A/N- Ha! So much for not knowing when I can next update! Fairly short chapter though, this one. Although there's quite a bit covered- will be interesting to see what you think. Maybe I'll go in and edit some bits later, we'll see.

Chapter 13

"After you."

"No, after you."

"No really, I insist."

"Oh, for crying out loud…" Alexis pushed past Frenzy, and stepped out of the gloom of the supermarket, into the car park.

She saw the huge feet of Starscream first, and the feet of Thundercracker beyond. The guards flanked the door, more upright than Alexis had ever seen them before. Long Haul was glaring down at them as they emerged. She could feel Frenzy behind her, pushing out the other trolley they had loaded.

Keep it together.

She didn't have to work hard to feign the look on her face- her mind was still spinning from all that had passed. What had happened to a quiet existence?

"Is… something wrong?" she asked innocently.

Thundercracker glanced down at her briefly, and back to Starscream, who was scanning the landscape, a frown of concentration on his features.

"Anything?" he asked his commander quietly.

It was a while before Starscream shook his head. His lips were curled in a small sneer of suspicion, and he stared with narrowed optics, beyond the building and out into the countryside beyond.

Long Haul shifted, desperate to speak, but clearly unsure whether he should. Finally he could restrain himself no longer.

'I know what I sensed, my Lord. It was one of them, I would not waste your time, I assure…"

Starscream gestured irritably. "Yes, yes…"

His stare shifted down, to Frenzy and Alexis on the ground. "There is, as it turns out, a simple solution Long Haul. If, as you say, there was an… enemy… here, Frenzy would have sensed him also. Frenzy?"

Frenzy reluctantly looked up.

"Did you sense the presence of another inside there?"

"No," squeaked Frenzy, answering far too quickly. Alexis groaned internally. He really is a rubbish liar…

Starscream's foot shifted forward, only a tiny fraction, but the meaning behind the movement was deadly clear. Frenzy stood his ground, but he shook, almost imperceptibly, and Alexis knew it was only a matter of time before he cracked.

Thundercracker lifted an arm and aimed his weapon at the Tesco store. "Take the roof off?" he suggested, glancing at the other seeker.

Her mind began to work frantically. Starscream couldn't be allowed to discover Sari and Bumblebee. He just couldn't. Alexis was still glowing from her encounter with Bumblebee- there was something about the autobot that had drawn her in- everything about him radiated cheer and warmth. She liked him. And yet- he was a Cybertronian. He may have been frightened by the two seekers, but he had weapons of his own. He could look after himself, as far as she was concerned. But Sari…

Starscream mustn't get hold of her. Her best friend was terrified of Starscream, and something told Alexis he would not show mercy to Sari if he found her, especially in the company of an autobot. With a shudder she knew, after he had finished with them, he would certainly turn his attention to Alexis… she seriously doubted that their new, tentative friendship would hold after a discovery such as this. All their lives were at stake. She had to do something, fast.

Her insides twisted as an idea formed. This was going to be humiliating. Time to play the dumb human. Time to play… she swallowed the revulsion… the dumb pet.

She ran forward. "Starscream! It's… my fault. All of this…"

She felt the heat of his gaze fall on her, and looked at the ground meekly. Beside her, Frenzy gawked.

Then his hand came down, and scooped her up.

She looked into his face. "I… there is something in there… and I told Frenzy not to tell anyone, because I didn't want Long Haul or anyone else to kill it. I'm... sorry... I didn't know it was important…"

"Ha!" crowed Long Haul. "Wise human, telling the truth. Only a fool would think of lying to our leader."

"I see that now." Careful… not too grovelling, or he'll definitely suspect…

"I can go in and get it." she went on beseechingly, turning back to Starscream. "Please… don't destroy the roof, you might… hurt…"

Starscream raised an eyebrow. "And you're sure you will be able to encourage them to come out and face us, Alexis…?"

She nodded, and after a tense pause, he lowered her to the ground. She leapt lightly off his hand and trotted into the store, feeling the optics of them all boring into her. Anxiously she hurried to the aisle she was looking for, praying the object of her search would still be there. Sure enough, the brown cat was licking the floor where she had left it, making absolutely sure it had eaten every scrap of cat food.

Alexis lifted the cat into her arms, but hesitated before leaving. The large shop was completely silent. She shuffled curiously to the corner of the shelves, and looked down the room to the doors at the end. They were shut. She fought the tremendous urge to tiptoe down and check…

No. She would be endangering them further. With the heavy weight of frustration on her heart, she headed for the exit, the cat held snuggled to her chest.

"Work with me here, OK, sweetheart?" she whispered to the cat, burying her face in it's fur. The cat mewed, pleased with some attention after many months alone.

As she emerged into the daylight again, Long Haul peered down at the cat, and snarled angrily.

"That's not it!"

"What?" she feigned bewilderment. "But… this was inside…"

Starscream was starting to look thoroughly un-amused at the whole lot of them. His arms were folded and his optics smouldered dangerously. Long Haul whirled round to face him.

"That's just a crude quadruped! There's no end of those around here! I wouldn't summon you for that! I swear, it was an auto…"

Starscream delivered a sharp smack to the back of Long Haul's head before he could finish. He looked down. Alexis was bent over the creature, stroking its head. She didn't appear to have heard. Beside her, Frenzy poked the cat cluelessly, causing it to recoil in her arms. Long Haul clutched his head, a mutinous expression on his face. But clearly Sideways' unpleasant death that morning was at the forefront of his processor, and presently he straightened obediently to attention, staring ahead.

Starscream gave a snarl of impatience. "It seems I must do everything around here," he spat. He pointed his null ray at the guards. "What are you standing there staring for? Make yourselves useful! Patrol the perimeter!" He fired at the ground near their feet, and they stumbled backwards, almost tripping over each other in their haste. They bowed hastily to Starscream, and marched off around the corner and out of sight. Without looking down, he spoke again.

"Alexis. Frenzy. Put that thing down. Before I decide to incinerate it."

They did so hurriedly. Alexis nudged the cat with her foot to get it to move away, and to her horror it wandered in the direction of Thundercracker. She didn't have time to worry about that though, as Starcream's fingers were encircling her again, and lifting her, up, up, to optic level.

"Are you angry with me?" she asked humbly, her hands resting on his forefinger as it lightly encompassed her.

His expression softened, just a fraction. He reached out with a digit and gently rubbed the back of her neck where her hair stopped, tousling the curls.

"Don't concern yourself with any of this, Alexis," he murmured, moving away from the supermarket slightly. He turned so that his body blocked the view of the building. "Long Haul will take you home."

Home… Below her, Long Haul had transformed, and Frenzy was loading him up. On the ground, the cat nuzzled and rubbed itself against Thundercracker's feet as he stared over towards the supermarket, oblivious. She couldn't see, but it sounded as though at least one of the guards had completed his patrol already and arrived back at the front.

Alexis strove to keep her face free of worry, but inside she feared for the two beings crouching in the loading area. She hoped Bumblebee's signal mask wouldn't fail again, as it seemed that was the reason for the decepticons' confusion, and the only thing keeping them safe. As long as that held, and she gave Starscream no cause to suspect, they would be all right. Wouldn't they? She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped, changing her mind.

"What is it, Alexis?"

If I ask, it'll look suspicious. If I don't ask, it'll look suspicious…

"What did Long Haul think was in there?" she asked, finally.

He paused before answering.

"An enemy. An enemy of you and I."

"Oh." She assumed a confused expression. "But there's no one…"

"You would certainly tell me, wouldn't you Alexis, if you saw anything?"

"Of course I would! I'm on your side now, remember? Your enemy is also mine," she answered vehemently. Sort of true. I sooo deserve a Bafta for this.

His face split into a pleased smirk. "Indeed. I value your loyalty, Alexis, more than you can imagine."

He turned his head and addressed Thundercracker in Cybertronian, for a few minutes it seemed, passing something unseen to the other seeker. Thundercracker looked very taken aback. Then he recovered, closed his huge fist around an object in his palm, saluted and transformed, shooting off into the sky.

"Where did he go?"

She wasn't expecting an answer. But he replied: "Back to the base. You will go back now as well, in Long Haul."

"So I will see you back there?"

"No. I will stay here for a while, until I have performed some checks and am satisfied. You and I will talk some time later."

Her heart shrank within her chest, but she maintained her calm disguise. "Oh, OK."

************

They arrived back at the base. Frenzy and Alexis leapt down from Long Haul's cab in the main hall. The first thing she saw was the other humans, being herded in a procession from the slave quarters, by Thundercracker and Blackout. They were heading for the exit. A few of them were clutching items from the containers- blankets, clothes, and food. At the rear were Charlie and Ben, with Rose.

"What… what's going on?"

Alexis dropped the bag containing baby food and started to run towards them, but Long Haul's hand came down in front of her, barring the way.

"Starscream says you're to wait in the hall," he growled. "Go on…"

"Wha… No! Let me pass, I want to speak to them! What's happening?"

At her shouting, Thundercracker looked up. He gestured to Long Haul to let Alexis through, which he did with a growl.

"Thundercracker… where are they going?"

"Starscream's orders," replied the blue seeker. "These humans are no longer needed. I was told to dispose of them as I see fit."

At the paling of her face, he added: "… I see fit to release them quickly before everyone gets back. Others will not be so happy to pass up the chance for some… fun."

Sure enough, Blackout, at his side, looked most annoyed to be letting so many puny creatures past him without being allowed to step on so much as a single one.

"They've got two earth hours in which to make themselves small and scarce. I cannot guarantee their safety once they are out of here."

So soon… she did not think he would honour her request so soon…

"Please, can I say goodbye?"

Thundercracker paused, reluctantly. "You were to be taken straight to the hall…"

Then he sighed. "Fine. One minute."

At this, Charlie broke away from the stragglers at the back, and ran to Alexis.

"Did you enjoy your nights stay?" Alexis joked weakly. She could feel her eyes beginning to burn with tears.

"I don't get it… why are they letting us go? You're coming, yeah?"

She shook her head, blinking furiously. "I don't think so," she whispered.

Then she turned, and gathered up the baby things as best she could. "Here. I got them for Rose, so you may as well take what you can. Get somewhere safe, yeah?"

"But…"

"Quick! You'd better hurry, they're opening the doors… and I never got to say thanks… for looking after me in Alton Towers and being a friend to me. Maybe I'll see you again…"

Ben had joined them, looking extremely puzzled, Rose snuggled in the sling. Alexis thrust some more goods into his free arm and hugged him, then kissed Rose gently on the cheek. The baby gurgled nonsensically.

Alexis smiled through her tears. "Goodbye." Then she hugged her, pulling her close. With her mouth next to Charlie's ear, she whispered four words, a frantic message from human to human, a beacon of hope passed between two minds.

"The autobots are real."

Behind them, Thundercracker folded his arms impatiently. "Come on."

Charlie was shaking her head, eyes wide. "But what…"

"I said come ON." Thundercracker stamped once, and the two humans detached themselves from the girl, and fled to catch up with the others, Charlie glancing back one last time…

Alexis had been reunited with two friends in as many days, and both times they had been cruelly snatched away, with no telling if or when she would see them again. The injustice of it threatened to overwhelm her.
She stood head bowed, shoulders slumped, tiny in the huge space. Far away down the long long corridor, the huge doors were opened. The late afternoon light streamed in, and the humans rushed out, no doubt fearing some dreadful trick. Then with a metallic boom the doors were closed once more, and she was alone. The only human left. Long Haul walked past her with arms full of what had remained in the quarters- food, blankets and other random objects. "Come into the main hall," he said gruffly. "Starscream wants you and Frenzy to wait in here."

He strode ahead of her and deposited the things high up on one of the tables. Then he set out for one of the other doors. Frenzy and Alexis were left alone in the doorway.

She began walking to the table, Frenzy alongside her, babbling nervously.

"He knows. Oh Primus. He knows, and when he gets back, he's going to torture us both…"

Alexis rolled her eyes. "It's fine."

"No, no nonono…" Frenzy moaned. "This is what he always does, OK? He makes you think you're off the hook, then… BAM! And you're in the repair bay for fifty solar cycles. If you're lucky…"

"Look, he bought my little cat story, alright? He doesn't know."

"He'll probably scrap me first," muttered Frenzy feverishly, not listening to her, wringing his servos as they crossed the vast space together. "Then he'll start on you, and believe me, he likes to take his time. Then when you've begged for death and he's finally obliged, I'll have to clear up, and then…"

Alexis stopped dead and stared at him in disgust. "Will you shut up, all right? Bloody hell! You're making me jumpy!"

She reached the table leg, and began to climb up the rungs set into the metal. Frenzy followed, still muttering morbidly to himself. As she climbed onto the surface, Thundercracker re-appeared in the hall, and approached. He stopped in front of the table.

Alexis wasn't in the mood, frankly she wanted to be left alone. She flopped down onto a pile of blankets Long Haul had put there, despondent and worried.

Thundercracker's voice rumbled above her. "Starscream wanted me to give you something. He said it was the token he promised you."

Token? Her head snapped up. Of course… the promise on the hill. In spite of herself, she sat up, curiously.

Thundercracker opened his hand, and something small fell into her lap. She stared at it, and for a few seconds she didn't take it in.

She looked up at Thundercracker. "Is this for real?"

"Starscream said to tell you it is a token of trust," rumbled Thundercracker. Then he turned and left the room.

She stared at the black rectangle for a while longer, before tentatively reaching out, hardly daring to believe it. She turned it on and the screen lit up. No signal, of course. What had she expected?

She settled herself into the blankets, pulling them around her, her heart beating out a frantic, bewildered rhythm. Her world had become a rollercoaster once more, spinning her this way and that, with no time to draw breath. He had said he would give her a token, a sign that she should trust him. And she had forgotten about it- she had definitely had enough to be thinking about since then. She had not expected this, not in a million years.

Her head spun alarmingly- when had she last eaten? And how much sleep had she had in the last few days? She slumped back on the blankets, succumbing to true exhaustion at last. No more… I just want to sleep… "Frenzy," she called sleepily. "I don't think we need to worry anymore."

She slept, deeply. Later on she would realise it was the deepest sleep she'd had since her arrival at the base. The hall gradually filled with decepticons, they came and went, and still she slept, buried in the blankets on the table top, mouth slightly open, curled up, exhaustion making her deaf to the metallic sounds as the huge mechs banged in and out, arguing, joking, scheming… Some came and watched her curiously, but no one disturbed her, for it was now common knowledge that she was closely linked to their leader, for whatever reason. Therefore she was left alone. Everyone knew you didn't touch Starscream's things.

She didn't even wake when a hand reached for her sometime later, picking her up. She just stirred in the covers, and slept on. It was only later when a group of mechs burst into raucous laughter at a joke down that end of the hall did she half wake, opening her eyes reluctantly.

"Did you like your token, Alexis?" said a voice above her softly. Starscream was settled in his throne-like chair, his massive wings soaring above her.

Blinking sleepily, she nodded. He watched her draw the blankets around her, then rub her eyes.

"How long have you been gone?" she asked quietly.

"A few hours."

She nodded, and lay back, eyes closed. "And…?"

"It was a most rewarding excursion. I brought back a special guest."

As his words sunk in, she sat up, frowning, her curls sticking out from her head. "…What?"

The familiar smile spread across his face. She turned round, and peeped out between his fingers. Down the far end, a group of decepticons were hauling a huddled shape, wrapped in a tarpaulin-like cover, into the hall. Inside, something struggled and moaned, metal limbs clashing on the floor as it was dragged along. Cruel laughter rang through the room.

Alexis crouched low in Starscream's hand, not trusting herself to look round at him. He rose and moved down the hall, towards the table. On the floor, a hand protruded from the tarpaulin. The jet viciously crunched it beneath his foot as he placed Alexis back on her table. Below, a pained cry rent the air and the cover thrashed.

"I haven't even started yet, filth." Starscream thought for a moment, watching the thing below as it trembled under the cover.

"Take him to the Examination Room."

Cheers and catcalls erupted from the decepticons, and they dragged the unfortunate hidden prisoner out of the hall. Quiet descended again, as mechs rushed out to accompany the jeering procession. Starscream turned back to Alexis, who lay frozen. One hand loomed, pulling another blanket on top of her. "Go back to sleep, little decepticon," he said softly. He lightly stroked her hair. Then he straightened up, flexing his powerful hands, readying them for crueller work. Anticipation flared in his optics. He strode off to join the others.