[]I'm back again! Hey, check out my song-fic-ish-ness other story Decepticons Can Dance. I'm aiming to continue it soon, why not give it a quick peak? Hehe.. Anyway. This chapter's song theme is Afterlife by Avenged Sevenfold. Without further due, our continued adventures with Mai and company… Okay mostly Mai with giant robots. : ) []

"Target: Acquired."

"Shit."

I spun around, my gaze locking with several small 'bots with glowing red optics. This didn't look very good for me at all.

"Proceeding to capture."

"Like hell you are!" Spotting a long slender piece of metal discarded on the floor I snatched it up holding it like a weapon. If I had to fight my way out, so be it.

"Bring it on." The drones rushed me, laser pistols blazing. Deflecting and dodging the shots I spun around slicing and slashing the 'bots. As I held on tighter to the metal makeshift sword, my hand began to bleed. I ignored the pain, I couldn't stop now.

"Requesting reinfor-" Crack.

"Damned thing.." The offlined drone's body fell to the ground. "Now.. For that exit.." Dropping the scrap metal I frowned at the wound that formed on my hand. It was a rather unattractive gash to say the least. Ripping a piece of my clothing off of my shirt I wrapped it. Flexing the injured appendage I focused back on the task at hand. More of the droids would be back soon, I was sure. And Starscream would surely find me with the collar.. In the distance I could hear a steady marching. I cursed softly padding into the large hallway. It was empty. Taking my chance I ran, and hell I didn't stop.

…

Starscream's Pov

That human would be the death of me. Honestly, I was considering killing her on the spot when I caught up with her. My optics burned with anger, that little pest.. I just didn't know what to do.

"Starscream, have you secured her?"

"Not yet, sir. I'm on her trail.." I eyed the broken drone bodies around the corridor. "I should have her soon."

"Don't fail me again, Starscream.. You know I do not accept failures."

"Of course, Lord Megatron."

The com-link was disconnected and I grit my dentals. How I hated that pit spawned leader of mine…

CRASH

"I better.. Check that out." I dashed in the direction of the crashing sound.

…

Mai's Pov:

"Shit!" There was an army of drones firing after me as I ran. My breath came in short puffs, Iknew I couldn't keep this up for long so I had to think of something quick.

BOOM-CRASH-BOOM.

"White Shadow! Get back here this instant you little pest!"

"Fuck you!" I could hear Starscream growl and join in the chase after me. I wanted to scream, I wanted to just panic. Realization hit me at the worst time, ever. Tears streamed from my eyes, my legs couldn't push me any further.. Vision blurred with all the oncoming action. Finally, I dropped to my knees.

"I'm sorry.." I whispered before the intense pain came.

~.~

I couldn't help but grin as the puppy chased a butterfly around the open field. Beside me Dusk stood, an arm draped across my shoulder.

"Rambunctious little creature, isn't it?"

I nodded, "He sure is.." He barked, a squeaky little yelp. The golden retriever hopped and twisted around to catch the insect.

"I wish I was as oblivious as he was.." I sighed shrugging off Dusk's arm.

"Not to worry my dear, it will all be over soon."

"I hope your right."

"Have I ever been wrong?"

I shook my head, agreeing with him. No, he has never been wrong about anything. My beloved partner always carried me along.. He was what I needed. Shutting my eyes I tried to think back to the night at the campsite. What he asked, my.. Secrets. It still didn't make much sense, though it was starting to become slightly more clear.

"Dusk.. My secret, do you mean?"…

~/~

"Good, you're awake again. Although the condition is unacceptable to see Lord Megatron in. I will give you an Earth to recover."

My everything ached. My head the most. I winced as I opened my eyes, my gaze locking with energy bars and Starscream's face.

"Not something I would love to wake up to."

Starscream gave the caged a firm shake, rattling my teeth and making my head ache worse.

"Quiet, or I'll just exterminate you now, fleshling." I rolled my eyes, deciding it would be better for my health to stay silent.

"Now, I'm leaving for a bit. Don't try anything I have the whole room filled with sensors that will set off an alarm. You don't want another shock from the collar, do you?"

I grumbled shaking my head.

"Good, now be a good girl and stay put." He cackled as the door to the room hissed shut.

"I'm not a damned dog!" I hollered. Of course he couldn't hear me, but it did help me blow off a bit of steam. Exhaling a breath I looked around my new abode. It was small. Very, very small. There was a piece of cloth in the corner of it and a water dispenser similar to one found in a hamster's cage. I rolled my eyes and yanked the piece of cloth over to me and neatly snuggled myself into the warmth. The room was very cold. My head rested on the cost steel and my headache was soothed by it. The steady hum of the energy bars relaxed me somewhat, but not enough to actually forget I was in a cage and at that a prisoner of a evil giant robot Tyrant.

My thoughts traveled back to my emotional breakdown earlier in the day. The realization. My family was dead, and all I was doing was postponing my own inevitable demise. There wasn't anything I could do. One human couldn't take on an army of Decepticons. The only ones that could even attempt would be the… Blinking I remembered.

"The Autobots."

How could I have been so dumb? I grinned inwardly. The Autobots could bring down the Decepticons, of course! I would just have to… find them. And finding them meant getting out of here and spending another chapter of my life searching. I groaned, nothing was ever easy. Who knew how long it would take? Or if they're were any left? It was a slim chance, but hope was hope. I couldn't pass it up now.. I just had to think of another plan to escape. This time it would be so much harder, they would be expecting this. The jailbird needs to fly the prison, and this bird wasn't going to stay and sing for these bastards for long.

[] I know… Short.. D: I'll update soon promise! XD While your at it why don't you click that button down there. Says review? Oh! See it now? Good! Why don't yah leave a nice little comment? :D []