Author's Notes:

Sckid: Thank you. And I'm glad that I'm making you happy. I write for my own pleasure, but if I can make a lot of people happy in the process, it makes it that much better.

Sweetyamiyugigirl: Most of your questions are answered this chapter. In fact, one of them was actually the inspiration for part of it. Have fun!

Baby bumble bee: Glad you're enjoying this.

Koi: Thank you. I'm glad that you're having a blast with it.

Chapter 7: Skywarp's Mutiny

"Are you Sari Sumdac?"

Sari turned to find herself facing two girls in the small boutique in Detroit's high end shopping district. She had come here looking for a birthday gift for her father. He didn't really approve of her going out on her own, but she loved to go out like this. "Yeah." she said simply.

The two girls gave each other satisfied looks. "We just, well-" the blonde began.

"We wanted to know what the Autobots are like." her brunette companion stated. She had the look of a spoiled brat to her, Sari thought unkindly.

"Why do you want to know?" she countered, not liking this conversation even though she usually suffered through it with better humor.

"We're curious." the brunette stated.

The blonde glanced at her friend and then back at Sari. "Is it scary hanging out with all those robots?"

For some reason, the simple question ticked Sari off to no end. "What kind of question is that? Of course not. The Autobots aren't scary at all!"

"No, I was just asking about the robots, not the men."

It suddenly hit Sari that the girl didn't understand the arrangement. "Don't you understand? The robots and the men are one being. The robots are just as gentle as the men."

The blonde looked confused while the brunette huffed. Sari continued her rant. "Think of it like this. The men are what's inside of those robots. Who is your favorite?"

The brunette didn't answer, obviously deciding that Sari was a major bitch. The blonde hesitated. "Optimus Prime." she finally blurted.

Sari nodded. "Have you ever noticed that his Handler's face always wears the same expression that his Companion's does?"

The girl nodded. Sari cocked her head. "And has it occurred to you that his Handler is shaped just like his Companion?"

The blonde wrinkled her nose. "Shaped?"

"Yeah. They both have broad shoulders, lean hips, and long legs. They have the same body type." she explained.

The blonde's face lit up as she realized what Sari was talking about. "Oh! You're right!" The girl looked down and then back up. "I guess . . . I guess you're right about the robots not being that . . . Scary after all."

Sari smiled and nodded. "The 'robots' are called Handlers."

The blonde nodded. "Thanks."

"You never answered the original question." the brunette huffed. She was not impressed by her friend's epiphany.

Sari gave the girl a cool glance. "They're like you would think they are. Optimus Prime is shy, Prowl hates attention, Bumblebee is hyper, Bulkhead is a sweetie, and Ratchet is a grouch. Now, excuse me because I must be on my way."

The brunette sneered while the blonde glanced at her friend worriedly. Sari strode out of the boutique; sorry that she was probably going to be the reason the poor blonde would have to put up with a sullen friend. She was angry at the brunette for being rude, but it was the blonde's words that really got to her. She knew that some people were still wary of the Handlers, but she didn't realize that it was to the point that fan girls were afraid of one half and attracted to the other.

This led to Sari wondering if she was only attracted to one half of Prowl. She knew undeniably that she was attracted to his Companion, but what about his Handler? She conjured his Handler's image in her mind. He shared Prowl's build; short and muscular, but at the same time lithe. His Handler's face had the same slightly aristocratic structure of his Companion's. She knew for sure that she didn't find the Handler repugnant, but if his Companion was not around would she still be attracted to him?

Sari froze when she realized that the answer was yes. Yes, she would still be attracted to Prowl even if he had no Companion because the Companion was not all that he was. Companion or Handler didn't matter because her attraction was to who he was, not what he was. She realized that what she had told the blonde girl was right; the Companions were what was inside the Handlers.

"The men within the machines." she whispered to herself, not realizing how that very truth rung across time and space.

Optimus-Companion scanned the park, hoping that he wasn't too late, even though his chronometer had recorded this as the exact time that he was to meet Jezebel. He fidgeted, and then realized what he was doing. He hadn't fidgeted since he was little mech and his mother had been staying a long time in the medic's office . . .

"Hi."

The husky voice floated over Optimus-Companion from behind. He turned to see Jezebel holding up a bag. "I stopped by BurgerBot to grab some supper. Would you like some fries?"

His Companion smiled. "Sure."

Jezebel sat down heavily. "Gah, today was rough. I feel so worn out."

"I can sympathize. Sometimes I wonder why I ever wanted to be a leader." he said.

She cocked one black brow. "Really?"

He sat back, slouching slightly. "It's okay when I'm doing things that are for the good of all like leading my mechs into a burning building to save a child, but at other times, being the only one with a level head has led me to doing things that I've regretted ever since."

Jezebel nodded. "I see. So, what's you're home world like?"

He smiled. "Not to far from Earth in some places. The climate is slightly different though. This place reminds me of my youth. I grew up in a rural area."

"You did?"

"Yes. At least until my mother died."

Jezebel made a sad face. "That's horrible. How did she die?"

Optimus-Companion's eyes were far away. Jezebel realized that he was deep in the past. "She had a mental illness that no therapy could seem to help. She lost the will to live, and that alone is more than enough to kill a Cybertronian."

Jezebel had been in the middle of chewing her hamburger, but stopped when he said that. "Whoa."

"Yes." he said. "My father had died vor-years before. He had been in the Security Forces, and he was called in to help put down an uprising on a distance world. I was only a birthling when he died."

"That's so sad." she murmured. "I can't imagine how you got through that. My father and mother were healthy and my family is a happy one."

"Then I'm glad." he responded. "I do not wish what happened to me on anyone."

They sat in silence for a few moments while Jezebel ate her burger. She swallowed and then turned back to him. "So tell me, how long do you plan on being here?"

Optimus started a bit. "I do not know. We're trying to contact our superiors, but so far there has been no response."

"Oh." she said. "Well, at least you won't be leaving soon."

He cocked a brow. She smiled in reply. "I like being around you. I'd like to get to know you."

He was stunned speechless. The look on his face was probably comical because Jezebel began to laugh. "Look, I'd chat more, but I need to get home to do chores. Same time tomorrow?"

Optimus recovered enough to nod. "Until tomorrow Jezebel." he said as she rose.

She returned the nod. "Until tomorrow Optimus."

He watched her walk away, wondering what exactly to make of her.

Blackarachnia watched Prime walk away, sneering at the mech who had left her behind. His sob stories were doozies, she'd give him that, but he was still a prick who deserved to be beaten. "What's wrong Blackarachnia?"

She turned to her new lackey. Skywarp had stuck around after yesterday, and even though she thought at first that it would be a stroke of luck, she wasn't so sure anymore. Skywarp was cute in a puppy-ish sort of way, but Blackarachnia was so used to being all alone that she was still adjusting to his presence. "Optimus Prime and I go way back, and not in a good way."

Skywarp nodded, suddenly hopeful. "Would you like me to destroy him?"

Blackarachnia-Companion's eyebrow rocketed up. Where had he gotten the courage to suggest that? "No, I've got other plans for Prime."

Skywarp drooped a bit. "I was hoping to make you happy." he murmured.

She felt a twinge for him. "Look, I appreciate the company and the sentiments, but I'm used to being alone. You'll just have to get used to it." she said, in a disgustingly gentle tone. She couldn't let herself loose her resolve! Just because this one damn mech would look at her with his big eyes . . . "Skywarp, go home!"

He jumped at her cry. "But . . . I'd rather be here! You protect me!"

Blackarachnia felt like slapping her face. "Skywarp, I like to visit with you, but being around you for twenty-four hours straight has gotten on my last nerve. Go home! Starscream has to be looking for you!"

Skywarp realized that she was right, and when he did get back, Starscream would probably be furious. His Companion gulped audibly. "You're right. I need to get back."

Blackarachnia watched him leap into the air and transform, his Companion deftly flipping around into the open cockpit. She felt bad for him again, but she would feel bad for anyone who had to deal with Starscream on a regular basis.

She turned back to watching the park path in front of her. Memories of the conversation between Prime and Jezebel whirled in her head. How could she use this to her further advantage?

Grimlock observed the one called Ratchet with an air of curiosity. The old medic moved slowly around the lab while gathering the tools he would need to complete his repairs on Grimlock-Handler. "You Ratchet need help?"

"No, you stay there on the table. I need to do one last thing to your Handler and you'll be done." Ratchet replied.

Grimlock nodded, his eyes and optics going to the scar over Ratchet-Companion's eye, and the broken chevron on Ratchet-Handler's forehead. "What happened to you Ratchet's eye?"

Ratchet unconsciously reached up to touch his scarred eye and chevron. "It happened during the war." he answered gruffly. "And that's all I'll say about it!"

Grimlock cocked his head and then looked down at his Companion's shirtless body. His Companion touched the punctures that peppered his torso. "Me Grimlock remember these."

Ratchet froze. "You do?" "Yes. Me Grimlock was . . . Not me Grimlock. Me Grimlock is confused." he said, grabbing his head. "So confused! Me Grimlock remember, but the memories not be mine. I do not know this sister . . . This mother . . . This father . . . This mate. Me Grimlock is alone. Me Grimlock have no family. Me Grimlock is a freak!"

Ratchet was silent for a moment. He sighed heavily, realizing that he was about to be emotionally attached against his will, again. Deep inside the grouch beat the heart of a true softie, and Ratchet could not help what he decided to do. "You're not alone Grimlock. You may not have the family that you're body remembers, but you have me."

Grimlock looked up, utterly shocked. He'd only been around Ratchet a few days, but a few days were more than enough to know that Ratchet did not get touchy-feely ever. "You Ratchet mean it?" "When I was younger I always imagined settling down and raising sparklings. Can't tolerate em though. At least you're an adult when I got cha." Ratchet said with a sly wink.

Grimlock-Companion smiled. "Does you Ratchet have mate?"

Ratchet's eyes and optics grew distant. "No, there's no one waiting for me at home Grimlock. Never has been."

Grimlock nodded. "That's sad. Everyone should have someone."

Ratchet snorted and shot exhaust. "Well, for now, you and I have each other."

Grimlock waiting until the medic had gotten close. Before Ratchet could do anything, Grimlock swept him into a tight hug. "Thank you Papa Ratchet."

Ratchet-Companion blushed. "No problem Grimlock. Now, put me down!"

Starscream stared down at Skywarp with a mixture of anger and curiosity. "Where have you been?" Skywarp looked up with an expression of fear. "I was patrolling like you wanted me to."

Starscream wasn't buying it. "Don't give me that claptrap! Where were you Skywarp?! I had Thundercracker and Ramjet searching the entire city for you!" Skywarp shook his head. "I was patrolling outside the city, I swear it!"

"I don't believe you!" Starscream screeched. "Where were you?!"

Skywarp, for once in his existence, gathered up all of his courage. "I'm not going to tell you!"

The bridge of the Nemesis grew incredibly quiet. All of the clones of Starscream - not to mention the original - were utterly speechless in the face of Skywarp's courage. Slipstream was the first to recover, but she said nothing. Instead she savored the knowledge that soon Starscream's reign would end without her interference. If Skywarp was going to begin showing open defiance of his role - of his piece of Starscream's soul - then soon anarchy would rule.

Starscream was next to recover and his anger raged even higher. "What do you mean you won't tell me?! You will speak or else I will make your life a living hell!"

Skywarp shook his head. Starscream's punch was lightening fast, but Skywarp dodged nimbly. He slid underneath his opponent, but did not counterattack. If he was lucky, Starscream would throw him in the brig for a long time, but eventually let him out. If he returned fire, Starscream would kill him, and have no mercy in doing so.

Starscream swung around and leveled his null rays on Skywarp. "You will cease this mutiny and tell me!"

"No!" Skywarp screamed.

Starscream fired, catching Skywarp in the chest. The purple Seeker fell heavily to the floor, his chest armor smoking. His Companion's body was boneless, and for a moment Thundercracker, Ramjet, Slipstream, and Sunstorm thought that their comrade was dead. "Take him down to Earth and throw him on the side of a road somewhere." Starscream commanded.

"What oh great leader?" Sunstorm asked, his sycophantic comment delivered in a surprised tone.

"I said, take him down to Earth and dump him! If he won't follow my orders he is not welcome here!" Starscream screeched.

"Of course not Lord Starscream!" Ramjet said.

Slipstream strode over and hauled up her fellow clone. "I'll take care of it."

Starscream walked over and placed a kiss on her forehead. "That's my girl."

Slipstream sashayed out, secretly pleased with Skywarp. She patted his head as she made her way to the air lock. "Good job. Now all I've got to do is turn Thundercracker and Ramjet against Sunstorm, and my plans can come to fruition so much sooner than expected!"