"I didn't use you," Thundercracker told her after he finally looked at her. "As for your planet, I have no excuses. But I am no longer with the Decepticons. I am not who I was."

Taken away from the group she was with in a blink of an eye, the world twisting and reforming inside her belly until she found light bending and moving back around entirely new surroundings left Alexis disconcerted and her head spinning.

It wasn't until the dark purple Seeker put her down on some sort of tall shelf top that she realized that it was he who had caused the distortion in reality, he that had grabbed and taken her somewhere else. Skywarp offered her a lopsided smile and then winked, an entirely human expression that he used with good effect. And when he took a step back and then disappeared into nothingness, it took her a moment to realize she wasn't alone, another moment after that to see who she was with.

Anger came and a fear that was unstoppable. The Seeker was larger than she remembered and being level to him only added to that perception. His wings were hidden behind his back, his arms placed stiffly along the metal panels of his body. Where the two were located looked to be some sort of storage area, it was dimly lit and allowed his optics to shine ominously through.

It became hard to breathe and hard to focus. Taking a step back, she replayed what he had just said. But Alexis didn't want to be there or to hear him. And she had nothing to say.

No, that was a lie. She had plenty to say, but she couldn't. Her mouth was firmly shut in the anger that resided inside, fear causing her mouth to quiver, her legs to shake. A warmth spread along her forehead, an indefinable cloud of distortion shading Alexis' vision.

He took a step forward, forcing her body to move back. Thundercracker flinched but stopped.

"I would never hurt you, Alexis."

That almost got a response out of her. Never hurt her?! He already had, deeper and more than anyone else had ever managed. And why, now that he spoke could she somehow hear Timothy in his inflections and manner of speech? Even the way he looked at her with his optics carefully placed and observing her with subdued expectation and what she now knew as longing was a mannerism of Tim.

She was still drawn to him. And past the fear, the rancor and the betrayal was an undeniable connection that somehow despite it all remained.

But that didn't make sense to her. Towering in the shadows and observing her still, he really, truly, most certainly looked nothing like the man whom she had let into her life. But Alexis couldn't convince her mind otherwise. And suddenly she remembered how when she had first come upon Timothy, she had felt a connection with him. That thought sickened her now. She had told much and shared more with someone who had once called her slave.

Why did he become Timothy if not to use her? Why... she looked up, catching his optics. Yes, that desire he had emanated but managed to hide was back, no longer hidden behind a mask of cool acceptance.

The stale oxygen caught in her throat, and it took her another minute after that to realize she had held her breath. Dropping her gaze and taking another step backwards, Alexis tried to rally herself into some sort of action. But the emotions she saw in that open and unadulterated gaze of his stumped her already overloaded brain.

"Alexandra?"

Through her distraction, he had managed to step closer to her, his slim digit coming toward her.

"Don't call me that," she managed, her voice strained and distorted. "Don't touch me."

It had only been a couple of months since she last saw him. Alexis had thought she was moving forward, thought she was moving past the duplicity and betrayal, but the weight of oppression and fear refused to budge.

Alexis looked behind her shoulder while keeping him in her line of sight for fear he would try to approach her again. She was up too high and couldn't see that much. Catching a glimpse of light, she managed to make out a door a good distance away, even managed to see the flicker of light as people moved by.

"What do you want of me?" Now that she had spoken, her words came easier. "What do you want me to say?"

He flinched and his mouth straightened into a firm line.

"Do you fear me?"

"What do you want of me?" she asked again, ignoring the anguish that lined his just spoken words. Her heart pinched, a strange empathetic response that had her taking another step back.

"Careful," he warned and his hand moved toward her, causing her to bypass his words as she backed up even further. She stumbled when her booted foot met the edge. His digit came back toward her, slowly, carefully. He waited for her to grab it. But she couldn't. Trying to regain her own balance, she failed and toppled over. Somehow, her hands managed to snag onto the edge. Alexis hung there, staring down at the bottom that was far enough away that the shadows swallowed it whole. Sweat slicked her fingers and caused the smooth surfaced metal to easily slip away.

She didn't fall far. Alexis was caught and placed on the floor, then tugged on her right wrist and pushed out of the way. Blue highlighted her body, the form of Sunstreaker taking shape. She stared up. His hands were raised in a defensive gesture, Thundercracker standing before him. But the Seeker was looking at her, and somehow she knew he was ascertaining if she was okay. Shifting her head away from his lingering gaze, she rejected his concern.

"Capturing and pushing humans to their death, I would have thought that was more of Starscream's sort of fun," the yellow Autobot spoke up with misplaced humor.

Someone grabbed her shoulder. Shifting around, she found Josh looking at her with concern. He began to tug her away, but she needed to stay.

"This is none of your concern, Autobot."

Sunstreaker huffed at that comment, "Yeah, well, I wish I could say the same. But now that I am here, I might as well give you a proper greeting, Decepticon."

A long thin line came flying out of Sunstreaker's palm that had some sort of thick pointed knob at the end. Before it made contact with Thundercracker's face, it was sliced in two from a blade that appeared from the Seeker's hand. Catching and tugging onto the end of the sliced line, he pulled Sunstreaker toward him, the blade pushing up and through the Autobot's upper shoulder and arm. It happened so quick, the actions of the Decepticon fluid and fast. Releasing his blade, the Autobot slipped down to the floor, his optics fizzling and then shutting off.

Thick blue liquid ebbed from the large wound, pieces of shattered metal lining the Autobot's body. Shoving her brother aside who was trying to hold on to her, Alexis ran.

"Don't!"

Thundercracker was going to kill him. She understood his intent, saw that with the way he raised the weapon up, preparing for the fatal blow.

"Stop!" This time she screamed, screamed out loud and hard. The word pushed out and moved through the large room.

He stopped and shook his head. The weapon disappeared back inside his arm.

"I did not mean..." Thundercracker looked down at her. "That was..."

"Please, just leave." Alexis was crying. She held it in as long as she could, but his actions caused her emotions to produce the wetness on her cheeks. "You have hurt enough of us here," she added, her words so cold and acidic that it hurt her soul. Alexis got down near Sunstreaker, her body leaning over his arm as she tried to cover him even while knowing it would be in vain if anything was tried. Static filled the air and she knew the Autobot was soon to be awake.

She looked up at Thundercracker, held his gaze and implored him with all she had, not wanting him there when Sunstreaker was fully conscious.

"Leave, please."

He held onto her eyes, stared into them deep, and then he took a step back, twisted around and left them alone.

"I will stay with him, Josh."

"You don't have to. You've had enough of a full day."

"No, I need to do this."

After the speedy arrival of the security forces, they were escorted off the space station and left in the Autobot's medical bay. She had never been there before. The room was huge, clean smelling and like most of the Autobot's things, impressive. Expecting a medic, she was surprised to find a medical drone of some sort instead. The robot came on-line as soon as they entered, going to work on the damaged Autobot.

She stared at the robot and watched it work. It took her mind off of Thundercracker, and the way he had looked when she told him to leave. Alexis couldn't get that hurt look out of her head, couldn't stop seeing those emotions of his that spilled through those suddenly readable optics of his.

Her brother spoke up from beside her, his hand curling around her arm. "These Autobots are resilient, Lex. And the medical drone is quite capable of providing whatever Sunstreaker will need."

"Except company. I'm staying, Josh. Go back to the others, let them know what happened and that everything is all right."

He glanced to the Autobot and then looked back at her. He was concerned and didn't budge. "And what about you?"

Alexis shook her head, noticing that her hair had come loose and now hung in a mess around her shoulders.

"I'm fine."

Josh shook his head, his eyes darkening. "But that Decepticon tried to kill you. I wouldn't call that fine."

"Please, can we talk about that later? I need to breathe a little."

He watched her for a good amount of time, weighing her words and what had happened. Finally, he relented.

"I'll return after I get things settled."

She was relieved that she was going to have some space. Alexis loved her brother but there was too much going on in her mind that his close presence only muddled her further. "Okay."

He hugged her tight. Offering a small frown, he went down the side and out the medical facility.

Alexis sat down. Her head hurt, her arm as well, pushing her fingers down her left wrist, she cringed in further pain. It was bruised and tender and felt warm. She had had a sprained wrist before from playing tennis, but this felt worse.

"I don't need you here."

Alexis heard Sunstreaker speak in only the manner of tone that he could manage. She winced and stood to her feet.

"But since it's your fault that I am here and all. It's only right that you share in my discomfort."

She wondered how long he had been awake, but knew it didn't matter. The medical drone was still working on him, a small welder looking device burning blue around the gaping wound of his shoulder. The Autobot flinched and grimaced but didn't say another word. However, the blame was present in his optics. Sitting back down, Alexis remained.

Alexis stayed through the entire procedure. Sideswipe showed up at the end of it, surprised to find her there.

"You've been here the entire time?"

She nodded her head.

"My brother wants me to take you back."

She looked over at Sunstreaker and found him looking back. He didn't look as frustrated as he had, even offered her a quick nod of the head. He had been patched up and besides the silver that lined the front of his right shoulder, he looked fixed.

"What time is it?"

She could have looked at the tablet that resided in the bag beside her, but she didn't feel like it. Her head didn't hurt as badly as it had, not after the medical drone had given her some water to drink. But she was tired and felt stiff and was ready to leave.

"1:37," he told her.

She had been in the medical bay for almost eight hours. The time had passed quickly though because her brother had come to look in on her. He bandaged her arm and gave her some anti-inflammatory painkillers after she told him of her sprained wrist. Then Josh stayed with her for a while as the two talked about things she had held in for a long time.

"Coming?" Sideswipe placed his open palm before her, waiting for her to climb on it.

"I can walk," she said softly.

Standing up, Alexis stretched and shifted. Moving down the ramp, she followed the Autobot.

"I can find my way back," she let him know, already recognizing the nearest corridor.

"There is something I want to show you first," Sideswipe spoke up.

"Some other time?"

"We are already here, believe me, you will like this," he let her know.

Swiping his palm before a panel on the wall, the door they were standing in front of slid open.

Alexis walked inside. The entire room appeared as if it was hovering in the vastness of darkened space. It was if she was walking into the middle of it, everything so clear to see and all around her. But it was just an illusion. Fingers carefully moving forward when she reached the end of the floor, she felt some sort of pane, but even that didn't settle the glimmer of livening fear from the sight that beheld her.

"This is our observation deck, usually used when..."

He stopped when he noticed she wasn't paying attention. Her gaze was on the beauty of it all, the openness of it, the wonder. She felt as if she was hovering in space, cut loose and floating away. It was disconcerting, but feeling her feet firmly planted on the floor helped with that nagging emotion. Alexis suddenly felt encouraged; she felt like she could breathe again.

"You've been broken," she felt a small movement of air above her right arm.

She turned and looked up at him, trying to smile a little and succeeding. "I'm fine."

He bent his head and stared down at her, his optic ridges lifting up. "You stayed with my brother all that time. You didn't have to, why such devotion?" he asked, his tone noticeably quiet and contemplative.

"Anyone would have done the same."

He shook his head.

"No, no they would not," he replied with surety.

She turned away, her back facing him. Maybe if she remained quiet, he would as well. But he suddenly seemed impatient. When he moved closer behind her, waiting for her reply, she felt forced to speak.

"Well, it is sorta my fault and..."

"How the Decepticons act is not your fault."

Alexis felt his touch. With her still turned away from him, Sideswipe traced a line down the middle of her back. His sudden abrupt actions shocked her. She didn't know what to make of it. But suddenly, the room shifted away and her mind drifted backwards. Her whole body became filled with warmth and feeling, both which didn't belong to her. A voice whispered in her head, a connection trying to be formed as Alexis felt a contentedness that settled her fears and soothed her uncertainty. She didn't want it to stop. It felt so good and reassuring, felt like...

Realization came and she pulled away. She had felt like that before with Timothy, a precious memory that had now turned sour and made the air sting up her suddenly constrained lungs.

"What..." Alexis stammered and turned to face the Autobot. His optics were dim, and it took Sideswipe a moment to focus on her. "What are you doing?"

"I want to be intimate with you."

Alexis backed away, not believing that what he was trying, is what Timothy... no, Thundercracker had tried as well. She tried to sort out what that meant, tried to rid herself of the growing unsettled feeling that had taken up residence in her constricted rib cage. She looked up at the Autobot, but shifted her gaze away when she noticed the eagerness for her attention.

"Just like that?"

He shifted upwards and stood straighter, his voice turning light and full of a reprimand even as she felt his optics still on her. "I am attracted to you. Surely my attention to you has not gone unnoticed. Or do you think I spend as much time with all humans as I do with you?"

Alexis' headache was back. Rubbing her temple, she momentarily closed her eyes, hoping when she opened them again that he would be gone. That didn't work though.

"This isn't going to happen," Alexis finally spoke up. "I don't want this. And I am tired of being used." She didn't mean to, but her tone got more severe and the anger she had held on to erupted. "I am not going to be your human toy, and there will never be any intimacy between us."

Alexis walked away. Feeling safe after reentering the human area, she was ready to take a long bath and drown her day away. But that wasn't to be. She was grabbed from behind, twisted around and forced to face the person.

"What..."

"You have the very annoying habit of walking away from me when I am not done with you," the human version of the Autobot seethed, his tone unmistakably terse. She looked into his eyes, astounded by how much energy was in them. She got his hands off her arms. A task that was not easy with his obvious strength, but he relented when she spoke.

"You really think I want to be touched by someone who can't even stand the touch of a human? You don't think I see how you flinch and cringe when a human touches you, how repulsed you are? But what? Using me is fine? What if I wanted to use you?"

She pushed him against the wall and poked a hand into his chest. Alexis almost laughed when he predictably cringed and tried to back away. But she was persistent and Sideswipe trying to proposition her and then following her after at such a time, on such a day... after Thundercracker and the fear, the suffocating twisted remembrance, she just was at her wit's end. Something snapped.

Again, he tried to back away, but Alexis wasn't having it. It was getting harder to hold him though. She felt the tightness of his muscles shift and bundle in his arms, warning her that he was going to move. Alexis acted before she knew what she was doing. If Sideswipe wanted to be disgusted by humans, she would give him something to be truly disgusted by.

That was why she kissed him. It was quick and chaste, but Alexis knew it got the point across. He pushed her back and the anger overtook him, making her move away. He followed. She made her way through the cubicle apartments. Most of the lights were off, even her own. She continued to move and didn't stop until she was way in the back, isolated but not alone. She turned to face him, ready to continue. Alexis was ripe for a fight and ready for him to admit that she had proven her point.

He came toward her.

"I am still not finished with you." By then he was in front of her, his body bristling and his hands grabbing. He was noticeably breathing as he looked down at her, an aspect she had never really noticed but did then. His hands lingered on her shoulder and arm, his eyes on her eyes, on her mouth and then back on her eyes. And before he made his next move, she suddenly understood that what she identified as anger was anything but.

By then it was too late.

Sideswipe moved in to kiss her. It was stiff and strange and slightly uncomfortable. He pulled back. His bangs dipped provocatively above his blue-green eyes, ones that grabbed onto her own and refused to let go. She meant to stop him, meant to push him away. She didn't like him. This wasn't right, wasn't good. He wasn't human. He wasn't Ti... unwilling to finish that thought, she lifted her chin in sudden defiance of the memory of her once intimate friend and companion, giving the Autobot permission to try again.

He eagerly accepted.