to run the tool over damaged sensors.

Mercy was glad once he was finished and got off of her. Her side stung like a bad sunburn did only a bit worse. Slowly she stood and hesitantly faced Megatron. "Thank you," she said and he watched her as she went to her bedroom and shut the door.

Megatron sighed heavily and sat on the couch. It was quite obvious that he was going to have to sleep on it once again. It was going to be a rough night.

Believe it or not this chapter was over 3000 words as well. I feel so proud of myself. Anyways, kudos to livinglife and The Copper Arabian for knowing it wasn't Megatron at the door. And livinglife just so you know, I'm almost done reading Fast Food Nation, just got to get through the rest of chapter 9 and 10. Please review!!