Author's Notes: I know this is a weird fic to update given how many still need my attention. It's been a year and a half since my last update on this story, and I do wish I had kept up with it better. For some reason though my inspiration for it came back, so I'm going to try writing this story again. I just hope there's someone left to read it ':)

Chapter 6

Tangled Web

"Okay, just a little more to the right," Sierra ordered as she backed up with her vintage Nikon camera to get Arcee's whole body in the shot.

For a half hour Sierra had been taking pictures of Arcee with various members of Team Prime. Cliffjumper and Bumblebee held large pieces of white plaster to redirect the light and reduce shadows, which Cliffjumper complained about every time it was his turn to do so because it meant he didn't get to be in the picture. The last photo was of Arcee and Raf standing side by side for size comparison. Sierra loved the contrast and knew this was going to be a great shot.

"Okay, everybody ready?" Sierra asked, "Now, smile like there's a cuddly koala on my head."

Raf laughed, and Arcee looked confused.

"Arcee, smile!" Sierra repeated with greater insistence.

"Smile like you understood the reference," Cliffjumper quipped, which did in fact make her smile.

Sierra snapped a few pictures, one for the collection and the others for safety. Arcee hoped this was the last one, because as much as she understood wanting to preserve their time together Sierra could be very bossy when she was in photographer mode.

Their photo fun time was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a high frequency distress call coming in from the computer console. Ratchet rushed over from the medbay to see who was sending the message, and Optimus came out of his personal quarters to investigate as well.

"Who is it, Doc?" Cliffjumper asked as he sauntered over to the console, followed by the others, "Is it one of ours?"

"Hm...The source is shielded, but the message says: Decepticon attack. Need assistance. Please help," Ratchet rattled off, "It could be a Decepticon ploy."

"They usually are," Cliffjumper snorted, "Nothing we can't handle if it is though, right guys?"

[Right,] Bumblebee beeped, [Besides, if it's an Autobot we can't afford not to go. There are so few of us left.]

"Indeed, Bumblebee," Optimus nodded, "Everyone have your blasters at the ready just in case. Rafael, Sierra, I need you to keep watch over our base."

"You got it, big guy," Sierra replied gamely.

"Be careful, guys," Raf said softly.

"Don't you worry, Rafael. We know how to handle ourselves," Ratchet assured the boy.

Arcee wasn't given an order directly, but it was clear she was expected to go as well. She just hoped she wasn't in for any more big surprises. While this dimension looked like her own she didn't actually know how things worked yet. She didn't know if she could trust her friends, she didn't know who exactly her enemies were, and even the dynamics with the humans felt awkward. Sierra had Miko's confidence but not the irresponsibility Arcee assumed all human femmes had at that age, and Raf and Bumblebee were both tech and nature nerds. Even Bulkhead was different since he was a Decepticon. She was starting to feel overwhelmed by all the twists and turns.

The team went through the groundbridge to the coordinates provided, and they found themselves in a clearing surrounded by forest. It was somewhere in North America, possibly near the USA Canada border, and despite the green leaves on the trees, the wind was cold and the sky was gloomy.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are~!" A sultry sing-song masculine voice taunted, "We know you're here, so you might as well stop hiding and face your grisly fate."

The Autobots ducked for cover, and Arcee could see between the branches of the shrubbery that the taunting voice belonged to Knockout. He was looking for someone, and off in two different directions Bulkhead and Breakdown could be seen searching as well.

"Yeah, come on out. Or are you scared?" Breakdown mocked their quarry, "Don't worry babe, we promise to make your death as painful as possible. Maybe start with ripping off your legs and then work our way up to the arms. Won't that be fun?"

"Forget it, guys. She's not here," Bulkhead sulked, "We should split up and look around the area. She couldn't have gone too far, right?"

"You'd be surprised, Bulkhead," Knockout replied with a wry smirk, "We can't return to the Nemesis without her though, or at least not without her severed helm. Alright then, you check the south part of the forest, Breakdown you check the north, and I'll go west. We'll reconvene at this location."

"Yes, sir," The two brutes replied in unison before setting off on their quest.

/Who do you think they're looking for?/ Bumblebee asked the others over the comm.

/Dunno, but Megatron must want her pretty badly to send three of his most brutal 'Cons after her,/ Cliffjumper observed.

The Autobots waited in silence until they couldn't hear the trio of Decepticons anymore, and then they left the safety of the forest to check the clearing for any clues. The five Autobots didn't notice anything of note as they looked around the place. There were pede tracks from Knockout and his merry morons, but beyond that there was nothing.

Optimus and Arcee checked around the same cluster of logs and driftwood to see if there were any markers of an Autobot presence. At the very least they were convinced it wasn't a Decepticon trap. Knockout and his posse seemed too eager to terminate whoever it was they were hunting down. Arcee looked up in the trees for answers, but didn't see anything. Optimus scanned the area, and then bent down to check out something amiss. Arcee turned to see if he'd found anything, and was surprised by the peeved expression he wore as he stared at the clue in his large servo.

"Scrap," Optimus growled dryly as he stared down at the item; a white piece of string.

"What is it, Optimus?" Arcee asked; on high alert from his demeanor and tone.

"Does your dimension have Insecticons by any chance?" Optimus inquired.

Just then everyone heard Bumblebee whir in alarm as he tripped over his own pedes and backed away from a dark figure crawling out of a large hollowed out log. The others ran to see what was going on, and as soon as Arcee saw her, her energon boiled.

"Airachnid," Arcee ground out in quiet fury.

Arcee couldn't believe her bad luck. Airachnid was in this dimension too. Arcee hated the evil femme that had killed her first partner Tailgate, and she wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on that spider-con that had caused nothing but misery to all she encountered. Before Arcee could leap into the air to attack Airachnid however, she was stopped by Optimus Prime saying-

"So you were the one to send the signal. Typical."

Arcee looked at Optimus in confusion. He sounded irritated by Airachnid's presence, and perhaps was even stifling the same rage that Arcee felt. Maybe this version of Optimus would actually condone her killing Airachnid. As advantageous as that would be for her, Arcee couldn't help but feel uneasy about that thought.

"Optimus, please! I must speak with you!" Airachnid cried out as she cautiously stepped closer to Optimus and Arcee; the others surrounding her and aiming their weapons.

Now that Arcee got a good look at Airachnid, something felt off. Yes, she had the same appearance as her world's Airachnid, but not the same smug demeanor or silken movements. This Airachnid was dirty, skittish, and had a faceplate filled with fear. This Airachnid had clearly been hunted for a long time.

"Why should we listen to anything you have to say?" Optimus asked her harshly, "You who sold us out to your Decepticon masters; who pretended to defect only to instigate the destruction of our base in Iacon. You who can never wash the energon of hundreds of dead Autobots from your servos. What right do you have to expect my pity now?"

"You don't understand!" Airachnid shouted desperately, "I never wanted to do it. You don't know what power Megatron held over me! I'm sorry for deceiving you about my intentions. I'm sorry for what happened in Iacon. I have nothing left, and nowhere else to turn. Surely you Autobots believe in redemption? Surely you believe in redemption...Optimus?"

Airachnid then stepped close to Optimus and tried to wrap her arms around his helm, but Optimus transformed his hand into a plasma rifle and held it directly to Airachnid's faceplate! Under normal circumstances Arcee would be cheering this on, but she didn't have enough context to know how to feel about this. This creature was clearly as disgusting as the old Airachnid, or at least Arcee would prefer to believe so, but she sounded so...pitiful. Arcee had never heard her world's Airachnid sound weak and pitiful before, and frankly it was more unnerving than the normal Airachnid, which was really saying something.

"Optimus, wait!" Airachnid pleaded as he charged the rifle for greater impact.

"Step away from me, traitor," Optimus growled dangerously.

"Please understand, Optimus!" Airachnid cried out, "Megatron would've killed my colony if I didn't tell him where the base was! He killed them anyway! One by one he has taken them all away from me! My mates, my offspring, all gone! Please Optimus, you must help me. I have no attachments now. I can be what you wanted all those vorns ago. No more lies, no more secrets, just a perfect Autobot femme. That's still what you want, isn't it? Surely you can forgive one mistake?"

Optimus moved the rifle slightly over Airachnid's shoulder and fired into the trees. She cringed at the noise and heat so close to her neck cables, and Arcee flinched at seeing such a display of force from Prime.

"I will allow you to leave, but I never want to see you again," Optimus told Airachnid, "Do not contact us, do not follow us, and do not harass us. If you get within 100 yards of my Autobots you will be shot on sight. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-Yes, Optimus," Airachnid replied shakily, "Goodbye, Optimus."

Airachnid looked out at the forest, not wanting to go in there and possibly be forced to face the 'medical staff'. She knew Breakdown wanted her, and he would likely twist her deepest fantasies into something ugly before murdering her. She looked back at Optimus Prime, but his blue optics were just as cold and bitter as before. She looked at the other Autobots one by one for any sign of pity, and saw that there was a blue femme that she didn't recognize.

"Um, if I may ask, who is that?" Airachnid asked as she pointed to Arcee.

"No concern of yours," Optimus warned her.

"I see," Airachnid replied neutrally, but then asked, "Does she do things for you? I bet her servos feel good against your spark."

"That's it!" Cliffjumper snapped, "Let me slag her, Optimus! Let me blow this glitch to the pit!"

Airachnid scuttled away from Cliffjumper as Bumblebee and Ratchet held him back, but she seemed unwilling to leave completely. She looked again at Optimus Prime and Arcee, and Optimus aimed his rifle again.

"I take it back!" Airachnid quickly exclaimed in hopes of salvaging the discussion, "I was out of line. Please don't send me away."

"You have no place among us, Airachnid," Optimus declared, his optics narrowed in muted anger, "For all I know Megatron has sent you to sabotage us. That is your specialty, is it not? Sabotage."

"I will never aid Megatron's mad quest for power again," Airachnid vowed with more conviction than seemed possible from Arcee's greatest foe, "I have lost hundreds to him, Prime. No matter what becomes of me, he will never have my loyalty again. You still can though. I remember what life with you was like. I remember your kind spark, your talk of redemption and a restored Cybertron...that night in Kalis."

At the mention of that last subject Optimus tensed and looked away from Airachnid in...embarrassment? Well, that was new. Arcee had never seen the Prime so vulnerable. To be fair she had also never seen Prime curse or threaten to shoot a pleading enemy, so it was a day full of surprises.

Before Optimus could respond to Airachnid's proposal however, there was a sudden snapping of a twig, and the Autobots turned around to see Knockout and his goons standing there ready for a fight.

"Well, well, well, looks like you found our prey for us, Autobots," Knockout purred, "You know what to do, boys."

That was as good as an order as far as Breakdown and Bulkhead were concerned, and with feral grins the duo ran toward Airachnid and the Autobots. Optimus readied his arm into a cannon, Arcee whipped out her blades, and Cliffjumper transformed his arms into dual blasters; running right toward the approaching 'Cons.

Breakdown and Bulkhead both went for the Prime, while Knockout started tussling with Cliffjumper. Arcee started ramming her blades into Breakdown's back, but his armor was too thick for her to penetrate. Breakdown paid her no mind as he used his hammer against Prime, who was fending off each blow with a raised arm as if it wasn't a hundred metric tons of force.

Bumblebee and Ratchet meanwhile called the kids for a ground bridge and quietly snuck Airachnid into the base with them.

/Is this a good idea?/ Bumblebee asked apprehensively over the comm, /Optimus didn't seem too happy about Airachnid wanting to join us./

/I know Bee, but if there is even the slightest hope for her redemption we must take it,/ Ratchet replied, /Besides, we can't allow her to be executed in cold energon. It's not the Autobot way./

The ground bridge closed behind the trio, and the flickering light got Cliffjumper's attention.

/Hey, boss,/ Cliffjumper pinged Optimus, /Looks like the doc and the kid made it home. We should probably wrap this up and join them./

/Indeed,/ Optimus nodded, /Sierra, we will require another ground bridge in five minutes./

/Understood,/ Sierra replied, /By the way Prime, who's the freaky spider chick?/

Optimus almost lost his balance between those words and Bulkhead's wrecking ball fist colliding with his chassis. Airachnid was in the base? Optimus furrowed his brow, knowing that Ratchet likely had something to do with this.

/We will discuss it later,/ Optimus replied curtly before cutting off the comm channel.

With that little distraction gone Optimus shot at the first 'Con in his path; Breakdown. Breakdown stumbled backward but didn't fall, and with a rage-filled war cry he came at Prime again with his hammer. Prime caught the hammer in his servos with great effort, and even as Breakdown tried to push into his attack Optimus lifted up the 'Con and threw him as if he were merely a bag of trash. Breakdown collided into the trees, and rubbed his sore helm from the impact. He then fell over and passed out.

Arcee meanwhile had found herself fighting with Bulkhead. Knockout and Cliffjumper were going toe-to-toe, and it was obvious Cliffjumper had the physical advantage. Arcee just had to keep Bulkhead's wrecking ball away from her, and given his slow speed that didn't seem so hard to do. She dodged and weaved around the bulky green mech with the skill of a dancer and the frenetic energy of a grasshopper. No matter what Bulkhead tried, he simply couldn't catch Arcee or prevent her from inflicting blows.

"You know, femme..." Bulkhead huffed breathlessly as he continued his offensive, "...Megatron wants us to bring you in. I think he might...want you dead. Such a shame too. I think you'd make a pretty sweet 'Con. Like that hateful look in your optic. I love that! Such fire. Like a scraplet hunting for food."

"You know, you talk more than the Bulkhead I know," Arcee quipped dryly before smashing into his face with both fists and then using her blade on the wires beneath his shoulder.

Bulkhead roared in pain and fell to his knee bolts. Knockout meanwhile was scratched up and missing a door on one of his arms thanks to Cliffjumper. He ran to Bulkhead for cover, and then together they ran toward Breakdown, who was still sitting in the mass of downed trees unable to get up.

"Soundwave, we need a ground bridge. Now!" Knockout shouted aloud, "Get us out of here!"

A moment later the ground bridge was ready, and Knockout and Bulkhead dragged Breakdown along with them. Optimus didn't even try to follow them. He had bigger problems to deal with.

"Our ground bridge should appear momentarily," Optimus announced to his crew, "Before we enter however I should inform you that Airachnid is in our base."

Arcee gasped, and Cliffjumper looked peeved.

"Seriously? How the pit did that happen?" Cliffjumper asked critically.

"I am uncertain, though my guess is Ratchet and Bumblebee facilitated this impromptu rescue," Optimus replied, "I do not yet know their motives, or Airachnid's for that matter. We will have to take this one step at a time. We will give this situation a fair chance. I tell you now however that if Airachnid tries to harm us or the children that you have my full authorization to remove her from our midst...by any means necessary."

"It'll be necessary. You know it will," Cliffjumper replied with disdain, "Airachnid can't play by our rules, and if she lays one claw on Sierra I'll rip her a new exhaust port. I can't believe Ratchet and Bee did this to us."

Arcee didn't contribute to the conversation, but her processor was going a mile a minute. Airachnid was going to be in the base. The femme that killed Tailgate was in the Autobot base. Except she wasn't the one who killed Tailgate, not really. This Airachnid wasn't the same person Arcee knew from her own dimension. If Cliffjumper's words were anything to go by though, then this Airachnid could be just as bad. Optimus certainly seemed to think so. Then again, how well did Arcee know this version of Optimus? He hadn't tried to hurt her, but there was just something...off about him. There were scars inside this Optimus that he didn't even try to hide.

Then again, maybe this version of Optimus was actually more open than the one she knew. Her Optimus had suffered greatly at the servos of Megatron and the Decepticons. He bore a great burden, and did so with dignity and a quiet grace that Cliffjumper's Optimus seemed to lack. It wasn't that there was no dignity, but it was countered by a rough edge that threatened to cut anyone that crossed him.

Then there was Bulkhead. How could Arcee accept that Airachnid was safer to have in the base than Bulkhead, her very own friend and teammate? Then again, just like with Airachnid, Arcee had to remind herself that she didn't actually know this mech that looked like Bulkhead. He was a Decepticon. A monster. Those red optics and that lecherous sneer told her everything she needed to know about this version of Bulkhead.

The ground bridge opened, and Optimus went inside first, followed by Cliffjumper and Arcee. Cliffjumper stayed close to her, and she could tell he was tense. He was likely trying to protect her in case Airachnid tried anything. Arcee stuck close to Cliff for the same reason. She wanted to protect him in case something went wrong.