CHAPTER 13

"So what are you down here for?" Shadowstar asked, looking out of the cell at the little Grub who had come into the room carrying a tool box and the speaker replacement.

The insect looked over at her. The female energy vampire was grinning like she had a few screws loose and it made him nervous. "I-uh. I'm here to fix the speaker," he replied heading over to the spot and propping up a ladder.

Shadowstar frowned. If he fixed the speaker she would have to put up with more of that annoying "Hail Zurg" anthem and she did not want that. "You don't need to do that," she told him.

"I must," he replied, not even looking at her as he got to work. "Evil Emperor Zurg commanded me to and I can't disobey him."

"Why not?" she asked, cocking her head. She didn't really care why but she figured the information might come in handy later.

"Because if I don't he'll squash me and I don't want to be squashed." it replied, shivering.

"Aww, you poor thing," she said, faking sympathy but sounding totally sincere. Maybe she could use this guy somehow. "That purple people eater sounds like a first class jerk."

The Grub turned on her, his expression horrified. "Don't say things like that!"

"Why not?" she asked, leaning back against the wall. She looked up at the ceiling. "I've already met your boss and I know how he acts." she looked at her taloned fingers, studying them. One looked chipped. No big deal. "He doesn't scare me. In fact he looks like a huge push over. Saying just the right thing would send him packing." she laughed. "Speaking of which. Why don't you tell me some stuff about him? Is he really responsible for creating that wannabe?"

The Grub had no idea what she was talking about. "What wannabe?"

"The other energy vampire," she responded, looking back at him. "He said he was responsible for creating it. Is that true?"

"Nos-4-A2?"

So that's his name. Nos-4-A2. What is that? Some kind of lame pun? She nodded. "Yeah, that guy."

"If Zurg said he did he did." The insect went back to his task, carefully taking down the remains of the speaker so he could install the new one.

She leaned against the bars, draping her arms between the bars so they hung on the outside. "Did you by any chance have a hand in that?"

He shook his head. "No, I work at the security monitors. I don't build things."

"Oh." she was disappointed. She was hoping he'd be able to tell her something about the energy vampire besides his name. "Who would I ask if I wanted to know that?"

"The brain pods are the ones who know all of that stuff," the Grub informed her. "You have to ask one of them."

Brain pods? Ew! "Where might I find one of these brain pods?"

"You can't," he told her, climbing down the ladder with the broken parts. "Prisoners aren't allowed to talk to the brain pods unless they're being used for experimentation."

Well she wasn't going to allow that kind of thing. She'd had enough of that on Cybertron with a certain Autobot scientist who felt it was his right to pry where he didn't belong. "Ah that's too bad." she folded her arms and sighed. For a moment there was a silence then she said. "You don't like Zurg, do you?"

"What makes you say that?"

She smiled, showing off her fangs. "Oh, it's easy to figure out," she told him. "If you did you wouldn't be talking to me and you wouldn't have asked me that." she licked her lips components. "You work for him because you're afraid of him, not because you're loyal. You'd rather be somewhere else, am I right?"

"I- I'm sorry but I can't talk to you anymore," the Grub went back up the ladder with the speaker.

Shadowstar smiled. She was getting to him. "You know, I can get you out of here if you like."

The Grub froze and turned slightly to look at her. "Really?"

"Oh sure," she said, looking at her nails. "If you just let me out I promise to help you leave the planet and if any evil robot tries to kill you I'll deal with it." she smiled seductively, something she only did to other transformers but figured it might work on organics too, especially stupid ones.

"How would you protect me from the robots?" he asked.

"Oh, that's easy," she said. "I'm a vampire robot. If any robot goes after you I'll just bite them and drain their energy so they can't hurt you. But don't worry," she said when she saw the look on his face. "I won't use them against you. So what do you say?"

The Grub wasn't sure, especially since the fembot said she was a vampire. "I don't know," he said, putting his hand on his chin. "If Zurg found out he'd be real angry."

"Who cares what he thinks?" she said, annoyed. "Once you're safely off the planet it won't matter what he does."

He still didn't look sure. "Well."

"Oh come on," she said. "What have you got to lose?"

"Let me go, you glitch brained pizza head!" Sari shouted, struggling to break out of Nos-4-A2's grasp. It was like trying to push a wall. Impossible. His grip was real strong. "I'm not your lunch! Put me down before I blow your head off!"

"You want to be put down?" Nos asked, looking at her with a sadistic grin. "Fine then." and he let go of her arms.

The techno organic girl plummeted toward the ground far below. She screamed as she fell, sure she was going to die. She closed her eyes as if doing so would keep her from feeling anything when her body impacted the pavement. Oh great. I'm going to die in this crazy universe.

But just when she would have splattered on the concrete the vampire swooped down, tightly grabbed her arms, and flew back into the air with her. Sari, feeling the sensation of going up, opened her eyes and watched as the ground fell away as she was taken high into the air. She looked up at the energy vampires face. He was looking down at her. He didn't look happy. "Still want me to let you go?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"Good," he said. "Then be a good little girl and keep your vocabulizer shut."

"Hey!"

He tightened his grip on her arms, causing her to cry out in pain. "I told you to shut up!"

"XR!" Buzz said when he and the others finally arrived at the casino. "What-" he stopped when he saw the look on the robot's face. "What happened?"

Prowl noticed right away what had happened. "Where's Sari?" he asked, looking right at the robot space ranger.

XR stared at him with what could on be described as a out of it expression. "Sari?" he said as if he didn't know who he was talking about. "She uh.."

"I said where is she?" Prowl demanded, stepping toward the robot. He glared down at him. "What happened to her?"

"It wasn't my fault!" the robot said, putting up his hands as if he expected the cyber ninja to hit him. "Nos-4-A2 snuck up on us and flew off with her. It happened so fast I couldn't do anything to stop him!"

"Nos-4-A2?!" Prowl turned to Buzz and the others. "That vampire you were talking about earlier?" when they nodded he shouted, his optics locked right on Lightyear. "Why didn't you tell me!?"

"With all due respect, Nos-4-a2 is not your problem," Lightyear informed him. "and we didn't think we would have to worry about him."

"So you chose not to tell me about him because he isn't my problem yet you admitted that he was on Trade World and on the loose!" the cyber ninja shouted, unable to find the logic in what the space ranger was saying. "I don't care if he isn't my business! You are going to to tell me everything about him once we find Sari!" he glared down at XR. "Which way did this vampire go?"

XR pointed into the air. "That way."

Prowl turned toward the sky, his intent clear, but before he could activate his jet pack and begin his pursuit, Buzz put a hand on his shoulder, preventing him from doing what he intended. "Hold it right there, Prowl," the space ranger said. "What do you think you're doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Prowl demanded turning to him. The robot's face held an expression that said the space ranger better watch what he said. "I'm going after that vampire and rescuing Sari!"

"By yourself?"

"Yes, by myself," Prowl said, shoving Lightyear's hand off. "Nos-4-A2 might be your little problem but Sari is my responsibility. That cancels out any form of authority you have about the villains in your world because he obviously doesn't have any respect for that seemingly unwritten rule. If you try to stop me you're going to regret it."

"I'm not going to stop you," Buzz said, activating his own set of wings. "I was going to say you can't take on Nos-4-a2 by yourself so we are coming with you."

"Fine," Prowl said, turning away from him. "Just don't get in my way."

"All right," Shadowstar said, stepping out of the cell after the Grub unlocked the door. "Which way is the way out?"

"That way," he said, pointing.

She headed in that direction, not even looking at him again.

The Grub, who intended to be sure she made good on her promise, though he had a bad feeling she wouldn't, followed her. "How do you plan on getting out of here without being spotted?" he asked.

She frowned down at him. Sparks! I was hoping he wouldn't take me up on my word. "I told you," she said, turning to him. "If I run into anyone I'm going to take care of them." she grinned, anticipating the feast, even if it did taste stale and generic. "Don't worry about it, my little insect friend." she raised her hand, imagining digging her talons into some weak, metal flesh. "Let's go. I don't want to hang out in this Pit forsaken cell dungeon any longer."

Being in the cell had caused her fear of confined spaces to flare up. A fear she didn't used to have but had kicked in after her arrest and re-imprisonment after her ordeal with Prowl. Being out of that cell made her feel better.

The Grub nodded and followed her out of the room. Just as the doors opened, two hornets came by. Shadowstar made quick work of them, biting into their fragile frames and draining all their energy. Right away she felt much better and her damage wing repaired itself. When she was finished she kicked the corpses to the side and glanced back at the Grub who looked freaked out. "Are you coming or not?" she was hoping he wouldn't. She didn't really want to be stuck with this thing until she returned to the planet where that wannabe was hiding.

He looked uncertain for a moment then padded toward her. She waited for him to stand beside her then rolled her optics and headed down the hall, saying over her shoulder. "You'd better keep up because I'm not going to wait around for you."

"Let's see how the prisoner is fairing," Zurg said, returning to the security feeds on the dungeon a half hour later. By then Grub he'd sent down to fix the speaker would have finished with his task and the fembot would be going crazy having to listen to the Zurg anthem. He put his hand on the back of the Grub at the monitor's chair and said. "Show me the feed for the dungeons."

The insect was quick to comply and a few seconds later the camera feed from the dungeon came to life. Zurg took one look at the screen and right away saw that something was wrong. "Where is she?!" he demanded.

"I don't know, your evilness," the Grub said, trembling. "Maybe she's just not where the camera can pick her up?"

"There's no where the camera can't pick her up!" Zurg shouted, looking at the insect like he was stupid. "Those cells aren't that deep!" he glared at the screen, gripping the chair with hands trembling with rage. Where could she be hiding? Upon closer inspection the reason for her lack of footage became clear. He pointed to the monitor. "Why is her cell door open?!"

The Grub couldn't answer. He didn't know because he'd fallen asleep at his post and totally missed the conversation between Shadowstar and the other Grub. Of course he wasn't going to tell Zurg that. He liked his head where it was.

Zurg glared at him. "You don't know?" he asked. "Weren't you watching the feed the entire time?"

"I uh.." the insect thought quickly. "I had a little coffee break."

"Coffee?! You don't even drink coffee!"

"I just found out I have a taste for it," the Grub replied, holding up a Big Gulp cup and sucking it down. "See?"

"Hmm," Zurg said, giving him a suspicious look. "Since when do we have Big Gulp coffee machines in the palace? Did you Grubs install one without telling me?"

"Oh no," the Grub said, shaking his head. In honesty, the Grubs and Brain Pods had, but he wasn't going to tell Zurg that. Caffeine and Zurg didn't mix well.

"Then where did you get that coffee?!" he demanded.

"..I uh, ordered out?"

"We're trying to take over the universe and your ordering out for coffee?! Oh sure just let Star Command know where we are!"

"They already do."

"Argh! Don't remind me!" Zurg looked back at the monitor. "Why aren't you rewinding the feed?!"

"Sorry your evilness," the Grub said, putting down the cup and rewinding the tapes.

Nos-4-A2 took Sari to another part of the city where neither she or the others had investigated yet in their search for Shadowstar. This place was dark and creepy and she could see robotic corpses littering the ground below her. The sight made her shiver and she closed her eyes to shut out the images but that did little good because they were imprinted in her mind. Did he drain those things? she wondered then answered her own question. Oh course he did! He's a creepy energy vampire! Where do you think he gets his power?

He's going to do the same thing to you, those bodies seemed to be saying, as if hearing her thoughts. Then you'll be nothing more than spare parts.

No! she thought determinedly. I'm not going to let this incu-bot make a meal out of my blood! She opened her hands, creating an orb between them. Let's see how he likes this.

Nos-4-A2 sensed the energy from the glowing sphere and looked down at her. When he saw what she was doing he let go of one of her arms. Sari shrieked, losing her concentration as she dropped until she felt a jerk on her left arm. She lifted her head. The energy vampire was still holding onto it so she wasn't going to fall.

But that hadn't been his intent in the first place and she knew that right away. He'd wanted to ruin her concentration which he'd succeeded in do. She glared up at him. "That wasn't funny," she said.

"Nor did I desire it to be, my dear," he told her, letting her dangle to teach her a lesson. "and if you try that again, I'll let go of both your arms."

The techno organic girl glared at him. "Jerk."

He laughed. "Is that the best you can think of? Come on, let's hear something better. Even the Little One has better insults than that."

Sari stared at him, startled. "You want me to insult you?!"

He laughed again but didn't say anything else. Instead he paused, hovering over the area, his wings flapping slowly up and down to keep him in the air. He seemed to be looking for something. When he found what he wanted, he banked then shot in another direction. Sari looked over her shoulder, hoping to see Prowl coming to save her. She knew he would. Prowl would never leave her to deal with this vampire by herself. She didn't really expect Buzz and his comrades to come and get her but she could always count on Prowl. Sadly he wasn't there either.

She sighed.

I hope somebody comes.

And just as she thought that something happened.

At that moment a blast of laser fire clipped the end of Nos-4-A2's left wing. Roaring in pain and shock, the robot vampire plunged toward the ground. Sari couldn't stop herself from screaming as they plummeted. They were falling too fast! Oh crap! I'm going to die!

Luckily Nos-4-A2 recovered just in time. Flapping his wings hard, he stopped the plunge then shot into the air, his grip on her arm tightening so not to lose his prize. When she heard him curse, she lifted her head and looked for the cause of his anger

Not too far away was Prowl and Buzz and his team. "Prowl!" Sari shouted to her friend, happy to see the cyber ninja. "I'm over here!"

"Silence!" Nos-4-A2 shouted at her.

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Now you're gonna get it, fang face!"

The cyber ninja must have heard her because he turned his head in her direction and pointed, shouting. "There!"

Prowl and the rangers turned and flew toward them

"Craters," Nos cursed. "How did they find me so easily?" he looked down at Sari. "You contacted them somehow, didn't you?"

"How could I contact anyone, sucker face?" she demanded, returning his glare. "Not that that will matter in a minute! My friend Prowl is gonna kick your blood sucking butt!"

"Oh really?" he looked up at Prowl and the space rangers. "Let's see how your friend likes this!" he raised his hand and shot a bolt of plasma and the oncoming rescuers.

"Plasma!" Buzz shouted when he saw it coming. "Break formation."

Everyone moved sideways to avoid being hit. Prowl, who was in front, moved up instead, not losing speed or sight on his target. His optics locked onto Nos-4-A2 who was hovering in the air, holding onto Sari's left arm. You're not going to keep her if I can help it. I won't let another vampire hurt the people I care about.

He added more power to his jet pack and pulled out two throwing stars. He intended to use them on the vampire.

Nos saw him coming. "Oh look, the prince has come to save his princess," he said, facing the cyber ninja. He flew toward him. "Sadly the prince is also a machine and therefore vunerable. Lovely."

Sari's eyes widened when she realized his intent. "Look out, Prowl!" she screamed. "He's going to bite you!"

"Huh?" Prowl looked right at Nos face and saw the fangs. The moment he saw the robot's teeth, something happened. Images of his encounters with Shadowstar flashed through his processor one after another. Just remembering them brought out an inner emotion. Panic.

Prowl didn't even think. He spun around and flew in the opposite direction.

"Hey!" Buzz shouted when Prowl flew past him. "Where are you going?"

He didn't answer, and just kept going.

Sari watched Prowl fly away, shocked that he had done such a thing. Why was he fleeing? What had caused him to do such a thing? Didn't he want to save her? "Prowl!" she shouted after him. "Don't leave me!"

Nos grinned. "Looks like your prince is really a frog."

"He'll be back!" she shouted, though something told her he wouldn't. "You'll see!"

"Too late to save you." he dodged the laser fire from the space rangers and took off in a different direction. "Let's play some tag, shall we?"

"Okay, which way do we go from here?" Shadowstar asked, looking down at the Grub.

"Well," he said, putting his hand on his chin. He studied the hallway for a moment. "Not this way. We went the wrong way. This leads to the brain pod labs."

"Brain pods." she remembered what he'd said about brain pods probably knowing about Nos-4-A2's creation. "Good." she started down the hall. Maybe they can tell me how I can kill that son of a glitch.

"Hey!" the Grub called to her. "I said that's the wrong way."

She grinned at him. "Not for me."

"No, wait! you can't go in there!" he shouted, following her. "What do you think you're doing?"

She glared at him. "And why not?"

He trembled nervously. "It might not be a good idea."

"I'll be the judge of that." then she turned away and headed into the lab.

The Grub stood still for a moment then followed her in.

"He let her out?!" Zurg slammed his fist on the control panel. "Why that sniveling little insect! How dare he let my valuable prisoner out!"

"What are you orders, your evilness?" the Grub asked, looking up at him.

"Fine them!" Zurg shouted. "And when you do bring them to me!"

Why are you running? a voice in Prowl head screamed as he flew away. You have to save Sari! You can't go whimp now!

I can't!

Why can't you?

Prowl couldn't explain it. I just can't!

Since when have you ever run from anything? You've taken out some of the worst enemies in the universe but the moment you encounter a vampire that's not from your universe you turn chicken and run?

I couldn't help it!

Maybe you're right. Maybe the reason you ran is because you don't want to go against another vampire. You're afraid of being controlled again.

Don't be silly, he argued, shaking his head. Why would I be afraid of something so trivial?

Because it happened before and it could happen again? Remember, you still have those viruses in your system. If you get bitten again they will wake up and who knows what will happen to you.

"That's not what I'm worried about," he said, stopping, and landing on the roof of a casino building. "I just don't want to deal with that kind of thing so soon." he punched the neon light fixture, breaking it off it's base. It fell toward the street below but he didn't notice. "I thought I was ready! I thought it hadn't effected me but it did and now.." he ran his hand over his neck, feeling the area where Shadowstar had bitten him. The metal there wasn't smooth like the rest of his body. It was a little lumpy where the fang marks had been. "Now thanks to this irrational fear, I can't even save Sari."

But you can't let that vampire keep her. If you do it will just wind up a repeat of what happened to you only with the roles switched. Do you want Sari to suffer that same fate?

The cyber ninja shook his head. "No," he activated his jet pack and shot into the air. "I can't let that happen. Not to Sari."

A/N

Please don't tell me to update real fast. I'm already updating this pretty quickly so as it is.