AN: Ahhh... The internet... I do have an excuse for not posting - moved into mah own place, and it took a while to get the net sorted out. Got all my emails down from 317 to 125 as well eyes fall out

Read and Review. This was what I've been doing with the last four weeks or so... Chap 10 is half written but may need some serious editing depending on what you think of this one :p

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Mikaela had taught Twenty Three about basic food preparation, and they had feasted upon what was Twenty Three's first real meal since she had joined the decepticons.

Despite herself, Twenty Three had enjoyed the meal, and the company, although she still preferred mechanical than human.

"I wonder if the autobots have realized you are gone yet…" she sighed, contentedly, staring at the ceiling. She was leaning against Barricade's leg, while Frenzy glared at the bigger bot in contempt.

Mikaela stared at her hands, fingers laced together, and began to cry.

Twenty Three simply watched in silence, wondering about her display of weakness.

"Are you sad?" she asked her. "Because you shouldn't be, not yet. Your safe, as long as the autobots hand over my mother. Otherwise we'll have to torture you and kill you. Then you can be sad."

Mikaela just stared at the humanoid, shocked once again. "How can you talk to me like that. Don't you have any emotions?"

Twenty Three narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure you haven't hit your head or something? All creatures have emotions."

"Then how can you just pretend to be my friend, and then talk about killing me?" she sobbed, fear overwhelming her.

"I never pretended to be your friend, you useless human. I have used you as a resource of information, but that is all. Your nothing special, why would I befriend you?" Twenty Three snorted, and brushed Barricade's foot with her hand, then leaned her cheek against the warm metal. "Don't bother answering, I really don't care about your idiotic attempts at logic."

"But you're a human, too! How can you let this happen to your race?" she cried desperately. "We humans should pull together!"

Something about being called a human in that context, as a group other than the decepticons bothered Twenty Three. She began to feel a boiling hatred towards this girl, and glared at her.

"My human components do not make me human. I am a decepticon first."

"You can't mean that," Mikaela pleaded, grasping at her sleeping bag.

Twenty Three just gritted her teeth, and looked up to Barricade, who was watching her curiously.

"What do you think about sending a piece of the hostage back to the autobots? Just a finger or something. "Give us the Allspark before she bleeds to death… that could work…"

Barricade smirked. "That is an idea we should take up with Lord Megatron… it could prove to be effective. The autobots are very protective of their humans."

Said hostage made a strangled noise, and hid in her sleeping bag.

"I wonder," she addressed the large decepticon again, crawling up his leg. "If they are so protective of them… if we had shields, with humans tied to them, would they attack? Or would they be too afraid to hurt them?"

Barricade laughed loudly, finding the idea hysterical. "That's a good one!"

She came to a rest on his shoulder, and smiled, admiring the gentle glow of his optics.

"It's getting late," Frenzy growled, glaring at Barricade. He was jealous and he knew it, but he just couldn't stand watching them that close. If anyone was supposed to be that close to Twenty Three, it should be him.

'Damn it,' he swore to himself. 'I'd never take advantage of her feelings… but… Freaking Barricade. He knows Megatron doesn't want us fooling around with his daughter. Then there's that slagging Starscream… Primus knows what he wants to do with her…'

His spark burned, as he saw the girl he cared so much for, lean against Barricade's head, vectors wrapped around his shoulder and neck.

"You should keep watch outside, I'll watch over Twenty Three in here, and make sure the human doesn't try to pull anything," Frenzy glowered.

"Why do you get to stay on the inside, while I watch out there?" Barricade complained.

"You're bigger," Twenty Three smiled. "Frenzy couldn't do too much against another decepticon your size, no matter how scrappy he is," she teased the tiny bot, smiling.

"Exactly," he frowned. "Besides, I need to talk to you alone," he looked his friend straight in the eye.

She nodded, and hopped down, to stand next to her shorter companion.

He immediately started to feel better, standing by her side, watching Barricade exit, sulking. He looked up at her, and took in her appearance, noticing for the first time, the murky green of her eyes. Her hair was short, black and shaggy. It hadn't been combed in a while. Her skin was white and pasty, and her frame thin. She seemed incredibly skinny, compared to the big busted Mikaela, who was obviously well fed and looked after. He found himself a little concerned at her health, and vowed to look further into the nutritious needs of humans.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" she sat on her bed, and patted the spot next to her.

He glanced at the human, who was still huddled in her sleeping bag. Unconcerned, he walked towards Twenty Three, but stayed just out of arms width. She cocked her head, but stayed silent.

"I want to talk to you about your actions towards myself and Barricade," he said, determined to see this out. "First of all… what are your feelings towards each of us?"

She looked a little confused, as she pondered the question. "I care for you both very strongly… Stronger than any bond I've ever had before. But I don't really know what to call it. I haven't exactly got anything to compare it with…"

"How do you feel about us compared with Megatron?" he continued.

"Aah… You guys are my friends, Megatron is my father. I can talk to you about anything, and I know you won't judge me, or deem me a waste of time. Lord Megatron… I always fear disappointing him. I want to make him proud… but if I did disappoint him… It would hurt and I would be shamed. If I disappointed you, it might destroy me," she looked away. She'd never really thought about it before… how much she cared about her friends.

"What about myself compared with Barricade?" Frenzy pressed, his spark feeling like it was being sucked into a black hole. If she answered what he feared… he didn't know what he'd do.

She was silent for a while, dragging out the torture. Even Mikaela, who was unable to avoid eavesdropping peeked out of her covering.

"Barricade is very important to me," she began, looking Frenzy in the eyes. "He is my precious friend… I am still unsure about the full extent of my feelings towards him. I enjoy his company and presence."

Frenzy nodded, his vocal processors cutting out as he attempted to make a noise.

"You Frenzy, I also consider my friend… You were my first real friend, and you are always the first to defend me, or admonish me, when I am too hard on myself, or my training gets the better of me. You were the first to come to me, when everyone was taking advantage of my obedience. If it was possible, I would want to never be apart from you… It hurts me when you stand so far away, just out of my reach… I believe I care for you, even more than Barricade," she whispered. "Because even when I'm with him, I want you there too."

Frenzy felt his legs shaking… He'd never felt so… relieved. Happy. Scared. He'd never felt so much. He took another step towards her, and he wrapped his arms around her. She clung to him tightly, as he tried to reactivate his voice.

"Me-Megatron said you had to talk to him before making a bond like this…" he whispered hoarsely, not wanting to ruin the moment, but remembering his leaders' threat.

"What kind of a bond?" she murmured, tightening her grip.

"I-If you want what I want… What I think you want… We could… make a tran-transition," he stuttered. "From friends… to… maybe…" he trailed off.

"To what?" she asked him, softly, caressing his cheek ridges.

"L-L-Lovers?" he held her tightly, hoping with everything he had she wouldn't reject him. Her answer, however, completely surprised him.

"What are 'lovers?'" she asked, looking straight into his optics.

"I… Uh… You don't know?" he asked dumbly. She shook her head, and waited for him to elaborate. "When you take a lover, or a mate… it's like taking a friendship a bit further. It's like making a commitment to the other party… and you only allow yourself to get close to that one person. That means no hugging Barricade… you'd get enough of that from me… What do you think?"

She bit her lip, and looked at him, wanting nothing more than to accept his offer… to become so close to him… but… "If I was to become your mate… would that hurt Barricade?"

Frenzy looked away. "Most probably… the way you act around us, though… even Megatron has noticed the attraction we both have for you…"

"I have been acting incorrectly?" she grasped his shoulders, and looked deep into his eyes.

"You didn't know any better… We should have said something earlier… but… I can't help but love it whenever you're near me… I suppose it's the same with Barricade… But I've liked you for longer… I've liked you ever since I first met you, when you killed that medic… I thought you were amazing. And you helped us free Megatron! Even when we were pulling those pranks, I never wished you any harm… I… really want to be your mate…"

She watched the emotions flick over his metallic features, feeling her own swirling inside her. She pulled him close again, wrapping her vectors around him, and gave him a soft kiss on the side of his cheek. The first kiss she'd ever given anyone… and it felt so right.

"I want you too, Frenzy…" she whispered. "But I really don't want to cause Barricade any harm. He's like… like a brother… I care for him so much."

Frenzy, still reeling from her kiss, tried to snap back to attention. It was just… he'd never received a gesture so innocent, but full of feeling. Unable to do anything else, he tightened his grip, not wanting to ever let go…

"I need to talk to Father about this," she whispered to him, pulling the covers over the both of them. "He always makes everything clearer… But it can wait until tomorrow."

"I should stand watch from further away… Only mates should embrace, or share a bed."

Twenty Three used her vectors to hold him so tightly, he couldn't move.

"Don't move," she whispered. "I want you to stay right here with me… It hurts to think of you leaving me…"

"I… feel the same, but Megatron will have my head if he finds out I've slept with his only daughter."

"He won't get your head, or any of you. You're mine now…" she whispered, drifting off to sleep.

Mikaela stayed wisely silent through the entire exchange. She'd never seen this side of the psychotic decepticon, and frankly, it scared her.

Decepticons were supposed to be evil, and inhuman… but this show of emotion… it couldn't be a hoax to manipulate the girl, could it? But if it was true that she was… Megatron's daughter… how was that even possible, anyway? Perhaps she was just confused… If she could get her to the autobots, maybe they could help her? Her thoughts became even more confused, as she fell into an uneasy sleep.

Barricade opened the door the next morning, and was not impressed with what he saw.

"Frenzy, what the hell are you doing?" he hissed, glaring at the half asleep bot, whose limbs were entangled with the young woman Barricade had come to… what exactly was it? Respect? Like? No, it was more than that. He cared for her so deeply, the word love was the most accurate description.

"Barricade?" Twenty Three yawned, waking herself up, as well.

"What are you doing in bed with that piece of scrap metal?" he demanded, angrily.

Frenzy seemed to wake up all of a sudden, and scrambled out from the covers, sitting next to his sleepy partner.

"Nothing happened!" Frenzy defended, desperately. "We were just… you know…" he looked away.

Barricade growled at him in cybertronian. "That was a cheap trick, getting me out of the room, so you could – I was only on the other side of the slagging door!"

Frenzy replied, in his frantic native tongue: "We didn't- I wouldn't! She just wanted me nearby! I explained to her what her actions meant to us, and she doesn't care – she wants to be my mate too, but she doesn't want to hurt you. You weren't supposed to come in before we woke up. But we haven't done anything yet, she wants to talk to Megatron-"

"And Megatron will be informed," Barricade growled over his excuses. "What were you thinking? I thought we were friends, too… You know I like her… but you take the first opportunity to stab me in the back!"

Frenzy just looked shocked. He had no idea Barricade would be taking it this badly.

"She said she loved you as a brother… It's me she wants as a mate."

Barricade shot him an ugly look. "You probably convinced her of that too, you swine."

"Um… Barricade?" their subject spoke up. "Are you angry with me? I'm sorry if I hurt you…"

"Damn freaking straight you've hurt me, whoring around like that. What are you thinking?" he shouted, watching her flinch, but Frenzy stood in front of her.

"What?" he spat. "Nobody calls her that!!"

Twenty Three watched in shock as Frenzy jumped onto Barricade's face, and began clawing at his optics, cracking one.

"STOP IT!!" Twenty Three shouted, crying. "Stop fighting… If I'm going to cause you to fight, I'll go kill myself now."

Both decepticons froze, and turned to stare, Barricade half blind, at the object of their affections, ready to commit suicide to keep them from fighting. Frenzy was at her side in a second, holding her, and whispering words of comfort to her.

"I'm sorry, love, it's just our way. We won't fight anymore… I just couldn't stand to hear him call you that. Please, never say that again, promise you'll never hurt yourself… I couldn't continue if you died. Please, stay with us…"

She cried silently, for the first time in her life, burying her head in Frenzy's shoulder. Barricade was speechless… He knew she had little value for her own life, but he'd never expected a suicide threat. He felt himself shaking, unable to process such a thought. His shock overwhelmed his anger, and he sat down feeling numb…

'How could I have done that… called her that… I could lose her for good…' he was overcome with a wave of guilt. 'If I can't be anything more… I'm going to have to be the best damn friend I can be,' he looked over at his love, in the arms of one of his only friends. 'I have to get out of here.'

"I-I'm going to the repair bay," he announced, leaving at a run.

"Twenty Three," Frenzy cooed at her. "Tee… Don't cry…"

"Tee?" she asked him, from his torso.

"Uh… Yeah. Do you like Frrrenzy's nick-nickname?" he asked nervously.

"…Yeah…" she mumbled, after a moment of silence, tears stopping in their tracks. "I need to go speak with Father… come with me…"

Obeying, Frenzy stood, still keeping a tight grip around her, and helped her up.

"Come human," Twenty Three picked the girl up with a vector, and dropped her back to her feet. It wasn't a comfortable way to wake up.

They made their way into the control room, as Megatron was cutting off his transmission to the autobots. He turned around, and leered at his captive, obviously pleased with the outcome. Strascream was with him, entering codes into a computer console.

"How does it feel, puny organic, to be leading your friends to their deaths?" the leader smirked as she began to cry again, then turned to his daughter, who was holding Frenzy's hand. "My daughter, what can I do for you?"

"Father, I want your advice on something… I believe I have feelings for Frenzy beyond friendship, and he told me I must talk to you about these bonds…" she explained.

Starscream stood up jerkily, and spun around, his optics wide.

"Why Frenzy?" he demanded. "You could have anyone you want, you could have a warrior, or a scientist…Someone much higher in rank… I would be a much better candidate for your mate!" he tried to reason, forgetting for a moment that Megatron was there.

'So that's what he was up to,' thought Megatron smugly. 'Didn't work though, did it, you little traitor… But what to do… Well, if that little pip squeak keeps her out of trouble from anyone else who follows Starscream's lead…"

"I think Frenzy would make you a suitable mate," Megatron nodded in approval. "You have my consent."

The little bot whooped with joy, and hugged his mate, chattering madly in cybertronian about how much he loved her.

She smiled, and hugged him back, lifting his feet off the floor. She had no idea what he was saying, but she felt comforted by it.

"Thank you, father," she smiled at him, and carried Frenzy out, still ranting excitedly.

Watching them leave, Megatron smirked. "Back to work, Starscream."

'That bastard,' the seeker cursed in his mind, sitting down at his console moodily. 'He won't have her for long. She's bound to get sick of him, and then I'll play the hero…'

She didn't let him go, carrying him down the hall. She had a tight grip on Mikaela's wrist as well, using one of her vectors to ensure she followed.

Entering her quarters, once again, she sat on her bed with Frenzy in her lap. He reached up, and nuzzled her neck, nipping the skin gently.

"Frenzy," she whispered to him quietly, her words only for his audio receivers. "I really love you…"

He shivered in delight, and began to kiss her jaw line fervently. He felt so alive… he'd been wanting this for days now, physically craving her, and now she was all his, without the threat of termination.

Letting out a little moan, she wrapped her vectors around him, intertwining with his limbs, trailing over the seams in his metallic skin. She made a squeal of excitement as he pinned her to the bed, kissing the corner of her mouth nervously, testing his boundaries.

She leaned up into him, kissing him back, and they soon ended up rolling off the bed, neither noticing their captive hiding once again in her sleeping bag.

Frenzy crouched above her, locked at the lips, kissing her deeply.

"Fren-Frenzy," she whispered into his mouth. "What is this feeling?"

He sat up slowly, and observed her. She was watching him, looking desperately afraid.

"What are you feeling?" he asked softly, playing with her hair.

"I… I don't know… I've never felt like this before…" she whispered, pulling him back towards her. "It's terrifying…"

He nuzzled her neck again, running his teeth over her skin. She shivered, and let out a moan. Her body seemed to be acting by itself.

"Listen, Tee? If you get uncomfortable with anything I do… just let me know and I'll stop…" he spoke gently, his claws already tearing away at her clothes.

The next morning, Mikaela woke to silence. She could barely breathe, she noticed, remembering she had huddled up inside her sleeping bag, to avoid seeing…

She shivered. Still, it didn't stop her from hearing. Those noises just weren't natural… Frenzy, at some point, had let out a high pitched screech. She supposed he was having the robot version of an orgasm… How did that work anyway…

Retching, she directed her thoughts towards more innocent questions, like if or when the autobots were coming for her.

She peeked out from her covers, getting a whiff of fresh air, and… was something burning? She looked over towards the bed, and immediately regretted it.

Twenty Three was naked, with Frenzy lying in her arms, smoke rising lightly from his body. She didn't know who looked in worse condition… Twenty Three was covered in scratches, although most were shallow, but almost all of them were seeping blood, or scabbing over. She heard them whispering lightly, barely catching a few words.

"…sure?" Twenty Three looked concerned.

"Yeah… just… fried circuits… minor…worth it…"

She kissed him again, slowly, and the human once again hid beneath her covers…She had no idea decepticons could be so sappy…

Later on that day, Barricade came looking for the couple. Again, he was not impressed.

"What happened to her?" her growled in cybertronian, glaring at the smaller bot.

Frenzy looked the cop car up and down.

"Frrrenzy and Twenty Three mates n-now. Mega-Megatron gave per-mi-mission," he explained, stuttering more than usual in his nervousness.

Barricade let out a low growl, before getting control of himself. He just had his optic fixed, and he didn't want to have to do it again…

"Autobots are on their way," he spat, changing to English, but letting his irritation be seen. "Bring the hostage to the front gate."

Mikaela sat up straight, half relieved, half terrified. She hoped no one would get hurt, least of all her.

Frenzy grabbed his girlfriend's hand and pulled her towards the door. Wrapping a vector around Mikaela's wrists, she dragged her out after them, racing down the hallway.

Barricade watched Twenty Three laughing gleefully with Frenzy, wondering excitedly if her 'Mother' would recognize her. Sighing heavily, he had to admit they were probably a better match… it seemed his role was to watch from the sidelines.

Once they reached the entrance, they joined the end of the line. All the decepticons were present. Blackout looked down at her briefly, nodding in respect, while Devastator gave her the thumbs up. Bonecrusher was staring ahead, his stance showing he was ready for a fight if need be.

Starscream was talking in hushed tones with Megatron off to one side, and gave her a quick wave. Megatron, too, turned to wave her over, and she strode over purposefully, still attatched to Frenzy and the human.

"Frenzy, watch the human, Twenty Three, come talk with us," he ordered, and she dumped the captive beside Frenzy, sparing him a smile, before jumping, and running up her fathers arm.

"What is it, father?" she asked him eagerly, ready to do anything for him.

"I want you to infiltrate the autobots' base. Now would be the most opportune time. Does the human trust you?" he asked her quietly, trying to plot out how this would work.

"Not in the slightest. I've barely talked to her, except to put her in her place…" she looked away. "I could attempt to remedy this, but it would look suspicious. Allow me to take Frenzy with me, and I will find a way…"

Megatron eyed her carefully, but the determined look on her face proved real. There was no ulterior motives for her, and he found himself trusting her…

"The point of this mission is to create turmoil within their ranks. Wreck as much havoc as you can. Gain their trust first, though. They will not be easily fooled."

She nodded, and hopped down, returning to her place beside her lover. Wrapping her arms around him from behind, she whispered in his receptor "We have a new mission… play along." Mikaela didn't even bat a lid, used to them whispering smutty things to each other.

After a moment of cooing to her mate, she turned to the female.

"Your purpose is about to be fulfilled, are you happy yet?" she asked her softly.

Mikaela looked at her, slightly scared, and completely confused.

"How could I be happy? I'm most likely going to cause a fight, and if any of the autobots get hurt because of me…" she trailed off, crying again.

"Hey, don't cry!" she looked outraged. "So long as the autobots hand over my mother, there will be no fighting. Your role is a peace-keeping role. They would have attacked anyway for my mother's sake. This way, they obtain it without hurting anyone on either side."

Mikaela looked shocked.

"That's if you don't use your advantage, and attack anyway," she sniffed, getting control of herself. "Hang on… Your mother? I thought it was the Allspark you were after."

"The Allspark is my mother. But… Why would they do that? They said they wouldn't attack, or harm anyone," she looked confused.

"Uh… decepticons… as in 'deception' – saying one thing and doing another? You don't know what they're like?" she spoke shakily… perhaps this girl was for real… she was really an innocent caught up in it all… "Listen… how did you get mixed up with these guys anyway?"

Frenzy took a step forward, and growled at her. Twenty Three pulled him back into a hug again, restraining his movement gently with a vector.

"'These guys' as you call them, saved me from my life as an experiment in Sector 7. I owe them my freedom."

"You call taking orders from a maniacal dictator freedom?" Mikaela retorted.

Twenty Three was silent for a moment, and gripped Frenzy's clawed hand, with one of her own, drawing blood.

"What… is your definition… of freedom?" she asked quietly, ignoring the jab at her father.

"When you can do what ever you want, without having to answer to someone higher up… you know?" she tried, hoping she was making sense.

"Then you don't answer to these autobots?" she asked her, curiously, as she saw them appearing over a couple of hills.

"No, they respect me as a person. They sometimes ask me to do things, as favors, but I don't mind, because they are my friends…" she watched them pull in. "That's why I can't stand to see them hurt."

"It's the same with me, Frenzy and Barricade…" she spoke, trailing a finger over the little bots cheek ridge, and kissed him on the top of his head. "They were the first friends I have ever made… but your autobots… they intrigue me."

"You could come with us – leave the decepticons!" Mikaela exclaimed. "You could start all over again… At least see the war from our point of view. I'm sure you'll choose the right side, if you're just properly informed… what do you say?"

She looked at Frenzy for a moment, as if deciding, then looked back to the human.

"I will come with you, to see your point of view, and decide afterwards whether I side with autobots or decepticons… but only if Frenzy comes with me," she bargained. "And I will have to tell my father first. It would be awful of me to leave without talking to him first. You talk to your autobots… right after we get Mother."

Mikaela nodded, and turned to face the autobots, who were lined up opposite the 'cons, looking solemn.

Megatron hailed them.

"Greetings, autobots!" he called. "You have the Allspark?"

Optimus, spotting Mikaela, nodded, and pulled it out of subspace, glaring at his nemesis.

"Release the girl," he growled.

Megatron motioned to his daughter, who grabbed her hand, and walked her to the middle.

Sam, who was standing behind Bumblebee, was given the Allspark, and took that to meet Mikaela. Throwing it to the ground, he grabbed his girlfriend, and ran with her back to the autobots. Embracing her, he began whispering reassurances to her.

"Sam, Sam!" she shook him to attention. "That girl… we have to get her out of there… Optimus!" she told them her story, and they all watched with interest as she picked up the cube lovingly, running her fingers over its surface, obediently taking it to Megatron, then returned to her mate, who was holding her possessively.

"She's with that runt?" Ironhide looked mildly surprised, as they discussed what should be done.

"She's Megatron's daughter?" Ratchet looked intrigued.

"She needs saving… you said she was going to talk to Megatron, so let's see what happens…" Optimus said.

She grabbed Frenzy, and jumped up with him once again, to her father's shoulder.

He looked enraged for a moment, before quieting to an almost lethal calm.

"Human!" he shouted, taking a step towards the autobot group. "How dare you try to turn my daughter against me!"

She placed her palm on her father's cheek, getting his attention. Her voice carried easily to the other bots' ears, now they were in range.

"Please, father, it isn't like that… I'm not being turned against you," she looked hurt and confused, which was exactly what she was aiming for. "I've just been told so many contradicting things… I don't know what to believe any more. I want to hear their story as well. I need to know I'm on the right side."

"If you don't let her go, it will only prove you're trying to manipulate her," Optimus pointed out. Megatron looked trapped.

After a moment of thought, he spoke hesitantly, "You can go, but Frenzy must be with you at all times. He knows our story, and will be able to ensure you are not told lies. I also want you to radio in every day to tell me you are safe."

"Planning on getting reports on our base, are you?" Ironhide sneered, but Megatron cut him off with a snarl.

"If you think I'm about to send off my only daughter into enemy territory, with no way of telling if she's safe or not… I don't care if there's an autobot in the room or not, but I demand one call per day, or no deal," he glared at them heatedly, covering his child possessively with a hand. He trailed his index finger down one of her vectors, and intertwined another finger in a couple more.

"Deal," Optimus replied, able to understand his stress. If it was his child, wanting to get to know the decepticons… he'd probably react worse. "We will take good care of her."

Ironhide drew the short straw, and was asked to give Twenty Three and Frenzy a ride back to the autobot base. Frenzy, not having been informed of the plan was confused and concerned about what was going on. He refused to leave his lovers lap, swearing at their taxi in cybertronian.

Twenty Three felt awful about the stress she was causing the small bot, and tried to calm him down without giving anything away while in the direct vicinity of the enemy. So she did what she could cuddling him to death.

"It's ok, Frenzy, they wont be able to hurt us… I'll protect you if anything goes wrong. We've got father's permission," she whispered into his receptors, brushing her lips across his face.

He eventually quieted enough to refrain from making rude gestures towards the front seat, and cuddle his girlfriend back.

"How did you come across the decepticons?" Ironhide asked them. They didn't know they were com linked to the rest of the autobots, and they had been listening to Frenzy's ranting.

"They saved me from the humans," she replied, nuzzling Frenzy in the neck, making him shiver happily. "Frenzy was the one who decided to take me with him."

"Oi! Enough of that while inside of me! And what do you mean saved from the humans? Aren't you human?"

"Enough of what? I don't understand… Frenzy, did I do something wrong again?" she asked, confused.

"No," he growled at the car. "Autobots are just prudes."

"Hey!" Ironhide shouted, making Twenty Three tighten her grip on Frenzy. "I don't care what you do anywhere else, but no making out while you're inside me!"

She could have sworn she heard a snigger coming from his radio.

"Can you explain clearer? What is an 'out' and how are we making one?" she sounded genuinely confused, but he really didn't want to go into it.

"Get Frenzy to explain that to you. You're mates, right?"

"Yes… Frenzy?" she prodded him.

Figuring out the autobots ruse, he began to whisper dirty things to her just loud enough for Ironhide to hear, but not enough to carry over the com link.

Not even able to stand it for a full minute, Ironhide roared out in frustration and disgust.

"Just shut up. Shut up and just sit there and don't do anything else!"

This time she was certain she heard sniggering coming from the radio, before it suddenly cut off. Frenzy grinned, and rested his head on her shoulder.

Once they arrived at the autobot base, Ironhide was the first to transform, throwing his cargo roughly to the ground, then crossing his arms and glaring at it.

"Calm down Ironhide, it isn't that bad," Optimus laughed, clapping him on the shoulder.

"I refuse to carry those two ever again," he growled at his leader. A familiar snigger emitted from the yellow bot named Bumblebee.

"Very well," the leader nodded towards Ironhide, then turned to face Bee. "Since you find this so funny, you can be their next ride."

He immediately quieted.

"Now, Twenty Three… we have many things we would like to ask you. Please follow me."

They led her into what must have been the recreation room. It certainly wasn't a control centre, but there were chairs and tables of both robot and human size, catering for both races. There were also a few of the white appliances she and Frenzy had been studying. She eyed them longingly, but remained obediently where she was, and returned her attention to the autobots.

"We would like to hear your story," Optimus addressed her. "Tell us why you think the decepticons saved you, and from what."

She eyed him warily. "They did save me. I wouldn't know what to do by myself…" She looked at Frenzy for support.

"I see no harm in telling them, but avoid talking about anything to do with the decepticons, or anything possibly confidential."

She nodded. "I was… an experiment at Sector 7," she began, and Bumblebee shuddered violently. "I have been there my whole life… I don't really know what to tell you. I broke out, but I have no survival skills… I just do what I'm told, and they supplied me with sustenance. Frenzy took me with him to break free Lord Megatron, who turned out to be NBE-1. I overheard they used his DNA in building me… So in a sense – well, he tells me I am his daughter. So I suppose I am. They took me with them, and over the past couple of weeks… I have been quite happy. They took me from a world of solitude and experimentation. They gave me a life I never even imagined existed…" She hugged Frenzy tighter, not wanting to ever let him go.

Bumblebee fell to all fours, and brought his face within a meter of hers.

"What did the humans do to you?" he asked her, he seemed to find this very important.

She looked away, and thought about her answer carefully.

"Many things," she spoke softly, and the entire room was hanging to her every word. "They performed operations on me, some while I was awake… They put me through harsh training, often to the point where my body would require more operations to continue functioning. One of them raped me. They put me into solitary confinement for a long time. Perhaps two or three years. They never told me what I did wrong. I wished many times they would just terminate me rather than let me live to endure their silent resentment," her voice broke as she gripped Frenzy tighter.

He shimmied up her body, and wrapped his legs around her waist, caressing her face, and whispering to her in cybertronian. Although she couldn't understand it, his voice alone comforted her. She rested her head against his, her chin on his shoulder.

"Frenzy told me that they lied to me about my worth, and they wronged me by doing those things… He told me not to listen to everything I am told… which is why I am here," she looked back at the autobots, taking all of them in. "I need to understand my place… I need to know I am not being lied to again. Which is also why Frenzy is here, because he will tell me if you lie."

Bumblebee looked touched, Optimus and Ratchet serious, and Ironhide a little guilty.

Mikaela walked towards her, a strange expression on her face.

"Is that why you dislike me? You hate the human race? You see me as one of them?"

She thought about this for a moment, before shaking her head. "I do not hate the human race. I hate the ones who hurt me… I hate Sector 7, and everyone involved with them. If I saw them again, I would kill them without hesitation. I do not hate you, or dislike you. I do not feel either way about you. I simply do not know how to interact with people on a social level. I have never had an equal to talk to… until Frenzy and Barricade."

Mikaela moved to hug her, but the cyborg jumped back.

"Wh-What are you doing?" she asked, horrified.

"I… I was just going to hug you. As a welcome…" Mikaela replied curiously, arms falling to her side.

"Frenzy says only mates should hug… I can't hug you," she said firmly. Frenzy, still in her arms blew her a raspberry.

She shrugged, and smiled warmly anyway. "Well… welcome. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me."

"That goes for all of us…" Ratchet spoke for the first time. "You are here to learn our side of the war… we will all help you with whatever we can."

She bit her lip again, and turned to Mikaela.

"Can I ask you a favor then?" she asked hesitantly, to which she received an enthusiastic affirmative. "Can you explain that to me?" she begged, pointing towards the fridge.

She lay in her bed that night, talking to Frenzy excitedly.

"That fridge… I finally used one… It was nothing special, those scientists were no better than me, if even I could work one," she smiled.

The autobots had given the couple their own bed, and after minimum convincing from both Mikaela and Ironhide, Optimus had arranged their own room for the duration of their stay.

Once they were alone, Twenty Three explained their mission to her mate, making him calm down immediately. I seemed he could handle a simple infiltration mission much better than turning his back on Megatron.

He had taken advantage of their privacy to the fullest, exploring her body with more leisure than he had allowed last time.

She allowed him to do whatever he wanted, and tried her best to please him, knowing he was the only one who truly mattered to her.

"What happened to you?" Ratchet asked her the next morning.

She looked away. "Frenzy says I shouldn't speak of these things to anyone but him."

The little bot glared at him, but the medic was more concerned with the girl in front of him, covered in scratches. "If he is hurting you, you have to let me know."

She looked mortified. "Frenzy would never hurt me! He's my mate."

"Then how did you get those injuries?" the larger bot pressed.

"You really don't want to know," a voice projected from the doorway. Mikaela was walking towards them. "You can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?" she directed at Frenzy, who gave her the fingers, and moved closer to his lover.

"Do you mean…" Ratchet began, looking between them. "…oh." He finished lamely, then busied himself with tidying his already immaculate work bench.

"When can I call my father?" she asked Ratchet, unaware of his discomfort.

"I suppose now, if you like," he replied, glad to have something else to do to get the images out of his head. "But I will have to be in the room as well."

She nodded happily, and jumped down from her seat, following Ratchet to the com room.

She watched him press a few buttons, and started to bounce on the balls of her feet, hugging Frenzy closely, so his feet were centimeters from the floor. Suddenly, a picture of Megatron filled the screen.

"Father!" she exclaimed happily.

He seemed to do a double take. "Twenty Three… what did they do to you?" he looked a cross between concerned, and enraged.

"What?" she blinked, then realized he must be talking about the scratches covering her body.

"I… uh… didn't get these from the autobots," she looked embarrassed, and Frenzy started shaking again. As far as he knew, Megatron was clueless as to what he had been doing with Twenty Three.

"Then how did this happen?" he growled, still eyeing the medic.

"Frenzy says I shouldn't talk about it," she repeated, looking uncomfortable.

To her relief, Megatron nodded, and moved on to his next question. "How have they been treating you?"

"Really well," she smiled. "They even gave me and Frenzy our own room! And the human taught me how to use a fridge, it was really exciting," she jumped up and down a couple of times.

Megatron had a neutral look on his face, before speaking in his super calm voice that he usually reserved for before a fight with Starscream. "They gave you and Frenzy your own room."

"Yeah, it's pretty bare, but the bed is bigger than any I've ever seen! And they put a chair in there, and the human is letting me borrow some of her clothes. Other than that it's pretty empty, but it's very spacey…"

"Frenzy," he addressed the bot carefully, backtracking. "Just how did my daughter get those scratches?"

Frenzy shook his head exaggeratedly, and hugged his girlfriend for support.

"Frenzy, you will tell me, or I'll come down there and dismantle you myself."

"Don't say that!" Twenty Three hugged him tightly, taking a protective stance.

Megatron sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Father?" she begged him. "How is Mother?"

"You mean the Allspark? Safe. We will look after it well," he assured her, and she smiled brightly.

"It makes me happy… both my parents together…" her smile spread into a huge grin. "Tell mother I love her… and Barricade I miss him. I should go now," she waved goodbye as Ratchet turned off the screen.

"Why do you refer to the Allspark as your mother?" he asked her curiously.

"She is. Mother gave me life. Father wants nothing more than to be with my mother, and she must feel the same way… I'm so happy! We'll be like a family," she gripped Frenzy closer to her.

Ratchet raised his eyebrows. "I'd like to see that…"

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