A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I never expected so much feedback over Chapter 13. Panther-Freedom: No, Oni-Kage isn't Jack's father. I imagine he's at least 20 years old. You have all given me excellent suggestions on how the story should go, but I already have a vision for it. Not to say I wouldn't use some of those suggestions. And since you've all been so vocal about this, Breakdown will remain dead.

Chapter 14

The Autobot base sat in an uncomfortable silence; Ratchet was busily working on the monitors, Bulkhead was pacing around, seething with rage. Bumblebee was sitting with Raf, trying to calm down an upset Miko while June and Fowler were talking to Optimus about what had just transpired. After returning from an energon run in which Miko had tagged along, the 'Bots were met by an irate ShadowStrike. The ninja proceeded to slap the young girl for her reckless behavior, earning an angry response from Bulkhead. He then proceeded to tear each of the 'Bots a new one before stalking off to another part of the base.

Optimus looked over to his SIC, Arcee, sitting in a corner, her knees up to her chest, her optics dim in thought. He had seen her like that many times before, only when she was so upset, she wasn't angry. She had failed to say what ShadowStrike had said to her, but the Prime knew better than to push an issue. Never before had he seen Jack so angry (or angry at all for that matter). The Prime knew how frustrating Miko's reckless attitude proved to be, but that was no excuse to strike the young girl.

"I don't understand," June said. "It's not like Jack to fly off the handle like that. Something must be wrong."

"No kidding," Fowler agreed. "I'm no ninja, but did you feel the vibes coming off him. He looked like he was ready to kill."

"Whatever the reason for Jack's behavior, we must give him a chance to explain himself," Optimus said.

"Oh I'll give him a chance," Bulkhead seethed. "Right after I bash him into a wall a thousand times!"

"Bulkhead," the Prime's tone held a warning.

"What! You're gonna defend him after he just hit Miko?"

"Calm yourself," Optimus sighed. "Getting angry will only result in more strife. Strife that we do not need at the moment, given the Decepticons are still on the move." The Wrecker merely continued pacing, mumbling several Cybertronian curses.

"Optimus," Ratchet called. "I've located Jack. He's in the deepest part of the base."

ShadowStrike Rising

In the middle of the forest he called home, Oni-Kage walked through the woods, pondering the events of the last few days. After years of searching, he'd finally found the ultimate opponent in ShadowStrike. He further gauged the ninja's abilities when he saved Karai from him and made his intentions known. After informing the Shredder of his choice, the ninja found himself waiting for his opponent to grow stronger. He could not help but ponder how Uramasa responded to him, as if recognizing him.

ShadowStrike didn't seemed to be aware, but his sword also responded, as if the two blades had been reunited after a long separation. Perhaps they were forged from the same stone, or by the same creator. Nevertheless, Oni-Kage also wondered about the artifacts the Shredder was currently hunting. They, too, called to his sword, possibly hinting at a connection of some sort.

"Heh," Oni-Kage said. "That old fool doesn't even realize the power he is trying to tamper with is far beyond his control. But there's no sense in telling him how to properly control it. So long as it keeps him out of the way of me and my destiny."

ShadowStrike Rising

In the bowels of the base, where the ancient artifacts of Iacon were being held, ShadowStrike sat in the dark, seething in a rage that knew no end. All this time, the Autobots had been using him to further their own goals. They pretended to care about him, treat him like he was part of their family, only to mock him when his back was turned. The Liege Maximo opened the ninja's eyes to the truth and now he knew better. He was a fool to think of the 'Bots as his family.

To think of Optimus Prime as a father; how absurd. To see Miko, Raf, 'Bee, and Bulkhead as siblings. To see Ratchet and Fowler as grumpy uncles. And to see Arcee as… He shook his head; there was no way he could see her like that anymore now that he knew the truth.

"It is a shame, isn't it," the voice of the Liege was like a buzzsaw through his mind. "To realize just how pitifully weak you are. You allowed the Autobots to use you and toy with your emotions and now you sit in darkness, alone."

"Shut up," he growled. He didn't have time to deal with the Prime right now; there were footsteps quickly approaching him. The doors slid opened to reveal Bulkhead, his face a mask of rage.

"Get up!" he growled.

"Go away," Jack hissed, his eyes glowing in the darkness. He really had no time for the Wrecker and his scrap right now.

"You hit Miko and you think you can just hide back here!" he stated rather than asked. "Let me show you what I do to jerks like you!"

"You leave them to die," Jack stood now and faced glared at the Wrecker, his red eyes glowing bright. "Regardless of their importance or if they're civilians, you leave anyone you consider a 'jerk' to die at the hands of the 'Cons. What if they had a family who loved them, despite of what the world outside thinks of them?"

"Shut up!" Bulkhead lunged at the ninja, only to find air in his place. He quickly recovered and saw ShadowStrike standing on a ledge, his sword glowing. In one swift motion, Bulkhead found himself thrown through a wall, the young ninja standing his chest.

"Kill him," Maximo commanded. "He came here with the intention of killing you. Return the favor." ShadowStrike's eyes glowed an even brighter red as he struggled against his sword. His arm slowly inched its way above his head and prepared to strike down Bulkhead.

"Jack!" came the voice of Optimus Prime. "What are you doing?" The ninja turned to face the Prime, his anger still stirring, threatening to spill over. The Prime looked at Bulkhead's still form, Ratchet racing past him.

"He's alive," he fixed a glare on the ninja. "How dare you! After all we've done for you."

"All you done is use me to further your own goals," ShadowStrike roared, his anger spilling over. "You claim to protect humanity, but you don't even like us. You're no better than the 'Cons. You're only using us to further your war."

"Enough, Jackson," Optimus said. "Clearly something is causing you to act out in anger. Calm yourself and tell us what it is."

"What's causing me to 'act out' is the truth! I actually thought of you as a family, but you've only been using me! Playing with my feelings because you think I'm stupid!"

"That is not true."

"Isn't it!" he hissed. His anger was starting to hurt him; make his head spin. "I'm leaving." He turned to leave, only to find Ratchet in his path.

"You're not going anywhere. If you want out, then hand over that sword. You don't deserve it."

"You see!" Liege Maximo spoke again. "Their arrogance knows no bounds!" ShadowStrike quickly space bridged out of the base, leaving both the Prime and medic stunned.

ShadowStrike Rising

In the command center of the base, Arcee hadn't moved from her spot, Jack's harsh words echoing in her mind. How long had he thought she didn't care about him? It was true that she did often forget their partnership when it came to Airachnid and Starscream, but that was different; or was it? Ever since getting to know Jack, she saw great potential in him, perhaps the same kind the Prime's saw in him. There was no denying that he was different from most humans his age; he possessed traits that far exceeded any human she'd ever seen.

He'd done so much for her; encouraging he when her confidence took a blow, making her laugh when she was in a foul mood not even Optimus could fix, and just being there for her when she was too stubborn to admit it. She had even told him that before, after he had retrieved the Forge. How could he think what she had told him wasn't true? She was not a 'Bot who liked to express her emotions, even in private moments with her partners. Luckily for her, Jack was patient, but now he was angry at her.

She shook her head; he wasn't angry, he just misunderstood. Despite only knowing each other for a few months, she'd come to understand him better than most. She knew that whatever was bothering Jack could be fixed if she just talked to him, even if he yelled at her. She noticed Optimus and Ratchet carrying Bulkhead over to med bay. She along with everyone else rushed over.

"What happened?" Miko asked, her cheek bruised from where Jack had hit her.

"I am afraid that Jack lost control of his anger," Optimus said gravely.

"Lost control?" Ratchet scoffed. "You mean had no control to begin with! He attacked Bulkhead, then left like a coward."

"What?" Arcee gasped. Jack was gone? In his state, he was danger to anyone, even himself.

"Why is Jack acting like this?" Raf wondered. "It's not like him to get so angry over nothing."

"You are correct young one," came the voice of Prima as appeared before them via the Matrix.

"Prima," Optimus inclined his head in a bow. "Please tell us what has made Jack so angry and volatile."

"I am afraid this is the work of my brother, the Liege Maximo. He has poisoned the young one's mind by feeding off his insecurities."

"So that is what he truly thinks of us," Ratchet seethed.

"No, only his thoughts and inner demons. He truly cares for and respects all of you, but Liege Maximo has blinded him with rage and hate. Unfortunately, this comes just as the next artifact has been discovered. And it is the most dangerous yet."

ShadowStrike Rising

Jumping through the trees, ShadowStrike raced toward the location of the next Iacon artifact. He was glad he had something to take his mind off the uncontrollable anger stirring inside him. Quickly the anger faded into sadness at the realization that he was being used. He truly thought the 'Bots cared about him, but they were only using him. He shook his head; right now he needed to focus on the task at hand.

He arrived to find the 'Cons and Foot Ninja already on the scene, battling for possession of whatever weapon might be hidden in the area. If only the 'Bots were here to take on the 'Cons. He shook his head again, trying to focus on the matter at hand.

"Jack," Zangetsu's voice finally reached him.

"Zangetsu," ShadowStrike replied. "Where have you been?"

"Liege tricked me into leaving so he could corrupt your mind," he said.

"He didn't corrupt me," the ninja replied. "He showed me the truth. The 'Bots never cared about me, they were only using me."

"You're wrong Jack. The Autobots do care about you. They see you as family, just like how you see them."

"You mean how I 'saw' them," the ninja prepared to move on to the mission when he felt a calming energy take over. All of the anger and sadness he felt was gone, allowing him to think clearly. He shook his head and remembered everything vividly; the anger he felt at Liege Maximo's word, the Prime showing him the memory of Arcee acting as if their partnership didn't matter. He remembered hitting Miko and yelling at Bulkhead and Ratchet and Optimus, threatening his own mother. Most of all, he remembered yelling at Arcee, the hurt in her optics as he left.

In the back of his mind, he heard the Liege Maximo laughing at him, mocking him. ShadowStrike collapsed to his knees, realizing what he'd done. It was true that he had those thoughts, but they were nothing. He yelled at the 'Bots, calling them selfish, telling them that he no longer saw them as family. Most of all, he'd hurt Arcee, walking out on her like his father did his mother.

"No," he whispered. Jack was nothing like his father, he couldn't be. His father was a coward who abandoned his family and responsibilities. But then what did that make Jack?

"RAAGHH!" he cried as he drew his sword and stormed onto the battlefield, its occupants unaware of his presence. He didn't care if they knew he was there or not; he'd said horrible, unforgivable things to the 'Bots and now they hated him. His family hated him and there was nothing left.

ShadowStrike Rising

A/N: I hope enjoyed; I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. Next time: Can the Autobots stop ShadowStrike's emotional rampage? And what will happen when one of them is injured and on the verge of death?