Author's note. With thanks to Jovianokamigirl and madisonxhougen for their monster suggestions, they will be used, thanks so much.

Suggestion are welcome.

Enjoy and please review.

Elita stayed where she was as Megatron started examining the whole cavern again, checking there wouldn't be another rock fall. Elita knew she could have been seriously injured if Megatron had forced her to the ground before covering her whole body with his. He'd taken the brunt of the rock fall and come away with a few dents and cuts.

She was not built for the mines, her injuries would have been worse, especially if she'd been standing, she could have suffered a head injury. But there was no point in dwelling on what ifs, not when Megatron had done something even more unexpected.

He had kissed her, actually kissed her and she had no idea what that meant. Obviously she knew what kissing normally meant but somehow she had no idea why he'd done that. Was he attracted to her and since interfacing was out of the question, taking the next best thing.

Was he just trying to release some stress after that near disaster with the rock fall? Bots did do crazy things after the rush that followed some quick, dangerous action. Megatron's kiss could mean absolutely nothing.

But what if it did mean something, what if he...liked her.

She glanced over at him, his back was to her as he wiped away grit from his arms. She felt a little guilty for causing those injures and getting more dust clogged up in his systems. She was still grateful for what he'd done of course but she didn't want him hurt in the process.

She shook her as she remembered the kiss again, she knew she was over analysing it but she couldn't help it. He was an enemy Mech holding her hostage, she needed to know what that kiss meant. However, she knew she couldn't ask him, in case he sneered at her and called her a pathetic Autobot Princess, a nickname she really disliked.

Hoping, that kiss was the only strange or personal thing he was going to do to her and she could just forget it ever happened.

"Ah," she suddenly cried as she felt something shift near her leg, there was something in the debris.

Megatron spun around, drawing a blaster from sub space as he heard her cry. His optics narrowed as he saw the grit and stones move near Elita and took a step forward. But the next moment, he'd lowered his blaster as a small head popped up.

Elita flinched away, not knowing what it was but all it did was swivel its head about before clawing its way out of the debris. It was a long creature with massive paws with sharp flat claws that must be used for digging. It didn't have optics but she could see sensory spots at its head as well as a wide mouth lined with sharp little teeth.

It was actually quite cute, with its dark body lined with sensory panels which kept rising and then flattening against its body. Its longish snort twitched as it examined its new environment and then started scuttling all over the place.

Megatron sighed as he put the blaster away, as Elita slowly got up.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

"A Mecho-Mole," Megatron said, eying it as it snuffled the ground.

"Their one of the few harmless things down here, they search out Energon and munch on it."

"It's cute," Elita admitted as she saw it finds a few flakes and eagerly snuffle them up.

"I suppose," Megatron said with a shrug. "Our Younglings enjoyed keeping them as picks, they can be quite friendly."

This made Elita smile and she cautiously approached the Mecho-Mole. Megatron rolled his optics and went back to making sure there were no more nasty surprises. At least the Mecho-Mole's arrival was ominous, they tended to be in the higher level of the mines, near the surface. They were known for sometimes emerging onto the surface, and scurrying over it, looking for new sites to bury into.

They could sometimes be useful for finding Energon but you couldn't rely on them, they just weren't trainable. The best you could hope for was if they suddenly started burying with frenzied energy, then it was likely there was a vein nearby.

But even then, this vein wasn't always in a single direction, the Mecho-Mole could easily bury down after burying up. So yeah, they were no good for mining but at least they were harmless. It was nice not having to worry about them.

Once he was satisfied that there wasn't going to be another rock fall, he turned back to Elita who was stroking the Mecho-Mole. It was nuzzling against her hand and appeared to be enjoying the attention, though it was probably hoping she had some Energon for it.

Speaking of Energon, he needed some. He was hoping he could find some leftover of Ore so that he could produce some emergency Energon. It would be hard to process but it would help keep him going if he ran out of rations. Though he wasn't sure how well his prisoner would cope but she probably had some rations too, it would be beyond stupid not to carry any.

"You'd better eat now, we'll be going soon," he told her and she looked up at him, a slight flush on her cheeks.

This made him think she'd already consumed some but was worried about him taking her Energon. Well, he'd see how they got on, if they were stuck down here for at least three more cycles, he'd start demanding she show him what she had.

He took out a small cube of highly concentrated Energy which would burn slowly throughout the cycle, perfect for their journey through the mines. If they were lucky, they might find some high energy crystals that could be eaten, they grew down here. Of course, with hungry miners about, they were always eaten but enough was left so they could keep on growing.

They were also used in expensive sweets for the upper classes but were rare as they only grew down in the hot mines and were usually eaten. But if a miner on a good cycle found some, he'd harvest them and sell them to a manufacturer of sweets. This was one of the few times they weren't cheated, since they could easily eat them, they were paid a decent price.

But they went so hungry that it was often better just to eat the damn things rather than sell them.

He quickly ate his cube, he wanted to get out of this place and return to the surface. Elita had actually been correct in her assumptions the previous cycle, this earthquake could have easily force some of the monsters that lived down here closer to the surface. And though he hadn't detected anything yet, that could all change in a flash.

As soon as he was finished, he tossed the remains to the Mecho-Mole who eagerly gobbled them up. That was another slight advantage to a Mecho-Mole, they wouldn't leave a single scrap of Energon that could attract other creatures.

Elita got up and headed towards him as he beckoned. She sighed as he snapped the cuffs back on, she'd been enjoying her freedom. But as he took her arm to lead her down a new passageway, he said.

"If there's another rock fall, run for it, don't think about me, just run."

She stared at him, he was telling her to leave him behind? That was such a...noble thing to say though she figured he was just being practical. But still, to tell your prisoner to save themselves if the worst should happen, it was unbelievable.

But he wasn't finished yet.

"There are many creatures down here, Elita and most aren't harmless like that Mecho-Mole. If you hear anything, see anything or smell anything strange, you tell me straight away. I will protect you and if necessary, free you from those cuffs to fight."

"I...understand," she said softly as the Mecho-Mole scuttled just behind them.

"I'll do as you say and tell if I sense something strange."

"Good Princess, we may make it out here in one piece," he said sardonically but he appeared to be pleased she was willing to cooperate and not argue.

"So, what other creatures' do you find down here?" Elita asked softly as they left the cavern and started down a chamber.

"Rock Monsters," Megatron said quietly. "They resemble the surrounding rock and metal, and they hate to be disturbed. Their very territorial and though they aren't too hard to fend off, they can do some damage if they take you by surprise, which is often. But attacks by them are very rarely fatal so don't worry about them."

Elita nodded, knowing she'd regard each odd looking rock formation with suspension now.

"But there are much worse things down here," he now said darkly.

As she looked at him, he said in a grim voice.

"Some monsters were once Mechs."

"What?" she said, not understanding.

"Some have been lost down here," Megatron said quietly. "So long that they have turned...cannibal."

"No," Elita said in horror, they didn't have many taboos, not like organic worlds but consuming the Energon blood from another bot was just...vile.

"Yes," Megatron said firmly. "They are beyond reason Elita, if they see you, they will kill you and drain your body of its fluid. And then use all of your parts to keep themselves going a little longer."

Elita wanted to clap her hands over her mouth but she resisted, it helped Megatron was holding her arm.

"But they were created unintentionally," Megatron continued. "Others weren't."

"What do you mean?" Elita asked, almost trembling, what could be worse.

"There are Mechs down here called Mutants," Megatron said with a growl. "Experiments that went wrong and were abandoned down here and now they want revenge against any normal Mechs they see."

"Who?" she asked, really trembling now at the evil bots could perform.

"Scientists, inventors, those with a bit too much time and credits," Megatron said darkly.

"But these kind of experiments rarely work and it is even more rare that they are voluntary,"

"You mean they...take bots off the street?" Elita questioned, knowing the answer but needing to ask.

"Those who won't be missed, or so they claim," Megatron replied, confirming her worst fears.

"I...can't believe that, how can they justify something like that?"

"It's for the good of Cybertron," Megatron sneered, sounding as though he was quoting.

"If we're lucky, we won't run into any Mutants or Caninibalizers at all down here."

Elita nodded earnestly but couldn't help but ask.

"Can anything be done...?"

"No," Megatron said shortly and harshly before giving her a sharp look.

"Elita, if you see one, you either get away or kill it, in fact, killing is the kindest thing you can do. They do not live like others creatures down here, even a Rat Monster has a better life than they do. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Elita said firmly even as she sent a silent prayer to Primus for the Sparks that had been lost. She prayed he'd take them into the well when they were finally deactivated.

They continued walking in silence, the Mecho-Mole happily trailing behind them. Elita's sensors were tingling, now that Megatron had told her all about the monsters that existed down here. Every little sound was a Rock Monster lurking, every shadow was a Mutant waiting to pounce.

She shivered, now more than ever wanting to get out of these stifling tunnels. This one seemed long and endless and the humidity was slowly rising. She glanced at Megatron and saw how his optics were darting everywhere as he examined the surrounding walls with an expert optic. He was on the lookout for another.

A few hours later, she started to relax about monsters but she was becoming disheartened by their lack of progress. The only good news was that this tunnel was not sloping down, meaning they weren't descending into the mines depths. In fact, this tunnel was pretty level but she wondered why it was so long without an exit apart from that blocked up one.

But Megatron had quickly discovered that it was totally blocked and digging through was pointless. So they'd carried on and Elita was becoming more and more tired so finally, Megatron said they could have a break.

She'd sat down while he closely examined the walls, trying to gauge something from it. She leaned back against the wall, it was so hot and dirty down here and they'd been walking for so long. It wasn't pleasant being cuff for hours at a time either and she ruefully rubbed her wrists awkwardly.

But as she relaxed there, she started to feel a little groggy and she could swear something was touching her back. She twisted and let out a scream when she saw a glowing, pulsing thing hanging off her back.

Megatron was beside her in an instant and he quickly swiped the thing away but more were appearing out of the wall and trying to latch on. Megatron pulled her up and started dragging her quickly away even as he snarled.

"Energy leeches, just what we need."

She stared back at the horrible, slimy looking black tube that bulged with stolen energy. She shivered, that thing had been trying to drain her energy and invite its buddies for a feed too. But she wasn't sure why Megatron was so upset, it hadn't been hard to deal with it, though they numbers had alarmingly increased.

"Why...," she started to ask but he snarled.

"Because they attract Monster Rats," he snapped, still dragging her along. "And those slaggers are slag to deal with...frag it."

He'd come to a halt and Elita almost screamed at the sight that met her optics.

A huge, purple coloured rodent was hissing at them, head lowered as it glared at them with angry yellow eyes. Unlike Retro or Cyber Rats, who were just vicious annoyances, this thing looked like it could actually pose a threat.

Megatron very slowly pushed her behind him, this thing could attack at any moment. She so wished she wasn't cuffed, she didn't want to be helpless when it did. Megatron very carefully sub spaced a knife and activated it, it was a sharp looking fighting cyber blade.

And then, it pouched, snarling and biting as it lunged at Megatron. Megatron snarled and caught it and she had to leap out of the way as he crashed to the ground, now wrestling the hissing mass of rodent. It was doing its best to bite and claw Megatron but he was holding his own, even though he couldn't use his blade while he was holding it.

She had to do something, she couldn't let him fight like this.

So she scanned the ground, looking for a weapon and found a large stone. With only slight trouble, she lifted it up and stepped forward, watching as the two wrestled on the ground. She had to chose carefully, she couldn't risk hurting Megatron, he was the only one who could get them both safely out.

Finally, she slammed it down on the Monster Rat's spine, causing it to howl with pain and rage. It tried to free its self from Megatron and attack her but Megatron brought his blade down, stabbing it behind its head.

It howled and thrashed but he stabbed it again and again until it lay twitching on the floor, in its death throes.

Megatron panted, staring at the rat's body and then the stone Elita had thrown and finally at her. She had no idea what he was thinking as those bright red optics stared into her blue ones. Finally, he grunted, getting to his feet, he offered the bloody blade to the Mecho-Mole who had suddenly appeared, which began to eagerly lick it.

He then grabbed the rat's tail and dragged it into the direction of the Energy Leeches, leaving a trail of Energon blood behind. Elita now collapsed on her knees, her limbs shaking. She'd seen death before but never so brutal, so bloody. She understood why but that didn't really make it any easier to deal with.

"The Leeches will take care of the body, they'll suck it dry," Megatron said as he returned, scooping up the now clean blade and sub spacing it.

"We don't want it attracting anything, we seem to be moving into a dangerous area."

"What will we do tonight?" Elita asked softly.

"We keep going until we find a safe place to sleep," Megatron said simply. "We'll stop for another break if we don't find something soon but if we do, we'll lock ourselves in for the rest of the cycle, regardless of how much time's left."

She nodded, she'd liked nothing better than to do that. He stared down at her and then, lifting her to her feet, said.

"You didn't panic and you didn't hit me. Not too shabby for a Princess."

And without another word, they set off once more.

A couple more hours later, they managed to find an old safe house where miners could go to shelter from Monsters or other disasters. It wasn't very big but for too weary travellers, it was perfect. It had a proper though very dusty berth and though there was no Energon to be found, there was something just as good.

A workable shower.

Elita almost cried with joy when she spotted it and even Megatron looked mildly happier. After securely locking them inside and shoving some old heavy creates against the hatch, he'd taken her cuffs off.

"You can go use that shower," he said, waving her away.

"I'll be here, I'm going to see what's here, exactly."

"Thank you," she said gratefully and he nodded before letting her go.

It was the most glorious feeling she'd ever had, the feeling of hot water and cleaner going over her armour. It seemed this shower tapped into a natural supply of some sort and of course, the water was recycled afterwards. The temperate wasn't as hot as she'd normally have but after the last few cycles, it felt like pure heaven.

And only after she'd scrubbed away the very last trace of dirt and metal particle did she step out of the shower. She knew she'd get dirty as soon as she left this place but she just needed for feel clean for one night cycle. She'd gone into the shower fully dressed but had taken her armour off after scrubbing it and done her protoform until her whole body was clean again.

Feeling very happy, she came out to find Megatron had actually cleaned the berth, it seemed he fancied clean as well. She knew they'd be sleeping together again but she just didn't care, she wanted to forget her trouble and just have a good sleep.

"We'll have something before we recharge," he said, going past her, and heading for the shower.

He was very eager, so she didn't stop him but relaxed on the berth. It was old but still comfy and a hundred times better than the ground. As she looked idly around, she saw that the Mecho-Mole had managed to follow them inside and was keenly exploring.

She was surprised it didn't mind being locked up, you couldn't burrow out of here but it seemed delighted. But then something caught its attention and it charged for the shower. She jumped to her feet, she didn't want it to get hurt and without thinking, rushed in to retrieve it.

She gasped at the sight that met her optics, just as she was scooping the Mecho-Mole up. With his back to her, slowly washing away the grit coating him was Megatron and he was completely naked. Unlike her, he hadn't waited and had taken everything off as soon as he'd gone in.

She was currently being treated to a view of his aft which...wasn't bad at all.

He half turned his muscular body and examined her, his face completely neutral. She knew she was blushing, she hadn't meant to rush in like that, it was so rude, especially as he'd done nothing of the sort. But a part of her was really hoping he'd turn around some more, she couldn't see everything from here.

But instead, he turned back to face the overhead nozzle and carried on as though she wasn't there. So with a muttered 'sorry', she quickly left, carrying the Mecho-Mole and feeling very confused now.

Author's note. What further challenges do Elita and Megatron face? Find out next time, until then.