Hi guys,

If you're still with me, awesome. If you're not because you got sick of waiting and no longer care, that's upsetting but I can understand.

So, it has taken me two years (roughly) to get my inspiration back for this story, and most of my others. Here I am, letting you know I'm still alive :)

I have re-written this chapter. I wasn't happy with how it flowed, only minor changes though. I have the rest of the story plotted out briefly but won't make promises of when I'll update. Last time I did that my muse buggered off and two years passed :(

Anyway, enjoy and please review.

Chapter 13

Elita-1 was practically steaming by the time the Autobots returned to the Ark. Optimus Prime observed her with trepidation as she paced to control room. Most of the other Autobots were either in recharge or the at the moment so the control room was occupied by only the higher level officers.

"Elita-1 if you don't calm down you are going to rupture something." Ratchet stressed at the pacing femme.

"She has my femmes. I want her dead." Elita-1 seethed. "Who knows what she's done to them?"

Optimus Prime came up behind her. "What happened on Cybertron, Elita?"

"She has my femmes; Firestar, Moonracer, Glyph, Arcee and Roulette. She invaded my base, Arcee pushed Chromia and I towards the rear escape. Roulette and Moonracer allowed themselves to get captured so we could get away…I should have stayed."

Chromia placed a hand on her arm. "If we'd stayed, Firefly would have you stripped and tortured by now. She hates you for some reason and wouldn't hesitate in destroying you."

"Chromia is right." Optimus said wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I'm more than happy that you came here instead of trying to rescue the femmes yourself. Together we'll find a way to rescue them. Ironhide, try and get in contact with Springer or Ultra Magnus."

Ironhide nodded and led Chromia out of the office. Ratchet finished his scans and followed.

Optimus pulled Elita-1 against him and whispered soothingly to her.

"Sir, Lord Megatron is searching for you." Blackout alerted Firefly via comms.

"Thank you, Blackout. I'm in my office."

Firefly looked around her makeshift office and pushed the report in her hand into a cabinet. She was surprised that any of the Decepticons were online yet. They had happily taken advantage of Firefly's energon stores and gotten thoroughly overcharged.

The Autobots had been an unexpected surprise yet satisfying in their reactions. Most of them anyway.

Firefly squashed those thoughts as footsteps echoed towards her office. She leaned against the front of her desk provocatively.

The door opened and Barricade stepped inside. Firefly moved out of her pose.

Barricade's brow rose. "Were you expecting someone else?"

"Yes, Lord Megatron."

"Ah, he's still kicking Decepticons awake."

Firefly dropped into her chair. "Fine. What do you want?"

"Have you received the reports from Cybertron?"

She nodded and held out the datapad he was going to ask for. The state of the brig's occupants. His optics skimmed the information before he grunted approvingly.

"Everything to your satisfaction?" Firefly asked.

"For now."

A movement behind Barricade caught Firefly's optic. Megatron stood intimidatingly in the doorway. His crimson optics never leaving her face. Firefly felt delicious chills run down her spinal relay.

"Barricade, I believe we can finish this discussion later."

The warrior nodded and edged around Megatron.

"I'm surprised to see you working already."

"There's much to do here before it's properly defensible." Firefly replied.

"Indeed. When that goal is achieved, I expect you to join me aboard the Nemesis."

Firefly squashed a spasm of panic. "Do you think that would be wise, my lord? I'd prefer not to leave my command and this base unattended."

"Is your Second not capable?" He asked dangerously.

"Of course he is, my lord." She said quickly. "But I would not have him believe he could overthrow me and become like Starscream."

Megatron scowled. "You are aware of Starscream's treachery?"

"Indeed. It was well documented on Cybertron both before and after my deactivation. He even tried to depose me once. But like I said, I don't want my team to think they can exist without me."

Megatron growled. "Do you have an alternate way for our arrangement to work if you're not with me?"

Firefly smiled softly and moved closer to his larger form. "I can, and will, still be your queen. If I stay on land we can maintain an advantage over the Autobots."

Megatron seemed to consider this. "The energon?"

"My team will do our best to collect and store as much energon as we can before we transport it back to Cybertron. My team and I are most willing to provide aid in your effort to collect energon as well."

"I forgot how prettily you speak."

"Diplomacy is an interest of mine." She smiled slightly.

A large hand snaked around her waist and Firefly was pulled up against Megatron's chest.

"I take it we have a deal?" She walked her fingers along his shoulder.

"For now."

Firefly lifted her chin to meet Megatron's mouth. Hard lips claimed her own while thick arms crushed her to him. She was pushed back until her hips hit the edge of the desk. Firefly propped herself up on the edge and allowed Megatron to push her flat on the desk. His hands moving over her frame roughly.

"Hey Boss, whoa!"

Firefly twisted her head away from his hard mouth. Frenzy stood in the doorway with Soundwave.

"Soundwave, get the Decepticons ready to return to the Nemesis."

The blocky officer nodded silently and ushered his still gaping minion away.

"We'll finish this another time." Megatron moved back and Firefly sat up.

"I look forward to it, my lord."

The Autobots gathered around Teletraan I. Prime stood closest with Elita-1 next to him. Jazz and Prowl stood to one side with Ironhide and Chromia. The Twins and Bumblebee were at the back with Ratchet. An active communications channel connected them to Springer on Cybertron.

"What can you tell us about Firefly's return, Springer?" Prime asked.

"Not much unfortunately. We went to collect what we thought was going to be deactivated Autobots but Firefly stepped out instead, told us she was in charge now and would be doing business as usual."

"Her sudden reappearance isn't comforting." Prowl said. "Especially since she was deactivated vorns ago."

Prime turned to Ratchet. "Have you heard of anything like this before?"

The medic's head shook. "I don't know how she could have come back from the Pit with no warning or rumor….Unless she hadn't been deactivated in the first place. Theoretically a mech can be maintained in a form of stasis lock for an extended time even with severe damage. But I've never heard of it been done for such a long time."

"Talk with Perceptor and Wheeljack, they might be able to help figure out how it happened." Prime ordered. Ratchet nodded and left. Prime turned to Prowl. "Take Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Bumblebee and whoever else you need and organize surveillance on Firefly's base here. I want to know what she's doing."

Prowl nodded and herded his group out of the room.

"Springer, have you heard anything about my femmes?" Elita-1 asked when the doors closed.

A tired sigh came through the speakers. "No. I'm sorry Elita-1. But if Firefly really is behaving like normal they'll be in the dungeons beneath Polyhex."

Elita sent Chromia an anguished look. "They had better all be in one piece."

"If Springer is correct then Firefly will not damage the femmes. She'll want to keep them until it benefits her." Prowl said as he returned. "Prime, Bumblebee and Mirage are on their way now." He turned to Elita-1. "Firefly is fortunately a creature of habit when it comes to taking prisoners. The femmes will walk out of that brig."

Jazz nodded. "She's saved countless Autobot lives that way, even if she didn't want to. If ya were captured by Decepticons, ya hoped to Primus it was Firefly. That way ya knew ya'd get out with just about everything attached."

"She provides medical care as well, to increase trade value." Prowl added.

"She's a saint." Chromia said sarcastically.

"We at least know the femmes are safe for now in Firefly's hands. Were it Shockwave I'd be more concerned." Optimus said. "As it is, I'd rather not leave them in Polyhex for long. Springer. If you could arrange to somehow get conformation on the femmes status and let us know."

"Yes, sir. Springer, out." The line went dead.

Optimus placed a hand on Elita-1's arm. "We'll get them back."

She nodded. "I know, I'm just concerned."

"We should be. Firefly's unstable, she always has been." Chromia put in.

"What I want to know is what happened to Shockwave." Ironhide frowned. "The last we knew, he had guardianship of Cybertron. Springer said Firefly declared herself in charge. Shockwave won't like sharing power."

"Maybe she killed him." Jazz suggested.

Optimus shook his head. "I don't think so. Despite her numerous faults, Firefly isn't irresponsible. She won't leave Cybertron without a leader for the Decepticons."

Firefly studied that reports piled on her desk. So far there seemed to be a handful of worthwhile energy producing facilities that could be harvested for her purposes. It would take time to gather enough energon since she had agreed to help Megatron with his domination of Earth. Megatron's agenda was second to her own of course but she'd keep that to herself for now.

Firefly was going over a topological map of a potential target when Stormcloud barged in.

"Boss, we've finished securing the site."

"Excellent. Begin excavation under the ship. I want a permanent base ASAP."

Stormy frowned. "How long are we remaining here?"

"For as long as necessary." Firefly replied over steepled fingers. "Send me the leader of the Stunticons."

She shooed the younger mech away and turned back to her reports. There was so much work to be done before could begin to relax and investigate this planet. The event outside had just made doing that more complicated.

The hulking mass that called itself Motormaster entered and Firefly hid her distaste of the alternatively created mechanoid. "I require your team to assist my mechs in establishing this base. As soon as that is done you are free to do what you will until I have need of you again."

The big mech nodded. "I understand, Queen Firefly."

"Good, leave."

Barricade walked in and Firefly contemplated installing a revolving door.

"Well done, my Queen. You've succeeded in cementing your position."

"Call me that again and I will put you away for insubordination."

Cade smirked. "Don't you like your new title?"

"It's an empty title and you know it. I get to be queen just so Megatron can now be King Megatron."

He shrugged. "It's still better than 'lord'."

She scoffed. "And if he'd wanted to be called Emperor I'd be an Empress."

Barricade paused. "So, what's the plan now?"

Firefly scratched some markings on a datapad. "Now we get as much energon as we can and get off this mudball…. And I think I've found our first harvesting site."

Bumblebee hurried into Optimus Prime's office, followed closely by Prowl. Jazz reclined in one of Prime's guest chairs.

"You have something to report?"

"Yes, sir."

"What are the Decepticons doing?"

"I'm not sure, sir, but there was some sort of ceremony and Megatron had all the Decepticons bow to him and the femme. They left after that."

The others frowned. "How many remain at that location?" Prowl asked.

"The femme, her four mechs and the Stunticons. It looks like they're setting up to stay."

"What are they doing?"

"A full security network, perimeter beacons. There's definitely some internal work being done."

Optimus nodded and dismissed the small turned to his two top officers.

"Firefly is apparently digging in."

"That's not good." Jazz said.

Prowl's doorwings flicked. "No, it's not. Her reappearance was bad enough."

"Has Ratchet come up with an answer as to how that happened?"

Prowl shook his head. "Nothing new. He still believes that she was somehow maintained in a state of stasis while they repaired her."

Jazz relaxed in his chair. "That's one Pit of a repair job. I saw how badly she copped it that day. Sideswipe blew straight through her.

Optimus nodded. "I'm surprised her spark wasn't extinguished."

"There were times when I didn't think that femme could be deactivated. I think there could be something to it now." Jazz added.

"Why do you say that?" Prowl asked.

"We tried to kill her numerous times during the war. No, Optimus, we did." He said when Prime went to interrupt. "You even approved a couple of attempts….that said, every time we tried to destroy her she survived. There has to be a reason she's still here."

"Are you trying to say that Firefly is protected by Primus."

Jazz shrugged. "Divine intervention or not, you gotta admit, she's one hard bitch to deactivate."

Optimus sighed, Jazz was right. Firefly was a very hard femme to deactivate.

"Prime, do you have any orders?" Prowl asked.

Optimus shook his head. "Previous orders apply."

Prowl nodded and left the office with Jazz. They got to Prowl's office before Jazz spoke.

"Did Prime just say what I think he said?"

"Yes. We have full permission to covertly deactivate Firefly should the opportunity arise."

Jazz grinned deviously. "Assassinations, when done properly, can be quite beautiful."

Prowl leveled a quelling look at his friend. "Please try to keep your anticipation subdued in front of the other Autobots, it disturbs them….Need I remind you that it is a last choice option."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Prime's first choice is to get her on our side."

Prowl nodded. "We need to know what she's up to. But if it were achievable that would be quite the coup."

Jazz paused. "What if we could?"

"What could we possible offer Firefly to temp her into defecting?" Prowl asked dryly. "She has position and power amongst the Decepticons."

"What about safety?" Jazz started to pace. "We could make it look like she was already working with us. Then, when Megatron finds out she'll come to us for protection."

"Ignoring some blatant holes in your scheme, the chance that she'll figure out who set her up and want revenge is high. Too high for me to allow."

Jazz frowned. "Fine…what if we set up some innocent circumstances that look suspicious?"

"Explain."

"Before Earth Firefly was on good trading terms with some Autobots, secretly. Let's get that started back up."

Prowl considered it. "Who do you suggest?" A list of potential mechs already going through his head.

"Mirage, I think he'd be our best bet. Not many of our mechs here had much to do with her."

Prowl shook his head. "No. He was only around for a short time. If we're going to actually try and turn her we need someone who knew her well."

"Roulette." Jazz replied. "But she's still on Cybertron…So are most of her other contacts…Wait, wasn't she in contact with the Twins before she declared a personal war on Sideswipe?"

"Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are yours. Find out what you can. He wasn't the best after he shot her. If the Twins can't do it get Bumblebee or Mirage. As a last choice, yourself."

Jazz grinned. "I love your confidence in me."

Prowl allowed a small, rare smile. "I'd rather not risk our Third-in-Command and best assassin just yet."

He laughed. "You do know how to turn my head."

"Point it in the right direction and talk to the Twins….If you see him, could you send Mirage to me. I have something for him to do."

"Are you going to share your plan with me?"

"Maybe later."

Jazz laughed and left Prowl's office, hunting down his old apprentices.

Sunstreaker was relaxing in the mess hall when Jazz tracked them down. The cube of energon he'd been drinking sat abandoned on the table as he listened to what Jazz and Prowl wanted them to do. The subdued excitement coming from Sideswipe wasn't making his attitude any brighter.

"You're both insane. She hates us."

"You used to trade with her a lot."

Sunny scowled. "I went hoping to put a hole in her head. I'd have killed her long ago if I'd had my way."

Jazz turned to his brother. "What about you, Sides? Are you able to get in contact with her?"

Sunny watched angrily as Sideswipe made a show of thinking about it. In their shared bond he could feel anticipation radiating from Sideswipe. The idiot was going to take the mission.

Sides leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, I reckon I could do it. She liked me for a bit."

"Until you shot her." Jazz laughed.

Sunstreaker felt the flinch in his brother although nothing showed on his face except a smirk. The memory of that event had haunted the red twin for vorns after.

"Now that she's back I might be able to work some magic on her."

"O'course. Just remember, if ya cross a line there will be consequences. Find out what she's up to, if ya can turn her to our side that would be a plus."

Sideswipe mock saluted. Sunstreaker just wanted to beat his head against the table. Such sheer stupidity was astounding.

"What's the matter, Sunny?" Sideswipe asked, grinning that stupid smile.

He continued to glare at Jazz's retreating back. "I can't believe you're doing this…Actually I can, that's probably what makes me so angry."

"It won't be like last time."

He turned his blazing stare on his brother. "You're not going to make an aft of yourself over her again? You're not going to 'conveniently' be indisposed when she escapes? You're not going to mope when she ignores or attacks you? And when she dies, you're not going to disappear inside yourself again?"

Sunstreaker felt Sides pull away through their bond. He knew that later he'd regret saying these things but right now he was furious.

"I don't need you on this one, Sun."

"Good, because I'm not helping you get fragged up again."

Sideswipe shoved to his feet and took off after Jazz. Sunny punched the table.

Firefly flew over the dam first. It was fairly small in comparison to some of the others she'd targeted but it would be a good spot to start and her team would be able to handle it without the aid of the Stunticons.

She landed and summoned her crew. A couple of the small organics that worked on the dam came running out. She automatically translated the strange language.

"Are you an Autobot or Decepticon?"

Firefly pointed her blaster at it. "Take a guess." The human paled. Barricade and the others landed behind her. "If you do what I ask I won't kill you, agreed?"

It nodded.

"Good. My associate here will go into detail."

Stormcloud moved forward and crouched down to communicate at its level.

Satisfied that the project would go forward without a fight, Firefly studied the powerstation at a closer level. Barricade was nearby doing a similar inspection.

"What do you think?"

He nodded thoughtfully. "It has potential. A small enough plant not to attract Megatron's attention. I wouldn't put it past the Autobots to be tracking us though."

"We'll deal with that when the time comes."

So, Whatcha think? Keep going? Stop writing and burn all my supplies? Let me know.

Catch ya later lovelies,

TammyCat