Speed Metal

Knockout's laboratory scared me. I was sitting on an examining table. The doctor was rummaging around his many cabinets.

Knockout exclaimed, "Eureka!" He pulled out a sharp looking syringe. He brought it over.

My forearm was exposed. It had already been sterilized and prepared. Knockout primed the needle.

He calmly said, "I'll do this on three. 1... 2..." He stabbed me with the needle, in took my energon and part of my symbiotic flesh, then quickly removed the needle. He put that off to the side and bandaged the puncture. Knockout advised, "You might not want to use that arm for a few days."

Seriously? That's lame.

I got up off the table. My arm really hurt. I had no energy to argue with or yell at Knockout. I walked to the door, down the hall, and then to my room. I changed and tried to sleep.

Not much later I heard a knock at my door. I got out of bed and went to see who was there. Knockout seemed frantic.

He hastily asked, "Do you have say, two pairs of armor you could spare?"

I went to my dresser and pulled out both pairs of medium-battle armor. I handed them to Knockout. He rushed down the hall without a 'thank you' or 'goodbye'. Since I couldn't sleep, I walked down to Knockout's lab to see what all the commotion was about. I almost could not believe my optics. Inside were two femmes around my age.

One femme was taller and looked a little bit older than I. She was white with navy blue details and blue eyes. This femme had the most beautiful wings I had ever seen. They reminded me of a snowflake. The other was shorter and looked a little younger and less mature. This one was an army green femme with pink detail and pink eyes. It seemed that Knockout had given this femme a green Neo cloak, which covered her wheels well. Knockout planned to take Matrix down to earth and go racing.

Knockout noticed that I was standing in the doorway. He invited me in. He gestured to the femmes, "These are Snowstorm and Matrix. They are the proud successes of project New Soldiers."

Snowstorm and Matrix were the only survivors. I did not ask how many test subjects there were, or even if Knockout would try again. I felt threatened by these new femmes. I did not know a single thing about them. At this point I was very tired, I went back to my bed and slept.

Next Day

I walked from Megatron's medical room to the command center.

Snowstorm and Matrix were being swarmed by cons. I decided to listen from half way across the room. This way, it seemed like I was too cool for them, and I didn't add to the chaos. At first, it was hard to decipher the information, but after a while I understood.

Snowstorm was a strategically based genius. She bore no weapons and could not fight. She seemed very proper, extremely mature, and wise. I had to fear her intellect. On the opposite of the spectrum, Matrix was a master with guns. She could hit anything from anywhere, but wasn't very smart. She was immature and rowdy. I was threatened by her usefulness. I did not want to be here, not with them. They reminded me too much of my brothers. Lucky for me, I could stay here and not be with them. With them and not. Oh, how life was cruel.

Knockouts enjoyed taking Matrix down to earth to go racing. Similarly, Starscream was going to take Snowstorm out flying. It seemed both cons had grown fond for these femmes in a short amount of time. I felt... I... I didn't know anymore. I left to go back to my room. I was not tired, but I slept anyway.

...

When I woke I decided to go to the Med Bay. I wished that guilt would drown out thoughts of insignificance and replacement. I had completely forgotten to talk to Megatron yesterday. But now, now I wasn't feeling well and wanted to go talk to the humans instead. I wanted praise and attention. I walked past Starscream in the corridor. He was pissed. I continued onto Megatron's room. Breakdown was buffing and Knockout was talking.

I asked the pair, "Did Starscream just come through here?"

Knockout enthusiastically replied, "Yeah, our Commander was just in here," his words turned violent and his tone into a shout, "Insulting me and my work! And wishing for Megatron's demise!"

I shrugged, "Same old Starscream. Nothing changes, nothing's new."

Knockout popped in, "Talking about new, have you met Matrix? I mean really met her? Last night we went street racing. She was such a riot! We're planning to go again tonight."

I turned away and said, "No, I haven't met her yet." I had the greatest desire to leave. But, my wing was still injured. I asked the Doctor, "Say, Knockout. Have you cleared your driving schedule with Starscream yet?"

The doctor was silent. Breakdown gave me the sickest look, as if I had just royally burned his friend.

I continued, "Because, if not, then I could cover for you." I walked up to Knockout and said, "Starscream has been taking joy in his small gain of control over me. This control, as you may know, comes from my inability to come and go as I please through flight. If you say, repaired my wing, I could make sure Starscream never finds out about your race tonight."

Knockout smiled. He cried, "You have a deal!"

Knockout fixed my wing. I exited the Med Bay. Frag, I left the Nemesis all together. I flew straight to Jasper. I didn't worry about the whole covering for Knockout thing. All I had to do was not get caught, and say Knockout was repairing my wing at the time he needs an alibi for.

I got to the freeway and transformed into my car mode. I drove to the school. When the children got out, Miko and Raf joined me outside.

Raf exclaimed, "Shadow: you won't believe what happened!"

Miko didn't let her friend to elaborate. She cried, "Jack showed up this one bully by beating him in a race with Arcee!"

I asked, "Weren't Autobots supposed to keep a low profile? Although I understand how cool it must have been, doesn't confrontation lead to problems?"

Raf answered, "Normally yes, to both of those. But this was all in the spirit of competition. The bully didn't hold a grudge, and Arcee didn't expose herself."

Miko shouted, "Besides! We knew Jack was good. But, because he won, everyone else knows he's good! It's awesome!"

I concluded, "So confrontation can be taken not as a threat, just as a point." I scanned the area for the Autobots. I recognized the humans' helpfulness, "Thank you both. It was nice talking to you, but—"

Miko cut me off. She yelled, "Don't go back to the Cons! You can stay here. Let me introduce you to Bulkhead. He and the others have been feeling bad since the last time you guys fought."

Fought? Oh, when I didn't.

Raf asked, "You haven't been avoiding them on purpose, have you?"

I didn't respond. Under my breath, I angrily said, "Vector sigma!"

Miko asked, "What's wrong Shadow? Is it really true?"

I explained, "If it was obvious to you guys, it's probable the Decepticons have also realized it. Ah! This is not good."

Raf apologized, "I'm sorry Shadow. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything before. Is there any way I can I help now?

Please, please, please stop being nice to me. It will in no way help my case with the Cons...

I consoled the boy, "Actually, there is one thing. If I fight team Prime later, could you convey that I am probably apologetic about it?"

The kids looked at me like they were going to try and convince me that I should just become an Autobot. Plan B. I didn't want to have to reason with them about a subject I personally struggled with.

I said, "I should go before my absence raises any suspicion on base."

Miko screamed, "Wait!" and ran out in front of me. I had a feeling she was really going to go into the whole, 'join the bots' spiel.

"Guys. I really don't have time for this right now."

"Shadow," Raf asked, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why to everything."

"I really don't have time for this."

Philosophy takes forever. You'd be dead before I'd be done.

"Why did you save us?"

"No innocents should die."

"We're not even of your species! Why did you do it?"

I sighed, "... Because you three reminded me of my own family."

"The cons?" Miko asked.

"No," I whispered as I backed out of the parking spot and left. Visiting the kids was dangerous for many reasons. Not only did I have to fear the Autobots or the Decepticons finding out, but I also had the kids to be wary of. They acknowledged me as some awesome thing that my faction did not. When out of range, I transformed and flew back to the Nemesis.

After I landed in the hanger, I walked back towards the Med Bay. The humans and their story had got me thinking about competition. I wanted to go meet this Matrix and ask her to battle. This time when I walked into Megatron's room, Starscream was there. He was yelling at Breakdown over the location of Knockout.

Time to keep my end of the deal.

I asked Starscream, "What do you want with Knockout?"

Starscream screamed, "He thinks he can do whatever he wants! He thinks he can just come and go as he pleases!"

"Did you check his room?" I asked.

"What would he be doing there?"

I lied, "He's applying more paint. He said something about wanting to look his best. Honestly I don't know. The fumes got to me."

Starscream enquired, "And why do you know where he is?"

I pretended I was still injured. I deceived, "I was setting up a time later for him to fix my injured wing."

Starscream looked at me for a while. He concluded that I was telling the truth, and he headed back to the command center.

Breakdown complimented, "Nice cover."

I responded, "Thanks. So, I'm guessing they left to go race."

Breakdown nodded, "I'll check to make sure."

I left for the command center. As soon as I arrived, Soundwave came up to me. He pulled me off to the side. He seemed worried.

Soundwave stated using his mechanical voice, "Shadow, you have not been yourself lately. You have been too unmotivated to preform missions and have been avoiding any battle and all confrontation with the Autobots."

Soundwave never lectured me. This was a first. I didn't want him to know that I was having doubts about being a con. Least of all that I have been considering switching factions. So, I was silent.

Soundwave received an emergency message from Matrix. She, Breakdown, and Knockout were in trouble. They were on the losing side of an Autobot attack. She asked for backup and requested that Starscream wouldn't be informed of the situation.

Smart move. Screamy's a real prick about, well, just about everything.

I wanted to end any doubts Soundwave had about my loyalty. I offered, "I can go. If my comrades need help, I'll help. Just make sure Starscream doesn't find out. I'm on thin enough ice with him already."

Soundwave nodded and opened a groundbridge. He was satisfied. I was not. I did not want to go, not really. I just had to find a way to hide my unwillingness to fight the Autobots, and this seemed like the best way to do that.

The portal transported me to a parking lot. Knockout had abandoned his teammates and was followed by Arcee. Breakdown was knocked out. The irony. Matrix was losing a hand-to-hand combat battle with Bumblebee. Matrix apparently sucked at close combat, or any combat that didn't involve guns. Just like my younger brother, before he fought me. Bulkhead was still attacking Breakdown. I heard a weird bird-like humming noise. I ignored it and tried to focus on the situation at hand.

A golden blur rammed me into the ground. I kicked her off of me, sprinted to the Bot flying through air, and slammed her into the ground. She was out, atleast temporarily.

Now, with immediate threats gone, I drew my swords, lowered my mask, it slid -from the back of my head- over my face, and I ran at Bulkhead. He didn't see me coming. I hit the Wrecker off of my friend. I could see it in his optics. He was trying to kill my defenseless comrade. I got into a fighting stance. I prepared myself for retaliation. But, none came. Bulkhead called to Bumblebee and both Autobots drove to their teammate, got her up, and went away.

Matrix came up to me. She was damaged. It seemed as if she thanked me an infinite amount of times. She was still worried though. She held that Bumblebee and Bulkhead left in the same direction as Arcee. I transformed into my jet form and flew in pursuit of the Autobots. I realized that the sound came from Laserbeak. Soundwave was not completely fooled. He never is.

I landed a few lengths from Knockout and transformed. He was in a ditch next to Optimus. The other Autobots were close. Optimus lifted up Knockout's car form. The doctor was keeping a human hostage in his driver seat.

I ran at Optimus and jabbed his lower torso. I knew all of Orion's weak spots. He bent over and dropped my friend back into the ditch. The other Autobots were almost upon us. Optimus exchanged one of his servos for a blaster and stood back up.

I ordered Knockout, "Release the human, now!"

Knockout complied. He unbuckled the human from his seat. I put away one of my swords and used that free servo to grab the human. I heard Laserbeak up overhead. The other Autobots arrived and transformed. I had the feeling that they wanted to talk. Not Striker though, neither her nor Bee. One couldn't, and the other liked to fight. Even if she did always lose.

Lucky for me, Bulkhead pointed to the sky and yelled, "Laserbeak!" Alerting his comrades to my supervision.

Knockout sped away from the danger the Autobots posed. I slowly placed the human on the ground next to my ped. I quickly stowed my other sword, transformed into my car form and followed my abandoning 'friend'. Soundwave bridged us into the med bay. In the same room, Breakdown was lying unconscious and Matrix was badly damaged. As soon as we arrived, Matrix ran up and hugged me. She thanked me tons of times more. Knockout attended to the femme and his assistant. He thanked me as well. He believed that if I had not showed up, Optimus would have ripped his driver side door off. I felt satisfied with my comrades' thanks and was no longer worried that Matrix would replace me.

I walked to the command center. I wanted to see if I had beaten Laserbeak back to Soundwave. I did not. Soundwave distracted Starscream. Since it appeared that Soundwave was working, I did not bother him. We both held up our side of the deal. Although I would have liked to parade Soundwave's inability to trust me, there was no need. I was temporarily in the clear.