Summer went by way too fast this year...

Stuff happened...

Now it's school time again.

Yay.

Anywho, why don't we recap a little on what's going on so far in OTSH:

1.) Arachnid is building something

2.) Arcee is captured

3.) Fera has a piece of Sol's spark inside of her heart

4.) And there's a freaky essence floating around Arachnid that maybe driving her to insanity. Sound familiar?

*cough* Megatron *cough*

Enjoy!

Of The Spark And Heart

Part 1

Chapter 44

Deep, onyx-black barriers of shadow stretched along the route of a twisted, weaving path, curtained in solid black the further one traveled into their depths. Buzzing, pathetic excuses of lighting trickled from above, barely cutting into the mass of darkness before they two were snuffed into nothing. A sucking cold gripped the air, chilling any whom pass by to shiver and shake at the feel. Maybe it was not simply the frigid chill overtaking the seemingly endless nest of pathways and chambers. Along with it was also a sense of foreboding malice, meant to drive any and all into insanity if they so wish to delve too deeply into the madness of the elusive whispers moving alongside them.

Nameless tunes of laughing, cackling voices caressed the hull as if it were its lover, sinking further into the core of the beastly construct until it resolved mainly toward the belly. Figures standing outside the entryway to the space holding the very last of their kind's most sacred object wracked with shivers as an unexplainable breeze wafted across their matching armor. Living dashes of sparks spurted from the foot of the door, emitting a shocking light to the sucking abyss of the rest of the area. Nervous twitches came from both mechs as their processors screamed for them to run, but protocol kept them rooted to the spot. The only sense of security they could derive was from the weapons clutched all too tightly in their servos.

Before long, the voice was gone, moving along on its drifting prowl of a breath to lurk towards other points of interest. Both guards visibly relaxed as the pressure fell to a more manageable level, the temperature climbing back to normality. Quick bursts of light were no longer to be seen from beneath the crevice of the door, but the still remains of the invisible presence continued to dwell past its leave. Either ruby-sighted mech would have been blind to not see the true danger slinking in the very airs around them. And they would have had to be fools to not realize that it demanded respect. For without its deserved respect, this voice would find a way to destroy the very being whom doubted it.

This said being curled like colorless vapor on the wings of the hall's stale oxygen, bleeding through on soundless steps to ease through any wall or barrier they pleased and into the space beyond. At this time, the direction they wished to come to was merely located in the farthest rear of the structure, far below, and under the lowest crust of the floors. It was here that darkness turned into a pure, building ray of nothingness. There was nothing like it before- perhaps only matched by the immeasurable bounds of black in Unicron's void of a spark. Yet beside the crushing binds of fear an average creature of the ground-bound ship, this entity was unlike any. It knew no fear. Merely because, there was no fear for it to experience.

This was its own show of power and success. It was here that the essence had grown to be terrified of; to be seen as death incarnate. Thus, it had taken one designation to go by, and one only: Master. Simply to drive the want and desire for the creature's whims. Here, amongst its most comfortable setting, Master was Master. No amount of rusted strips of metal clinging to the walls by crumbling bolts, shattered crystalline particals resting on the unseeable floor in heaps of once glowing brightness, or moss-ridden cracks residing in the walls as entryways for organic insects and other Earth-born nuisances, Master glided away, unaffected. The trails of its energy brushed the slightest tip of a mossy grove taking refuge in the damp, moist dirt, causing it to immediately dwindle to a dingy brown and curl into a tight, but brittle, ball.

Upon the arrival of the self acclaimed Death itself, the creature morphed into the slick contours of the wall beside it, slipping soundlessly into one of the neighboring rooms. There were plenty of other awaiting spaces to grace the mighty entity's presence, but at that moment, the line of cells and vacuum-tight locked doors was no more interesting to it than the plants it so abruptly stripped the life from. Beyond the barrier was nothing special either- more a pliable source of entertainment compared to the usual decorum of the corridors.

Master's favorite pet was stalking along the steely floor of the space, much to the creature's delight. Anger seeped from her sharp form, giving the presence a delicious wave of hatred and ebony loathing. Automatically, it gravitated near her, carefully draining the outlets of her tantalizing and seemingly endless stream of seething aversion. Those same crimson optics pierced through the screen of black and struck the essence, causing it to tremble in a low hum of delight. His pet slowed her pacing, finding a small spot in the corner where she subconsciously registered the presence of her lord-to-be. She stood rigidly, crossing her arms over her heaving chassis.

Another few of Master's pets, one mech by the designation of Platon, the other a Combaticon entitled Vortex, kept a closer distance to a curious form settled on their kneebolts on the floor. In gliding forward, Master was clearly able to make out the figure of a slighter fembot, with a distastefully annoying pink color dressing her from helm to peds. Her arms were slung above her in a makeshift net of chains, tied incredibly tight around her wrists. Even as her helm was bowed, Master could distinguish the trail of energon rolling off the corner of her lip plates, a similar river of life flowing from a crushed vent on the lower right of her chassis. Her cycling was harsh and rough, the excess energon definitely taking its toll on her venting pattern and abilities.

Platon stood from his kneeled position before the fembot prisoner, an electrified staff in his servo. His emotionless gaze went from the fembot to his peer, whom now encroached from his blanket of shadows to join his fellow interrogator by his side. Master backed away, watching from a distance as the scene played out before it, spiking its current attentions.

"She refuses to relay information to us concerning your points of interest, Mistress Arachnid." Platon intoned, staring down at the fembot beside him as he turned his side towards his leader. Arachnid snarled, sending another wave of exhilaration down Master's core. "Vortex, you take command of the questioning. Platon, you shall administer the appropriate action towards Arcee when she refuses to cooperate again. We will get the information we desire, even if we must spend vorns doing so."

Both mechs nodded respectfully, taking their places before Arcee with a new round of questions and the occasional prod from Platon's staff. Arcee: an Autobot member, if the blasted insignia on her helm was anything to go by. Her screaming filled the air as her body convulsed and twisting against the prod. With every agony-induced call she made, Master felt a pleasured jolt through it. An Autobot deserved no less than what she was receiving, meaning each spastic, jerking move of her frame was a simple punishment for the reckless decision she had made. Her strangled screaming blended into one another as each prodding came closer and closer together, egging her to break with the constant onslaught.

"Where is the human we seek?" Vortex demanded, glaring down on Arcee from his superior height above her. Arcee twisted her helm from side to side, allowing it to fall back in her fatigue. Another shot was taken by Platon, hitting the center of her chassis. A screech split the air, followed by the seizured reaction of Arcee's form to the effects of the electricity to her spark. Upon her slackening, the chains rattled and Platon pulled back to allow Vortex to ask his next question. "Tell us where your Autobot comrades are hiding."

"You'd have much better luck asking these things of a vexpa." Arcee suddenly spat, her chassis lifting and falling rapidly with her quick drags of air, "There is no way in Pit I'm telling any of you where our base is, or Fera for that matter." ah, the human female that Arachnid had taken interests in less than a quartex ago. Her connections with the Stone of Primus definitely made her a considerable target, one that Master planned to gain as a prize upon its glorious return. Arachnid stormed forward, snapping down to Arcee's level to take her mandible in her sharp digits. "Do not fool yourself Autobot," she cooed maliciously, not a hint of gentleness in her touch or voice, "we will acquire what we wish. No matter the cost."

The Decepticon leader stood and gestured for Platon to produce another shock to Arcee's systems, causing the fembot to arch against her chains and pull them taunt. Arachnid merely watched, emotionless in all expression. "Tell us: where are you cretins hiding the female?" Arachnid inquired darkly, balling up her servos by her sides. Arcee went limp against the hold of her shackles, a fresh wave of energon leaking from her lip plates and vent. Along with her life fluid, opaque tears began to bead down her cheekplates, dripping off her mandible point to fall and mix with the pool collecting around her. The only answer she gave was a weak shake of her helm.

Arachnid growled viciously and struck out, scoring a set of jagged lacerations across Arcee's chassis. The fembot gasped and produced a crackling yell, her cries loud enough to reach the furthest bowls of the ship with its decibel. As swiftly as she had began to yell, her vocal capacitor shot in a small blip of sparks, her voice cutting off abruptly in the middle of her agonized calling. Disappointment rose in Master's vapor form, the realization that his entertainment at the moment had shattered along with the muteness of Arcee's vocal processor. His pet must have found this too, for she trembled in rage at her prisoner's sudden quiet. There was no getting answers out of a voiceless Cybertronian.

Whipping away, Arachnid mumbled a few indistinguishable curses under her vents before her faceplates shot towards the silenced fembot by her side. Arachnid's arm launched out, grabbing the top of Arcee's helm and yanking it back to force the Autobot into looking into the Decepticon leader's coldly scorching gaze. "Belive me this: whatever it is you are hiding, you best find it valuable enough to take to your grave. Otherwise, you shall deadspark here in vain."

"I shall die here anyway," Arcee garbled through static and energon buildup, a spurt of the glowing azure liquid flying from her lip plates as she coughed, "might as well frag you off in the meantime."

A rebuke practically displayed itself across the frustrated fembot's sharp features. However, with a well-timed touch to the shoulderbolt by Master, her tenseness vanished. In its place was an emotionless blanket of indifference. Master leant forward, hovering by her audio receptor, its cold words moving like the winter's breeze against the side of her helm. "Patience, my pet. She shall crack in time," it whispered, drawing its presence around its livid creature until her shuddering vents settled and her anger dwindled to a lesser boil, stored away for a later time. Her grip remained relentless around Arcee's helm, denting the points where Arachnid's razor-keen digits dug into the armor, "for now, I wish to have a word with her myself..." it paused, a devilish grin spreading across its non-existent face, "if only to simply move things along."

The Decepticon fembot threw Arcee's helm away from her, letting the tortured fembot's cranial unit roll back on her neck and slump forward. She proceeded to stare down at the hapless thing until she'd had her fill, snapping around to start for the door. There would never be a time where Arachnid would disobey Master. Not if she wished to feel its wrath, as she had done so ignorantly before. Now she knew. She understood that she gained if she cooperated, and lost when she didn't. Such a smart little pet she was..."Leave her." Arachnid ordered, returning to her two comrades, "Her repair subroutines should take care of her vocal capacitor. Until then, she may rethink her desires to contribute to our cause." her optic slips narrowed and a shiver of her plates ran down her frame. Master glided towards its fembot and ghosted a piece of theirself over her armor, causing her to immediately change her processor in possibly disobeying it and turn to leave. Platon and Vortex followed close behind.

Once they had left, Master approached Arcee's helpless, crumpled shape, and dropped to her level, slowly inching itself around her aura until it came to her helm. Such a pretty thing she was, it mused. It was a shame that she was not a pet of its own. By the depth of fire in her defiant gaze, it considered the sere amount of usefulness she could have posed. Oh well.

Out of nowhere, a single tendril of Master's shape stabbed through Arcee's helm, causing not a single scratch across her scraped pink coloring. However, the Autobot fembot bowed back at its touch, arching against the air until the parts of her spinal support creaked in complaint. The energon leaking from her vents ceased for a moment, as did the tiny stream trickling from her lip plates. Her optics rolled into the back of her cranial unit, seizuring violently along with her body as it flickered and jerked at the suddenly intense entity in her CPU. Firewalls flared against Master's attack, but they were broken through in mere astroseconds as the presence used its mighty influence to shatter her protections and get to her inner files.

The task was easy enough, probing the innards of a primitive, weak cretin like its target. Arcee squirmed and twisted, her lip plates falling open in a silent scream as Master reached a far more sensitive batch of files. Curiosity sparred it on, leading Master to approach on these new cluster of memories with a solid determination. It only became furtherly engrossed in reaching these points when Arcee threw up every single Firewall left she held in a pitiful attempt at hiding these moments. Master pushed away her protective measures like rusted ash to the wind, encroaching upon her files with a guiltless push.

Invading the psyche of a Cybertronian was recently a newer game to Master, seeing as there were so many under the same roof to torment. There was a vast array of stupidity to explore, with a rare few of the gathered to be of any interest to Master. These were its playthings after all, so there would have to be a time where they knew what they were to rule. Arcee's systems crashed against Master's actions, causing it to pause for a moment in the concern that its toy would fall so quickly.

As quickly as the halt was made, it was broken as Master delved further into the past life of all that was Arcee's life cycle. Laughter rang like an annoying bell in Master's conscious, filtered every so often by the occasional voice of Arcee's most beloved members of her time. As time drew on however, Master found the delicious reaping of war on a younger spark. Screaming replaced the happy veil masking her younger vorns, followed closely by the feelings of fear and hatred she harvested because of what she'd lost.

But then, right there, something crawled from her murky sea. A faceplate, so innocent and lively despite their surroundings, peeked into view. Arcee's keening wail that accompanied those sets of creamy blue optics was intriguing. Master had decided they'd had enough after about a breem, pulling back their essence to drag a single lace of itself down her shuddering chassis and stab into her armor, crushing the tracker there. Though the Decepticon stronghold was a near impossible force to penetrate, there still could take no chances that their location could be compromised.

It then faded into the shadows, lingering on the curtain where they could process the entirety of what they had seen. Arcee fell into a crumpled heap, her arms slung above her in a useless fashion. Master's body swelled, shifting and reforming as her sobs struck the silence. Master's vapor form condensed and built on itself at the same time, creating a grayish, indescribable silhouette against the stark black. An ominous hissing weaved in-between the prisoner's cries as Master performed its self-creation.

Despite the sudden mass growing in the corner, Arcee kept her faceplates aimed at the floor, her shoulderbolts shaking weakly. Master continued to materialize in its spot in the cover of night, relishing the feel of itself gaining a solid frame once again. A quick stretch of the limbs gained a satisfying pop of the joints, settling them completely. Master drew their new appendage before them, curling the smoke of their digits into their own definite shapes as well. Two piercing, cold optics of the deepest onyx black sparked to life, briefly holding a haunting stare of death before switching to a powdery blue.

The smile that slide across the wide silver faceplates was anything but the joyous one that should have been decorating this set of features. They were too innocent- too youthful and energetic to possibly fit the grin. A splash of yellow flashed down Master's plating, covering it in a screaming shade of the sun's rays. Even as it was a disgusting shade, the entity gave no complaint as a small cap took shape over its lip plates.

Stepping into the light as a materialized being instead of a intangible creature of the mist was strange at first, but the reason behind it forced that feeling away quicker than it came. Master came to the fembot and knelt lowly, raising its digits to force her to look up at it. Those determined optics it had once noted in her gaze were now hazed over in shock, a blurry blanket overtaking the glow. However, the astrosecond Master's disguise registered within her, that dreariness fell and gained a brighter edge.

"Bumblebee!" she exclaimed happily through the static, leaping forward towards Master until her chains yanked her back. Master faked an expression of concern as it studied the fembot from helm to kneebolts, taking in her battered armor. "Arcee, are you alright? I've been looking everywhere for you." this voice was odd as well, adding to the twisted fun this task was bringing. Arcee smiled in relief at him, liquid brimming on the edges of her optics. "What are you doing here? Where are the others?" she murmured, coughing up a bout of energon. She began looking around Master in search for what could only be her other comrades. "It is just me," the doubleganger reached up, taking both sides of Arcee's helm in its servos, "the others couldn't afford to enter the base, so they sent me to find you. We haven't stopped looking."

Master forced a smile across their faceplates and tipped their foreplate forward, aiming to press Bumblebee's to Arcee's. "How are we supposed to get out of here? This place is ridiculously high in security and I don't know how I got here in the first place." she inquired quietly, almost too soft to hear.

"Everything will be ok." Master assured falsely, continuing to lean forward so to establish contact. The moment Master's helm would touch Arcee's, every byte of information concerning the fembot and her comrades would rush in. Everything, including the whereabouts of Fera. However, Arcee pulled away, trying to keep a solid optic contact with the one she figured to be her friend. "Tell me, is Fera ok? She's still unharmed?" she went on. Master smiled again, bobbing its cranial unit before impatiently attempting a final time to touch Arcee's foreplate with its own. For a brief astrosecond, it succeeded, and a flash of information came within reach. Arcee drew back however, fixing Master with an emotionless expression.

"Get away from me." she suddenly growled, her voice graveled with anger. Master angled back, confusion marring its shell's features, "You're not Bumblebee."

"What are you talking about, of course-"

"Bumblebee's optics don't look like that, and the others would never leave him alone in a place like this. And whenever he touched me..." she paused, her faceplates becoming cold, "it never felt like that. Who are you?"

Master was surprised for a moment at the quickness the fembot had discovered its ruse. And it was really starting to enjoy itself too. A smile stretched across its false lip plates, stretching unnaturally wide as their optics dimmed to black. Arcee's own faceplates dropped to horror and she scrambled back against the hold of her restraints, moving herself as far away as possible from the monstrosity presented before her. "I am Master," it announced, slowly reaching up to snatch Arcee's chains into one servo, "everything and anything your feeble existence is not. I am a superior entity, eons old, and far more advanced than your primitively volatile race."

"No being is my master," Arcee spat, shoving her peds across the floor to get further away from Master, "including you or anyone else." Master, fully intending on using Arcee's trapped condition, inched onward, allowing their true voice to come forth and dispel the hideous one it had picked up from Arcee's memories of Bumblebee's vocal tone. "I am not anyone else," it seared, swelling up menacingly as it yanked her closer, using her chains as a means of control, "and you would be wise to remember as much." Arcee winced from the abuse to her wrists, but she said nothing, annoying Master with her lack of a response.

There was a barrage of ideas for Master to use to play with its new toy a little longer, but instead, it simply threw her away from it, dropping its solid form for its previous one. Arcee gasped at the sight of the Bee impersonator literally melting from the air, but that was cut off when the incredible rawness of Master's energy was let free to roam around the room. As Master slithered closer to her, it forced the weight of its presence against her, making her writhe with discomfort. Her worming increased the more Master pressed on, causing her systems to short with a flurry of sparks and a last heave of her vents before she collapsed.

This one would be dealt with later. For now however, personal annoyances would have to be pushed aside for the greater purpose of sweet, sweet chaos. Master laid itself further upon Arcee until a sharp creak of her armor signaled its impending cave. Hesitantly, it recoiled, wishing to keep this plaything for a little while longer. It couldn't have a broken toy, now could it? No, no, that would never do. Master launched itself through the ceiling, passing through with ease into the adjoining rooms above.

Coming to the main control room was a quick task to complete, as was finding the one Decepticon it desired. Master circled around her, enveloping her deadly form in its own and making her sigh in pleasure. She leant further into her throne, relaxing her tense shoulderbolts and unwinding her stressful thoughts. "I have found what we seek, my pet." Master hissed into her audio, making her scarlet optics open in silent questioning, "Their human charge: the one known as Fera Lennox, has been located."

"Where?" Arachnid asked softly, tipping her helm to the side as she listened intently. Master chuckled and drug a servo gently over Arachnid's faceplates, bringing its essence so close that it was nearly touching her vicious features. "Washington D.C. There is to be a gathering of the humans and their Autobot allies at one of their ridiculous domiciles in two orns time."

"So we make our move then."

Master grinned, finding glee to fill every available space of its essence. This was turning out to be a fun game to play.

"Stop! Stop! Stop! St-st-op!" screaming laughter filled the room, bouncing off the walls like the ringing of a bell. Peels of chuckles drifted from the larger of the two forms occupying the room, his metallic mouth drawn up in a broad smile. He was doubled over a small shape below him, one arm holding him up for support while the other was currently jabbing the tips of his fingers into the poor human's sensitive side. She squirmed nonstop at the sudden attention, constantly shifting between writhing in torture and laughing until she began to cry.

"This is- this is to-torture!" she managed between pants, desperately trying to hold her arms around her waist to better protect herself. The large mech above her simply nudged her weakened arms out of the way, sneaking the tips of his squarish fingers into the curve of her side. It barely took anything to get her going again, and once more, she was sent into a horrible fit that made her sides seize and her eyes water. "Torture would mean I intend on causing you harm," the mech noted, digging harder, "which I would never do as long as I live." his comment went nearly unheard to the girl he continued to tickle, who felt as if she was about to explode in point five seconds if this Autobot didn't stop what he was doing.

Fera flipped and crawled as fast as she could on her hand and knees away from her Guardian, trying to avoid his surprisingly agile fingers. Her chest heaved from lack of oxygen and her sore sides squeezed her lungs. "Solas...was that really...necessary?" she fell back on her feet and tipped her head back to look at the mech, who was now sitting as well. A smug look crossed his face and Fera sent him an annoyed one. "Yes." he answered simply, "Very much so."

A snort came from Fera as she got on her feet, swaying unsteadily for a moment. "Well I hate being tickled." she seared, "With a burning passion." her hands came up and began swiping over her forest-green shirt and cargo pants, getting rid of the dust there. The mech, even with his darker appearance, held an expression of complete amusement. Apparently Fera's irritation was funny to him.

"And you figure that your hate is going to stop me from doing it again?" Sol challenged, gently pushing her with his hand. Fera stumbled back a step and stomped a foot, coming far too close to a toddler than she would usually have wanted. "Don't you dare." she jumped when he raised a hand and the mech laughed. Actually laughed. Fera paused for a moment to study Solas, surprised at the deep, pure show of happiness from the 'Bot. She hadn't ever heard him laugh so genuinely before, and it was admittedly nice to hear. Maybe she should make him laugh more often.

"You don't trust me?" Solas asked sarcastically, not even trying to hide the smile on his face. Fera stuck out her tongue and quickly threw her arms around herself, frightened at the thought that Sol may try to get a shot in while she was distracted. This only made the mech chuckled again and fix her with a pair of glowing, content eyes. Fera relaxed marginally, realizing that they were in some sort of ceasefire. For now.

Fera let her arms drop and she stepped over to the mech, turning around to lean on his leg with her arms resting on the armor she stood against. "I must be insane to be actually trusting you right now." Fera mumbled, getting a small nudge from her bond with the big pile of scrap and bolts she lounged against now. "Insane? More like reckless I would say." Solas said, moving his leg so that Fera would be forced to jump up and flail for balance. When she'd gained her footing, the teenager swung around and swiftly kicked the 'Bot with her good leg.

All she got for almost breaking her toe was a good series of chuckles from Solas, adding to her already huffy attitude. And yet, looking into that amused face of a being that was usually so shrewd when she talked to him, made her irritation shatter. Fera's scowl turned to a small grin of her own. Yes, Solas was a jerk sometimes, but all in all, he was ok to spend time with. Fera could almost forget all the secrets and war raging around them when she was with him. Between his annoying attitude and playful antics, Fera didn't know what to expect from him. And that was kind of...fun.

"Here, let me show you something." Solas piped up, shifting himself almost before Fera could react. He scooted himself back against the wall his bed sat against, crossing his legs with his arms in his lap and his eyes firmly closed. Fera waited an awkward moment to watch the mech before she stepped closer, observing his expression more and more as she came nearer. He was so still that the usual waves of air that came from under his chest had slowed considerably. Even when she poked his armored knee with her hand, he didn't react. "Solas?" she murmured concernedly.

Suddenly, directly beside her, a brief flash hit the air, stunning her for a second or two. She fought to regain her bearings when she noticed the pile of what looked like small pixels by her foot. These two began to shift, building on themselves again and again until they had come to about hip height to her. At this point, they widened and reshifted, swirling in a single mass to create what looked to be feet, legs, hands, a torso, and a neck. Lastly came the head, with the face turned straight ahead. Short, cropped black hair spiked up from the top of its head, blending in nicely with the tanned shade of what appeared to be skin. Simple army wear dressed the figure, along with a pair of heavy coal-colored boots on their feet.

Before Fera could react to this human whom had come from out of nowhere, its eyes opened, revealing two incredibly blue irises that shone unlike any human seen before. Fera's mouth fell open and her breathing ceased, her full attention entrapped by the one before her. Rippling muscle appeared from beneath the shirt, its fabric far too tight to possibly leave any room for space. A broad chest and shoulders faded down to a striking set of distinct abs and a narrow waist. The face that materialized had a squared jaw, dark brow line, and straight nose.

A flush of uncontrollable heat washed across Fera's cheeks and ears, her eyes wide as she stared openly at this unfamiliar person. Though she knew for a fact she had never met this particular human in her life, she found she could easily recognize those too perfect eyes and face. Disbelief flooded through her, causing her face to become even hotter. "Solas?" she exclaimed, looking him over again. The strange human gave a smile that would have lit any room, the teeth far brighter than what Fera knew was natural.

"How do I look?" yes, that was definitely Solas. Fera would recognize that voice and those eyes anywhere. Fera cautiously took a step forward, coming closer so to examine what was apparently her Guardian in human form. No sign of scars or scratches or even remotely textured skin could be seen. It was all so smooth, so...unreal. "Well..." she trailed off, gaining the confidence to take another step towards Sol, "You're almost...too perfect. There's nothing there, so you just look like...like an alien." her eyes darted from the robotic figure to the human one, who's expression was disappointed.

For a minute or so, Sol was disturbingly quiet. When Fera came close enough to touch him, he suddenly jerked to life, locking her in his piercing gaze and making her freeze. "How about this?" a gushing wave flew down Solas' frame, mirroring a ripple in a stream. Small details appeared here and there wherever the wave went, revealing more and more human-like qualities the further it went. Pores appeared across the face; hair had a better tone and flow; clothing had better folds and looseness; a camouflaged jacket appeared wrapped around his waist; the color of his irises deepened; scars appeared; the tint of his left eye became a rusty reddish-brown.

After the wave had passed, Sol rose his arms and dark eyebrows. "Better?" he inquired, the edge of his voice less powerful than before. Fera felt herself staring again, but she couldn't help herself. This Solas was so...new, so...human. It was ridiculous to see just what he looked like as one of them, but she couldn't help that she felt he was fake. After a moment of her gawking, Sol snorted, knocking her from her stupor. "I guess it's better?" he assumed, getting a dazed nod from his charge. A smile spread across his lips, flashing the white teeth beneath. They were less brilliant than before, but they still looked professionally bleached. Twice.

"How...I mean...how?" Fera murmured, carefully closing the distance between herself and the human representation of the mech sitting stock-still to her immediate left. Sol raised an am to look at it himself, lowering it after he seemed satisfied with it. "It's a highly complicated hologram compilation," he explained, watching her as she stood less than a foot away, "created using the holo emitter Hound made for me. It allows me to use a fraction of my energy to compose a solid representation of myself for the humanoid populace."

"Solid..." Fera whispered, half to herself. Wonder showed clearly across her face, and she didn't try to hide it. This was a hologram? What kind of incredible technology was this? Fera lifted her hand to touch Sol to convince herself he was real, but she held back. Before she could drop the hand, Solas reached forward and took it from her, placing it over his chest. His hand was warm and strong, holding her palm firmly to him. The coarse feel of his shirt ruffled around Fera's fingers, causing her disbelief to grow. Wow, she mused, it does feel real...

"This...is you?" she asked softly, willing herself to believe, but finding it hard to do so. Solas grinned and nodded, locking her with a gaze that wasn't like the solid glow of his usual teal eyes. The left eye to her was what intrigued her the most. Solas was willing to put his greatest scar on display for everyone to see? It took a lot of courage to do something like that. Fera found herself in envy of her Guardian for the bravery he possessed.

Out of the blue, a hand suddenly jabbed into her side, making her gasp and jerk. A single, mischievous smile broke across Sol's features, causing Fera's stomach to flutter with butterflies. His fingers dug into her side, making her surprise turn to a full out laughing fit. Like before, Fera was left breathless and struggling against her protector as he exploited her most ticklish spots. She slapped at his hands and twisted against him, but he simply moved her arms away, his strength far beyond human capability. He'd have to work on that one too if he wanted to be human.

Solas stepped toward her, anchoring his feet as he used his now smaller hands to brush along her sides and make her howl. The muscles in Fera's sides screamed with her, cramping up after about a minute of Sol's incessant jabbing. When he moved forward, a new barrage of tickling would commence, with Fera now trapped against Sol's new body as he bent over her and stabbed at her ribs. Tears collected at the corners of Fera's eyes, and she fought for a breath to properly tell off her Guardian. However, she was left with no oxygen as Solas wiggled his fingers by her mid left side. Oh the horror.

Fera suddenly threw herself back, using her last-ditch attempt at freedom. However, her plan backfired when she sent both herself and Solas to the floor. The tickling stopped, which she was thankful for. But, the feel of a heavy weight kept her from breathing properly, so she was left to struggle again for a single lungful. Her arms were pinned by something, but she couldn't figure out what it was until she opened her eyes. Glancing down, a new round of hot pink brushed her cheeks from temple to temple.

Solas Kaon was laying ontop of her.

The human hologram shifted, lifting his arms and setting them on both sides of her body, allowing him to push himself up. Fera swallowed harshly at the feel of his breath, her heart racing against its cage. His warm body lifted from hers, his hands supporting his weight as he shook his head. One of his hands came up and rubbed his face, pulling through his hair before he too opened his eyes. The shock that blanketed his features was immediate. His hand shot down and his eyes widened, his gaze stalled on her face. His side of the bond exploded at her own, silently delving into her body to find any injuries or sources of pain. "Are you alright?" he inquired, lifting a hand to touch her face. Fera froze at the touch, not yet used to the feel of Solas actually having a hand and not giant metal fingers.

"Yeah, I'm ok." she murmured, barely above a whisper. Solas didn't seem convinced, for his eyes traveled over her in quick jerks, finally settling on her eyes. "You don't appear so. You're temperature has risen two degrees and your heart is beating erratically. Did I hurt you?"

"No, no, Solas, you're fine." Fera assured, forcing a smile. Sol shifted, causing Fera to realize that his leg was right between hers. Her cheeks almost spontaneously combusted with the blood rushing to her head while her heart nearly exploded right then and there. "I'm ok." Solas gazed deeply into her eyes, his concern pure. He seemed to be avoiding her sides with his arms, maybe fearful that she was uncomfortable around that area. To be truthful, her ribs were beginning to get sore from the abuse they were receiving, but that had nothing to do with how she was feeling at that moment.

Even though Fera had gotten the message across that she was quite alright and unharmed, Solas didn't move. He seemed frozen as she was, the both of them unable to avert their eyes from one another for a single second. Fera found her lifting her arm to brush her fingertips over Solas' cheek and lips. He felt so impossibly real. Those scars that he had gained protecting her over his lip and left cheek protruded lightly from his sun-kissed skin, their surfaces slightly bumpy and cool to the touch. Fera was fascinated by this new Sol that she was experiencing. Of course, he was still who he was. Just, in a different form.

Before she knew what she was doing, Fera allowed herself to fall into the moment and she lifted her head from the floor, angling towards Sol. He said nothing as he followed her lead, slowly inching towards her face with his own. Their breathing mingled as warm pulses, intertwining with each other as their bond overwhelmed everything and anything Fera could think of. Any sense of reasoning was thrown out the window as Fera's eyes grew heavy, her lids closing. A similar feeling came from Solas, spurring on her own actions uncontrollably. Their lips came within brushing distance, their breaths caressing the other's face.

Then, a knock at the door.

The sudden sound snapped both beings from their daze, causing Fera to drop her head on the floor and Solas to rear backwards. A sharp pain shot up Fera's skull and she winced. Her heart skipped a beat and her stomach twisted painfully. What was she doing? This was insane! As her eyes opened, Solas removed himself from atop of her and she got onto her elbows. A cold sense of disappointment that she couldn't help from feeling spread across her body, cooling her flushed cheeks and making her heart sputter pathetically. Sol bent down and held a hand out to her, his expression unreadable.

As he helped her to her feet, he called out "Come in" and gave her a deep frown. Fera could feel an almost mirrored fluster of emotions from Sol's side of their bond, causing the discontent sneaking into her emotional bundle to bloom. She put up a partial block for his side of the bond, allowing her to situate herself better without someone in her head. A pinch that swept all the air from her lungs strangled her chest, causing her breathing to hitch for a moment. Solas gave her a worried look, but he said nothing as their company entered. Glancing up with him, Fera saw them as none other than Optimus Prime himself.

The hulking Cybertronian strode calmly into the room, his noble helmet swiping from side to side as he took in the room. His gaze settled on the two on the metal table and his blue gaze widened by an almost unnoticeable amount. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asked innocently, studying at the human and holograph. Fera burrowed her eyebrows and looked beside her, finding Solas' arm wrapped around her waist. A small gasp escaped her as she noticed, and a fresh new strawberry tint stained her face. As she began to say something about it, Solas' holograph suddenly disappeared from thin air. Evidence of his presence was but a single draft of air. With him gone, Fera felt the room had gotten considerably colder.

"No, you're not." Solas' original voice picked up from his spot against the wall, his face aimed at Optimus. Fera glanced from him to the Prime, one hand coming up absently to touch her fingertips to her lips. They had been so close...

What am I thinking?! Fera shook her head sharply and crossed her arms firmly over her chest, bowed her head so she would be staring at the surface of the metal bed instead of either the Cybertronians' eyes. It hurt to block Solas from their bond, but she couldn't help wanting a moment to herself to think. What could she possibly have been thinking trying to kiss an alien? Fera's heart fluttered with the memory of Sol's 'skin' coming in contact with her own, the surface smooth and warm. As if the heat of the sun was captured in his olive tone, it had drained into her body. It took everything she had to banish these thoughts to the back of her head, dismissing them as a simple dehydration vision.

But at the same time, he had touched her face so nicely, his fingers like burning points on her cheek wherever they moved. His movements had been fluid and too clean, and yet they matched his careful style perfectly while in his time as a mech. Reddish hues caught in his hair when the light hit him just right, while the raven-black of the main color matched the night hued tone of his armor. Those eyes of his had been the same as well, mimicking the true Sol that Fera felt awed by any time she saw it: the one who embraced his past instead of hid it. The one with the red eye. He was the exact same Autobot that Fera knew and called brother, wrapped up in the tiny flesh cocoon of a human body.

"Very well." Optimus spoke up, causing Fera to jump with the interruption of her thoughts, "I had wished to speak with you in a more private setting, over a pressing issue that is needed to be addressed as soon as possible." the Prime moved towards the two, letting his gaze settle on Fera to give her a nod. Fera returned the gesture before returning her eyes down, unable to keep a steady eye contact with the regal figure in fear he would recognize her expression. Was it going too far to think that an Autobot could read minds? Solas huffed and Fera turned her head towards him, finding his legs no longer crossed and his left arm slung over his raised knee. "Whatever needs to be said can be done so before my charge." he commented, darting his eyes at Fera for a split second before returning them to Optimus.

Surprise clouded Fera's mind and she found a pleasantly fuzzy feeling to enter her heart at his words. Did this mean he no longer was going to hold secrets from her? Was he opening that barrier that had stood between them for so long?

Glancing back at a silent Autobot Commander, Fera found him with a conflicted expression and a set of stern blue eyes. She half-hoped he would agree, thinking that knowing whatever it was Optimus wished to keep secret would be spilled and would grant her a firmer place among the 'Bots. However, an even ground spread for her that she didn't want to hear whatever it was he wanted to say. It was a split decision that she couldn't figure if she liked or not.

Finally, it seemed like Optimus had made up his mind, for he carefully sat on the edge of the berth, not saying a word to dismiss Fera. She sank back in nervous relief, allowing herself to back up into Sol's leg for support. The human teenager could only watch as the two 'Bots locked their gazes, maybe sizing the other up. Fera found herself caught between a raging storm of pressure, building around her to the point of it being unbearable. The giant leader of the Autobots leaned forward, laying his elbows across his knees and knitting his hands together between them. "I have not come here to 'beat around the bush' as Fera's kind would say in these situations." he began, bobbing his hands a few times before he peered down on them intently.

"Then I suggest we move on from petty chatter and get to the core of this meeting." Solas commented, irritation laced into his tone. The Guardian seemed edgy around his leader, as if the 'Bot was annoying him to no end. Optimus tilted his head to the side, not quite looking at Fera or Solas, but showing that he was indeed in deep thought while he talked with them. "You and I have known one another for vorns now, correct?" the large mech inquired, getting a short snort from Sol. "Longer than human kind has exited." he agreed, causing Fera's heart to drop. She knew that Cybertronians lived far longer than humans, but to actually hear that Solas was so young yet so old at the same time...it was mind boggling.

Fera cleared her throat and rubbed the scar on her chest, trying to calm the building nerves there. The two mechs went on without noticing her discomfort, as if she weren't there at all. "Then I would be in the right processor when I believe you would give life and all to protect the Autobot- no, any whom sentience is threatened?" Optimus actually looked at the warrior now, causing Fera to follow his lead to see her Guardian's expression. It was no longer one of annoyance, as she had imagined, but one of interest. "Yes, I would." he confirmed definitely.

There seemed to be a release in the tenseness of Optimus' face, and he rose a hand to scrub across his tired metallic features. "In that case, my confidence is restored when I ask you this: would you join the rescue team in hopes of locating and retrieving Arcee to return her to safety?" he asked. Fera didn't need to look at the mech to feel the shock there. A team to rescue Arcee? How would that be possible if they didn't even know where she was?

"If I was to accept, how would we locate Arcee with such little information concerning her whereabouts?" Solas asked, putting a voice to Fera's thoughts. Each of the beings in the room cast their gazes on one another, the Prime stuck with switching between Fera and Sol before settling on his counterpart. Fera felt herself sliding down Solas' leg until she was sitting with her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped around them. The more she thought about Arcee's entrapment, the more uncomfortable she became. Flashbacks of her time spent with the Decepticons returned to the front of her mind, encasing her in a confusing, indistinct bubble of memories and phantom pain.

"I am not certain whether we shall find her or not, or if she will be alive if or when we do. However," Optimus paused, a long cycle of air flowing from his vents as he gave what sounded like a sigh, "this is but a strictly volunteering mission, and is entirely your decision whether you join or not. Arcee's last known location according to her tracker was Wyoming, on the outskirts of the Wind River." at his offer, Fera clasped harder to her legs. They were going on a blind mission to the Rockies, with only a single river for reference, to find a missing Autobot whom may very well be dead already. Who wouldn't accept?

Though she hated to admit it, she wanted Solas to accept. He was one for the unknown, and they both needed some time apart. To think. Well, at least the human of the equation did anyways. There was no telling what Sol felt at that moment about it all, but if the increased tension and heat from his side of their connection was anything to go by, then Fera felt she already knew his answer to Prime's offer.

When the mech gave a certain "I'll do it", Fera hadn't quite heard. Her thoughts were too askew, too frayed to fit together properly enough to pay attention. Arcee's face, replacing her own, was the worst of them all. She could only imagine the poor fembot, strapped to the table, with Arachnid and Dirge hovering over her, slowly carving into her armor. Dirge would lift up his knife and lower it on her chest, striking a single arch-shaped cut...

Movement in the front right of her vision startled Fera enough that she literally jumped against Sol, her fingernails digging painfully deep into the skin of her arms. Optimus Prime was merely standing to leave the room, his head nodding towards the two on the metal table in farewell. Fera nodded back and then sank into her arms, her own eyes aimed into the distance. The large leader said not a word as he exited, the door closing definitely behind him. Silence immediately settled on the human and Guardian, causing the pressure on Fera's chest to increase. Nonstop loops of images scanned before her at random intervals, giving her no warning before she was suddenly bombarded by her traumatic visions.

It was around this time that Fera realized that she hadn't even heard half of what Solas and Optimus had discussed while she had spaced out, so she was still unsure of pretty much everything that had been exchanged by the Cybertronians. One of them would be when Solas would be leaving. Or even when he was coming back for that matter. Without an initial word, Sol pushed himself forward until his legs were hanging over the edge, his back to Fera.

After a moment of still, he spoke, "We're leaving tonight." he commented softly, twisting his head to the side enough so half of it would be aimed towards Fera. He must have felt her distraction and discomfort, for he hovered off the edges of their bond in hesitance that she would push him away. Fera frowned deeply at his words and pulled herself impossibly closer. She couldn't bring herself to say anything, or do anything for that matter, for she was stuck reliving her worst nightmares while at the same time trying to keep herself contained. Solas prodded their bond experimentally, but Fera pushed him away, causing her already tight chest to restrict even further. The 'Bot looked away and slowly pushed off the bed, leaving Fera alone to sit on the cold surface without a lick of air in her lungs.

Sol paused at the foot of the table for only less than ten seconds before he tread across the floor to the door. Laying a hand on the frame, he stopped himself to turn his voice over his shoulder for her to hear him better. "We will be back within two week's time. It should give us a good window to return before General Hendricks' congressional party." his fingers tightened on the doorframe when he said this. Thick air sizzled in dissatisfaction, signaling that there should have been more said between them. However, Fera found her lips locked together, her trembling limbs cold to the bone.

A dull thud echoed quietly behind her, but she paid it no attention. Her unnaturally blue eyes focused ahead, even as footsteps could be heard to approach. Her instincts told her to turn- to seek out this possible danger. But still she sat, fearing what her mind may conjure up when she spied this new presence. Before she could do anything however, a warm draft of air flushed over her chilled body, followed by a cease of the footsteps she had heard only moments before. Then, to her surprise, an amazingly solid form bent over her and swiftly planted a peck to her cheek. "I found it was a gesture of farewell in your kind's culture." Sol's hologram explained, pulling back when her eyes widened.

Fera turned at the heavy strain in his oddly human voice, finding him already dodging around her to start walking backwards towards the edge of the table, his eyes and painful smile stuck on her and her alone. "Stay safe, and don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." no sign of playfulness hinted in his tone, nor a sense of relaxation at all. He seemed to tense, too pulled taunt to possibly be comfortable. Fera released her legs and lifted a hand, maybe to reach for him. Her eyebrows came down and her heart pounded painfully. Say something, you idiot! she commanded of herself, her throat tight.

"Jerk."

Really? Is that all you've got? Embarrassment and shame burned in her chest, along with the blasting waves her heart produced. A soft sound escaped from her that was not her own, sounding suspiciously like music emitting from her core. It was not any music that she had ever heard before, and it was more something felt than taken in by the ear. It was the most beautiful, wonderful song that she had ever felt before. As her eyebrows came down and her hand laid over her chest in confusion, Solas stalled for a mere few seconds to lift a hand to his own holographic chest, a faint glow appearing through the fake flesh of his fingers. The Solas by the door mimicked them both, adamantly keeping himself turned away from the space and his charge as his hologram faded from view. If Fera had been able to see the mech's expression at that moment, she would have noticed the abject confliction and concentration overtaking his sculpted features.

Not a minute after the human Solas had disappeared, the Cybertronian Solas dropped his arm and left, the door sliding closed behind him. And thus, Fera was left alone, confused, and longing for the one friend whom kept her nightmares away...

The one friend she'd nearly kissed.

One barrier broken, and another built.

I just love this little rollercoaster relationship :)

But what about poor Arcee? What will happen to her?

You'll have to wait and see ;D

I look forward to seeing what you all have to say,

So thank you all so much for your reviews, views, and favorite/follows!

*Chapter Inspiration: Madness= Muse*