CHAPTER 2

When I woke up there was food by my cot and Megatron was gone. I'd finished getting ready when Barricade walked in, with Wheelie and Frenzy strutting behind him. I waved. "Good morning." Barricade frowned. "What's so good about it?"

I shoved my hands on my hips. "Well, for one thing, I'm alive. Another thing is I'm not crazy… too bad I can't say the same for you." Wheelie snorted and Barricade revealed a ghost of a smile.

Frenzy grinned. "See? I told you she was alright." Barricade nodded. "So, you aren't an normal human." I grinned. "Thank you!"

Wheelie looked at me. "You have everything?" I tilted my head. Blankets had appeared on my bed this morning, along with a warm blanket. I looked down at my mud soaked clothes and frowned.

"Well…" His head tilted. "What?" I shrugged. "I could use a change of clothes is all." Wheelie looked up what I meant on the internet. "Urgh. Why do you humans even wear all those layers?"

I blushed, but avoided the question. Barricade nodded. "I will see what I can do." I frowned. "That's alright. It's kinda something you gotta do yourself. I'll make do."

Frenzy shook his head. I don't know when they decided they were my friends, but I was cool with that. "Unacceptable." I frowned. "Well, I don't think Megatron will let me leave." I scowled at the thought. "I'll ask him though."

"But who would take me?" Barricade raised his hand.

"I will. So long as you do not irritate me too much, I promise to bring you back in one piece." I wasn't sure whether he was joking or not until I caught the look that Wheelie shot Frenzy.

"We'll go too." I smiled. "How? It's not like you blend-" Just then Frenzy… transformed. There was no other word for it. In his place was a sleek cellphone. "Woah." I looked up at Barricade. "Can you-?" he nodded, trying not to look smug.

I looked at Wheelie. "Sorry." He frowned. "I'm coming too!" I gasped as he transformed into a toy remote control truck. Then I chuckled. "Wheelie, if you go into the store like that, people will think I'm stealing you."

A sigh escaped the truck. "Fine, but I'm still going." I smiled. "That's great, but I still have to ask. Even if he says yes I have to pay for it somehow." The two smaller bots frowned until Barricade spoke. "If you can get Lord Megatron to agree to the trip, then leave the payment to me."

I grinned. "Thank you. Do you have any idea where he is?" They shook their heads. "Well, can I have a tour then?" Barricade smirked as he offered me his hand. "I thought you'd never ask."

After the tour, I ate lunch and Barricade had to leave for scouting duty. Then me, wheelie and Frenzy talked for a while. They were hilarious. They cussed a lot, but only in cybertronian. I giggled at their impersonations of mechs I'd never even met. Frenzy, I think, overstated his bravery just a tad. He probably wouldn't say half the things he did if the other mechs were in hearing distance. I didn't get to ask Megatron about the trip to town till that night. I explained the situation.

"So," I looked up at him with hopeful eyes. "can I go?" His face had gone more depressing as I spoke, but I asked anyways. He frowned. "How did they convince you of this?

I shook my head. "They didn't! They asked if I needed anything and I mentioned a change of clothes." He frowned. "Are you sure they didn't force you?" I snorted. "Of course not. Besides, I'd like to see them try to force me to do anything." Megatron just shook his head.

"I don't like you going off by yourself." I frowned. "Why not?"

"I don't trust them." I rolled my eyes. "Whatever happened to the 'My men are loyal' thing you had going?" He frowned. "I do trust them. I just don't trust them with your safety."

I crossed my arms. "Gee, I didn't know you cared. So what now? I have to have clothes and you're not exactly the definition of stealth." He stared at me. "How do I know they'll keep you safe?"

I thought. Then an idea came. "Hey! I got it!" I dug around in my pocket. Finally I found what I was looking for. "Here!" I showed him my phone. "You can call me on this if you need to, or I can call you… I don't know if that would work though…"

He looked at me strangely. "You've had that this entire time?" I nodded. "Yah. Why?" His head tilted to the side. "Why didn't you call for help?" I looked at him blankly, then at the phone. Why-? I started laughing. It started as a small giggle, then slowly got louder and louder until I was doubled over laughing. Megatron was looking at me like I was crazy.

"Are you alright?" I kinda got the laughter under control until he poked my side, sending me into another round of giggles. Finally I got it under control. I looked up at him. "I can't believe I'd be that blonde." He looked at my golden blonde, curly hair. "I do not understand."

"Blonde stereo typed as stupid. Whenever somebody does something stupid, they call it a blonde moment." He looked confused. "That doesn't make sense at all."

I shrugged. "I can't believe I didn't think to call somebody." I tilted my head to the side, scowling. "Then again, my parents probably wouldn't care."

He shook his head. "Why would your creators not care? Are you not their sparkling?" I nodded. "They are, but…" He scooped me up gently in his palm. "What?" I pulled my knees to my chest, looking down. "They didn't want a kid- I mean sparkling. I was kinda…" I frowned. "What?" His voice was curious.

"an accident." I mumbled so quietly he could barely hear me. "I mean, they did their job raising me, but I can't help but feel like they are always wondering how great their lives would be better without me." He didn't say anything for a while, and then I felt a finger run along my back, his version of a hug. It sent an unusual chill up my spine.

It wasn't an unwelcome.

"Then your creators were not suitable parents." We sat in silence for a while until he spoke. "If you promise to call at the slightest sign of danger, I'll let you go but only with my authorized chaperone."

I frowned. "If you tell me it's screamer, then I'm gonna scream."

He chuckled. "No, but soundwave will follow you and report to me. You may ride with Barricade if you wish." I grinned and felt like jumping up and down. "Thank you!" I programmed the number he gave me as my number 2 speed dial. When I told him that he frowned. "Then who's number one?" I smirked. "Somebody."

I didn't know it was possible for somebody to be jealous of a person's voicemail. I chuckled silently to myself. He growled before setting me down. He headed towards the door. "Where're you going?" He smiled to me. "Somewhere." I gave him a hard look. He chuckled. "I'm going to inform Barricade of your plans for tomorrow." I smirked. "Gracias." He looked at me strangely before answering. "You are welcome."

I was fast asleep when he returned.

We left that morning. Soundwave, I realized, didn't know how to take a joke. Serious guy, that one. Either way, Barricade, Wheelie, Frenzy and I had a good time cutting up and talking on the way. Frenzy transformed into a phone and I put him in my pocket. I told Wheelie bye and started to get out. Before I could, a man with hair so black it looked like night and a police uniform opened my door. I smiled. "Barricade?" He nodded, grinning smugly.

My phone started ringing. I opened it, but it was my other phone. I pulled the Frenzy Phone out and opened it. Frenzy's voice was loud and obnoxious, going between English and Cybertronian. "What in the pit happened to your holoform Barricade?..." I chuckled slightly before pocketing the phone again, effectively shutting him up.

Barricade smiled at me. "Shall we?" I rolled my eyes. Barricade suddenly scowled. I was about to ask him what was wrong when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see another guy with dark brown hair, neatly trimmed. His face bore a serious expression. I gasped.

"Soundwave?" he gave a curt nod. We walked in. The guys were super bored but they had their orders. I grabbed a couple of t shirts, tank tops, jeans, shorts and other necessities. When I got to the changing room, I handed Barricade my jacket. He looked at it. "What's this for?" I snorted. "I'm not having Frenzy come into the dressing room with me, mech or not. I'll be done quickly."

He sighed. Soundwave looked like he was observing an experiment. That's how he was most of the time, but it made me feel weird. I shook my head and tried on my clothes. I knew the jeans would fit, so I tossed them aside. When I got done, we headed towards the register. I sighed heavily. "Jeez, I hate shopping." Barricade snorted. "Coulda fooled me."

I glared at him. "We were barely there for an hour. Most girls spend ALL day shopping." Barricade shook his head as if he didn't believe me. "Fine then, I'll prove it you." I turned to a couple of girls who were looking over a stack of sweaters. "Excuse me, do you mind telling me how long you've been here shopping." Her face lit up. "Well, we just got in this store an hour ago, but we were at the main mall since about 8 this morning. I checked my watch. It was 2.

As we left, barricade shook his head. "I will never understand the femme mind." Soundwave looked thoughtful. " I do believe I have somewhat of a grasp on the workings of a femme mind." I rolled my eyes. "Sure… you just keep telling yourself that."

"I do. Being able to read the processors has enabled me to anticipate a normal femme's actions." I smirked. "As if. That's what makes a girl a girl. We gotta be crazy and unpredictable, not to mention moody, annoying along with other charming adjectives."

I heard Frenzy chuckle in my pocket. We were almost to the car. Soundwave was not done with our argument. "If I were to read your mind, I have no doubt that I would be able to predict your actions."

"Yah," Barricade muttered. "Dying." I ignored him. "Try it then." Barricade scowled. "That's bad idea. Soundwave tends to be a little rough with his victims." Soundwave scowled at him. "Only because it's necessary for proper torture techniques."

I looked at him. "Soundwave, have you ever read a person who was willing?" He shook his head. "No. That's never been asked of me." I smiled. "Well, it is now. Go ahead. Read my mind. You still won't be able to anticipate my actions."

He frowned. "I suppose it is possible." Frenzy jumped out of my pocket. Luckily the parking lot was empty. "No slagging way! Do you guys WANT Megatron to kill you?" Barricade frowned. "Frenzy's right. It's not a good idea."

I was losing the argument and knew it. I decided to use another adjective of 'femmes'… manipulation. I appealed to Soundwave's logical, scientific side. "But what if it works? Aren't you curious to see what would happen?" Soundwave looked thoughtful. "Yes. It could work, but you'll ride back with me."

Frenzy was going ballistic. "No fraggin way! Are you crazy? Why would you think we'd let you do that?" Barricade sighed. "Take Wheelie with you." I nodded. Frenzy frowned as I opened Barricade's door to let Wheelie out.

"What's going on?" Frenzy growled. "These glitches agreed to let Soundwave read her mind. I told him it was a stupid idea, but nobody listens!" Wheelie frowned, looking up at me. "Don't do anything stupid." I smiled. "Too late. I'm talking to you." He snickered before following me to Soundwave's alt form. I sat in the passenger's seat with Wheelie beside me. Soundwave's engine quietly revved and we pulled out of the parking lot.

Soundwave sighed. "I'll have to do it before we get to base. I do not believe Megatron would appreciate our experiment." I smiled slightly. I leaned back in the seat. "Whenever. Whatever. I'm here."

"Um… relax?" I laughed at his unease. "Is that a direct order?" Wheelie crossed his arms. I relaxed all my muscles. Then it happened. A wave of energy washed over me. It started at my toes and worked it's way up to the tip of my head. This too sent chills down my spine. But this was different. Soundwave was entering my mind. It was strange.

I felt it when he entered my mind. I could feel him gently poking, prodding, searching. I could tell he was trying to be careful. The deeper he searched, the more relaxed I became. Then he got to a particular part of m childhood. I didn't want anybody looking into that.

It was the part of my child hood that held my worst memory; it was when I got kidnapped as a child. He felt my resistance, but easily moved around it. He tried again, but I put up another block. Again, he easily overcame it.

I tensed. I really didn't want him digging around there. "NO!" But his curiosity got the better of him and he tried again. This time I used all my will power to shove him out of my mind, away from the harsh memories. I felt an electrical jolt fly through my body. It should have hurt, but it didn't. It actually felt like it'd come from me. My eyes flew open.

Megatron POV

I was in my quarters when Evelyn called. I picked up, but her panicked voice was talking to somebody else. "Oh my gosh! Please tell me he's not dead!"

I heard the irritating minicon Wheelie answer. "Nah, Soundwave's too thickheaded for dat." He didn't sound convincing at all.

"What are we gonna do? We can't leave him here!!!" I decided to listen a bit more. After all, information is power. Alright, I was just curious.

"Why not?" That was Barricade. I could almost see Evelyn giving him a death glare. "What? He brought it on himself. It seems you made it very clear for him to stop, but he-"

"Yah, but he'd already said he didn't want to, and I talked him into it and you guys said it could be dangerous-" I exploded. What exactly did she do with Soundwave? "Evelyn?!"

"Oh, thank goodness. Um, you know how you said to call in case of danger? Well, I think I killed Soundwave." "WHAT?!"