Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.

Emperor Thav: *glares at Authoress* I've never drank that much milk in my entire existence.

Authoress: *shrugs* Not my fault you couldn't handle the heat.

Pandimala: *vents* And I think we need to drop this subject. If Physis hears you all talking about those peppers again, he will offline somebot.

Authoress: *sticks tongue out at Thav*

Pandimala: *pointedly* Or some Authoress.

Authoress: *grows nervous*

Reviews: This reviewer posted a review for one of my completed stories, and since it was a guest review, this was the next updated story for me to respond to them. This was for a review of Resolve of One.

Guest: Thank you for the review! And yes, they enjoyed every penny that they took. While the Decepticons eventually had their own income from Earth coming in, they needed some starting funds, and money that couldn't be reported as stolen seemed like the best money to take.

Chapter 10: Questions

Emperor Thav's 1st P.O.V.

"You wished to see me?" I glanced up to see Garl. As one of the newer members of my War Council, it was understandable that he was still nervous around me. Hopefully, time will change that. Until then, I would be patient with the blacksmith who had earned his way onto my Council.

However, that wasn't the reason I called him here. "Yes, please have a seat." He sat down and focused on me before I spoke. "I heard you got a special order from Pandimala."

Garl nodded. "Pandimala came in soliform and mentioned how, after visiting my shop, she realized she had very few weapons. While she simply gave me a list of her melee equipment, I honestly agreed with her. So, she asked what I would recommend outside of replacements for her broadswords. I mentioned that having a dagger on servo never hurt in case of close-quarters attacks, and she agreed with me. So, we worked out the designs, and I have her order already in the works." He then gave me a studying look. "But why do you want to know what she was ordering?"

I wanted my new war council to be open with each other, and the questions we had been having about Pandimala should be brought up to the only other member outside of my daughter.

"There are parts of Pandimala's history, as she has told us, that do not make any sense when we look at her actions during her time on this planet and, more importantly, here at the embassy. Caigal mentioned during her days with the femme's soliform, she exhibited instincts that mechano beings do not instinctually exhibit as Pandimala did." I explained to Garl.

He, in turn, nodded. "I noticed some strange behavior from her as well. She seemed to have a habit of chewing on her hair. I know of some organic species that habitually do this when nervous or in a similar state of mind. Not only that, but she followed along with my smithing processes despite the organic-based processes that I use. She didn't have any questions about them, and she didn't seem to be faking knowledge of it either. She truly understood what I was doing. And I'm not sure if you heard," I paid extra attention as he seemed to be going off on a tangent. "But her fights for her training have all the bots confused up there. Even sent Sandstorm to the medical wing a few times."

This wasn't news to me. "I've heard that her snaps are incredibly violent. But that wouldn't be a hallmark of anything strange going on. Plus, in the solars since the incident between her and Prince Sharpstreak, the femme has gotten almost complete control of her snaps."

To my surprise, the labac shook his head. "Except I'm not talking about her snaps. I'm talking about her regular fighting." He then motioned to his wrist before he continued. "From what I've heard, she seems to be able to attack joints and other sensitive targets on the chassis with an accuracy we don't usually see in mechano beings. Even their martial arts don't go into that sort of training. From my weapon crafting and making weapons with weaknesses in mind, I've only seen that in organic species."

"So, we can assume the femme spent time on an organic world for an extended period," I gathered from what he said. That would be useful to know. And it also explained how the femme could blend in as well as she did. Well, somewhat, at least.

I felt frustrated when Garl shook his head. "That's not all. The femme had to be with those organics and interact with them long enough to where she picked up on their instincts. That doesn't happen in a few stellars. That takes time."

A long-term deployment on an organic world. That narrowed down the list of places Pandimala could have been coming from when she was shot down here. I'd have intelligence start looking into that. "While I do wonder about the femme," I began as a reminder. "I also consider her a friend. I don't wish to upset her should we dig too far into something she may not be happy with us digging into."

Garl held up his hands at that. "I understand. I also count Pandimala as a friend and would rather avoid upsetting her if I can. Despite all that we don't know about her, she has been fairly open with us, the situation as it is."

Yes, the fact that the femme was forced to stay here for recovery from an incident in which she did everything right. And after all of that, she was taking everything in stride. If it were my ship that had been shot down over neutral territory, since that was what Vestium Major would be considered for her, I would have made sure they regretted coming into existence. Outside of some harsh words, though reasonable, the femme was very understanding with Lord Dawnbreaker and his family.

Speaking of, I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized that Caigal and Pandimala should be getting to their workout with Leopel and Perfican. Perhaps we would go and watch for a little. Get a first-hand view of what was going on. "If you have time, Garl, we should visit the training center and see these anomalies first hand. Caigal is there with Pandimala right now, so we even have a reason to go and watch."

The labac looked like he was debating my request until he nodded. "I could spare a few cycles to watch them. I haven't seen any interesting fights in some time, and this will probably be very entertaining." Like any respectable labac, Garl appreciated a good fight. And from the reports I read, Pandimala showed she could fight well. I'd have to have her use her soliform and take part in a mock fight against one of my soldiers. The experience Pandimala would have as a Decepticon placed into that form would be an exciting battle.

However, that would have to wait. As I had thought earlier, few organic worlds had a long-term Decepticon presence. And a few of those could be eliminated simply due to the path she would have had to take to get here. A few of those planets didn't have a feasible route from them to Vestium Major space. Yes, I would be looking into this thoroughly. While I trusted Pandimala, given everything she had done for me, I wanted to know more. She was holding back something, and I wanted to know what that was.

Pandimala's 1st P.O.V.

"You know, I think you are enjoying this a little too much," Perfican huffed as he sat, waiting for the medics to look at his wrist.

With my current recovery, I was falling back into the fighting styles that I had. And one of my instincts was the impulse to go after weak points when I could. Lord Megatron appreciated the strange aspect I brought into training and had me training with the bots on the Nemesis before the situation with the peace talks. Knockout, Hook, Joe, and the other medics had their servos full with injuries when I would use those moves in practice. Of course, I had to be judicious with how often I did those attacks. While Lord Megatron encouraged me to use those attacks, he did understand that it was not wise to anger medics when I didn't need to. At least they would be proud of how I was recovering here. With my current recovery here, I felt I would be back to full health in no time.

As I sat with the others waiting, I had to hold back a flinch as I felt phantom pains on my back. Where my wings should be. Even though it had been several solars since I was shot down, I still felt like I was just waking up with that same pain repeatedly. I forgave Seabreaker and most of his family for the attack, though Firebrand was still in my crosshairs. However, despite that forgiveness, I couldn't ignore the empty feeling my wings sent me. Well, what they should have been sending me. Instead, they were on lockdown, just as my t-cog was. It was like an itch that would pop up every so often that I couldn't itch no matter what.

Back to Perfican, though. "Possibly. But that's only because that means I'm recovering faster," I laughed as the medic walked over and started to work on the mech. "Though I have to ask Caigal," The labac turned to me as I addressed her. "Is there any special reason your father and Garl have been watching us for the past cycle?"

She glanced up to where the two were sitting before she shook her head. "Probably boredom. Father has a strange habit of wandering where the entertainment is…or where I am." She then glanced at me. "And I've noticed that when I'm with you, Pandimala, both incidents seem to cross."

"Me? Cause trouble?" I asked with heavy irony in my vocals.

Even though I was using irony, all three of them, and the medic, glanced back at me. "If you weren't being ironic, I would helm slap you to the pit and back." Leopel laughed.

"Oof, right in the spark," I proclaimed, exaggeratingly while covering my chest plate with my servo. "But, I get what you mean, though. I do tend to attract trouble. I'm mature enough to admit that." However, that got me thinking about some of the trouble I have been seeing. "Speaking about maturity, though, I have to ask. What is the deal with Sharpstreak and Firebrand? I've heard they're close, and the attitudes I've been getting from each of them solidifies that fact."

The three of them glanced at me but stayed quiet until the medic working on Perfican left before Caigal shook her head. "Yeah, they're close. They've known each other for as long as I have been alive."

"Even longer," Leopel joined in. "We all used to hang out. Since my carrier is an advisor to Lord Oryax, I've been coming to Vestium Major for a good part of my existence. And since Lord Oryax doesn't have any creations, he encouraged the families of his advisors to interact with the other creations of higher-ups. We all practically watched her grow up." I laughed as that got Caigal to blush and turn away slightly. "But Sharpstreak and Firebrand were super close. I used to hang out with them when we were younger, and everything was fine when we started our youngling stellars. But, as we got older, Sharpstreak started to change. He got more aggressive, and he started to become a bully. He made fun of the others because they were smaller than he was. And Firebrand looked up to Sharpstreak, so he followed right behind him. At first, I tried to stop him. Get Firebrand to see what Sharpstreak was up to. But it never worked. Since I didn't see Firebrand as often as he did Sharpstreak, I wasn't around enough to change anything. Now, Firebrand is insufferable."

That made sense. If Firebrand had such an attachment to the mech, it would be harder for me to break through to him as I wanted. But I had to try, at least. And the best way to do that was to get him to see how much his actions hurt his family. I'd have to make a plan around that. For now, though, I had to try to keep our interactions to a minimum.

"I know that look, Pandimala," I glanced at Caigal as she gave me a studying glance. "You're planning something."

Well, she was partly right. "I'm planning on planning something more like it." I corrected her. "But, I'll fill you in on that later. For now, though, let's head to the Fair. There are some exhibits that I want to look at before the exhibition next solar." I would tell these three about what I was planning once I had a plan in place. It wouldn't be easy to break Sharpstreak's hold on Firebrand. I'd have to tread cautiously to make sure I didn't cross any lines.

For now, I needed to focus on finishing my recovery and my triple-changer training. Ever since the incident, I have been able to control my snaps even better. I was to the point where, when I snapped, I would only be violent for the first few clicks. Sandstorm and the instructors were amazed at my progress and told me so regularly. At the rate I was going, I would be graduating at the same time that Perfican and Leopel were going to be. It was one more step toward my return home. After that, I needed to heal enough for Physis to release my medical lockdowns. I was one step closer.

"Sure. I wanted to check out the Hissan scale armor." Caigal spoke up as the four of us made our way out of the training area.

I felt a shiver travel up my back at her suggestion. While the Hissans were nice, I had to approach them carefully. They were a species with four arms, and in place of legs, they had snake-esque tails. When I first met the species, I almost panicked. Caigal thought I was snapping when we ran into the one the other solar. Before she got a guard to call Sandstorm, though, I was able to separate them in my processor from snakes, and I was calm around them for the rest of that meeting. I was worried that if I were surprised by them, I would panic like I did with snakes.

"Sure," Perfican agreed as we made it outside. "After we look there, I want to run over to Thundera's exhibit. They supposedly have created a new armor coating to help reduce feedback from electric-based weapons."

Really? Given my order to Garl, the other solar, I also needed to look into that. While my normal broadswords were plain in their concept, the ones I was having Garl craft would have an electrical current going through them. Maybe I could coat the hilts of the blades in this coating? I'd look into it. "That sounds great." I agreed out loud. "Seabreaker should be waiting outside for me. Once we tell him the plan, we can start with the Hissan exhibit. After that, we can see where else looks interesting."

Grinchain's 1st P.O.V.

"Alright, that's enough!"

Vents cycling, I backed away from the practice hologram I had been working on. I was moving quickly through the different remedial lessons that Skylark was putting me through. Since I was never a fan of training because it usually involved rigorous and demanding focus that I couldn't and didn't want to give, I had some basic lessons to go through. And Skylark had been patient with me for the solars I had been attending. That was especially true since I was a last-click student. Most of the trainers here on Vestium Major were booked out for dozens of solars, if not stellars, to get in.

But she could take me as soon as I had called. Now that I thought about it, why had she been able to take me? "Thanks for the lesson this solar," I thanked the femme as she walked over.

The light blue jet femme with white markings had a frame type that, while not beast in nature, took on a bestial appearance. Hers was of an avian, and that was most notably seen in her wings, which took on ridges like feathers on wings, and the crest that was on her helm, which had the light blue of her frame, the white that touched her other feathers, and a dark blue that rounded it out. Her optics were strange, though. While her right optic was a rich red, the left was golden. "It's always a pleasure to work with you, Grinchain," The femme spoke as she stopped before me. "You push yourself when many others I've worked with don't bother. While many bots on this planet like training, they don't like putting actual effort into training. You do, though. It makes me glad that you called me."

"Speaking on that," This seemed like the best opening to get my answers. "How were you able to fit me in? Most trainers I've heard about have waiting lists that last for solars, at the least. Some are stellars out in reservations."

A short vent left the femme before she motioned me to sit. Since I wasn't in a hurry, since this was Seabreaker's solar with Pandimala anyway, and they were hanging out with some others, I took a seat. "As I just said, you push yourself in your training, despite the few solars you see me, unlike many others that have come through these doors. Outside of you, Grinchain, I see three other bots, and they don't usually come to me until later in the evenings. You are the only one I see in the early portion of the solar. And out of the four of you, Grinchain, you are the most dedicated to this training."

I was the most dedicated? I saw Skylark every other solar, which was shorter than most bots' training sessions. "That can't be. I'm only here part-time, and even then, I don't train the entire time slot that most bots do."

"I appreciate the thought behind that," Skylark laughed, "But it's true. And, if you think hard enough, you can probably guess why they don't respect me enough to train as diligently as you do."

It didn't take me long to think of one thing that could be holding bots back. Both from what she said and even from joining her training center in the first place. But it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to judge bots on things they couldn't control. "Just because you're a femme?" I put it out there to make sure it was said.

She nodded. "Yes. Despite the advances we have made in showing the equality between femmes and mechs, there are still old prejudices engrained in some bots' programming. And those prejudices say that femmes are worth less on the battlefield than in other, more domicile roles."

"But that's scrap." I hissed. "There are so many examples of strong femmes who have risen to the tops of their militaries that could shut down all of their arguments. Strike is among the greatest strategists and warriors the Decepticons have ever had. Lensflare is a strong and relentless Decepticon on the battlefield, from the reports I read, as is Astraea. Frag, Astraea once went pede to pede with three Wreckers to ensure her platoon escaped. That's not even bringing up Pandimala, who we all know is powerful. Slag, she took a hit from the defense system and is already back to training. Of course, then there is Waldrel, military leader of Airlandia, who has very few defeats in her millions of stellars leading."

"I get your point, Grinchain," Skylark laughed as she motioned me to stop with her servos. "And I appreciate all of your examples. But you just prove my point. You understand that strength isn't determined by frame type. Many bots, both mechs and femmes, don't understand that concept. But that is alright. I'd rather not waste my time with such short-processor bots."

While I saw what she was saying, it still felt wrong. But, this was her fight. And if there was one thing I had picked up from all of the femmes I had studied and knew, femmes could handle their fights. So, I raised my servos. "Fair enough."

"I did have a question for you, Grinchain, if you are allowed to answer it," Skylark suddenly said.

I tilted my helm slightly in confusion at what sounded like a complete change of pace. "What is it, Skylark?"

"It's about Pandimala. Has she told you how she survived the hit from the defense system?" Skylark started. "I've thought about it, and her armor has to be made with extremely study material to not disintegrate from those blasts."

I hadn't thought about it before, but now that Skylark mentioned it, that was strange. "It hasn't come up," I answered her, though my thoughts were moving away from my surroundings fast as I thought about her question. The defense system was built to repel large-scale battleships that might attack us one solar. Pandimala's alt mode was minuscule in comparison to those. All of the tests my sire did on those systems showed that they had the power to accomplish their task efficiently. And that meant that Pandimala should have been decimated by the glancing shots she took from it. But she wasn't. Moreover, she had been conscious when the investigative team had gone to look for evidence of the pilots of the 'ship'.

Maybe I would ask Pandimala after Wern's presentation next solar? I was pretty sure it wouldn't make the femme angry. I mean, it wasn't like she wasn't used to it. Having a frame that sturdy, she had to have her fellow Decepticons asking about it before.

"Vestium Major to Grinchain!" I jolted back to focus when I heard Skylark say that. As I focused on her, she laughed. "I didn't mean to get you in your thoughts with that. I was honestly just curious. As you said, she is a pretty close example of a strong femme, so I was curious." She then motioned to me. "Rest up a bit this solar and next. I want us to work on your flight capabilities next solar we meet. That will be fairly taxing on your frame."

"I'll make sure I rest as well as I can," I agreed before we stood up. Reaching out my servo, I shook her offered servo. "Thanks again for teaching me, Skylark. I'm glad I was able to get in with you."

"You don't have to sound like we aren't going to see each other again. However, it has been an honor teaching you. But we are far from done with your training. Now go and get some rest."

Nodding, I waved goodbye to her before I left the training center. Once the warm sun hit my chassis, I slowed down and walked down the streets toward Teklan Hall. But, as I did, I let my thoughts go back to what Skylark and I discussed. Well, what we were talking about in regards to Pandimala. While I counted the Decepticon as my friend, there were so many mysteries surrounding her that I felt conflicted. Since she was my friend, I didn't want to doubt her just because I didn't know something about her. However, she would be the first to tell me I should look for answers to whatever I had questions about.

Of course, looking for answers and asking her about them directly were two different things. Maybe I would wait until my next solar with her? We were going to be busy with the exhibition next solar, so I probably wanted to save my questions for another solar. Plus, that would give me time to figure out how to ask her all this.

And, deep down, I was worried about losing her as my friend. While she did want me to ask questions, there had to be a limit, and I didn't want to cross it. I didn't have many friends, and having her as my friend was a gift from Iussa that I never wanted to lose. Even my twin didn't understand me as well as Pandimala did. As I glanced up at Teklan Hall, I remembered my first tour solar with her. Coming here showed me that a bot could love to study as I did and still find time to train. Pandimala was not only my friend, but she was my idol. She was the kind of bot I wanted to be one solar.

So no. I would wait until after the exhibition to ask her anything. And even then, I would ask her questions slowly, so I didn't go past that line. Every bot had their limits. I had seen one of Pandimala's limits when we met with Iussa, and I never wanted her to be that disappointed and angry with me.

Pandimala: *glares at Authoress* I don't like this. It was too nice. *optics narrow in suspicion* You're building up to something...aren't you?

Authoress: *knowing that it is pointless to hide it* Of course I am. But, what that something is will be very interesting. I don't think you understand what direction I am going to come after this from.

Grinchain: That doesn't sound good at all. And I'm a newer bot here. The fact that I know that already is telling, Authoress.

Authoress: *smiles* I'm glad you are learning quickly, Grincahin. It will serve you well in the future.

AN: And that is the next chapter! I enjoyed writing that more than I thought, given that it is a filler chapter. But I did throw some forewarnings in there for the sharp reader to find. Of course, there are the more obvious ones as well. And if you take the clues I gave this chapter along with the ones I've given in the past chapters, some of you might be able to piece together what might happen. Maybe. I'm glad that I was able to get this out. Pandimala is asking questions for her plans, while at the same time, everybot else is asking questions about those little details in her existence that they don't understand. Of course, poor Grinchain is worried about getting Pandmala angry if he asks too personal of questions, though those are the questions he wants to be answered.

Well, that's all for now. Here are the next chapter titles!

Chapter 11: A Solar of Innovention

Chapter 12: Code Nightingale

Chapter 13: ...(Find out next time!)

And that's all from me. Again, thank you all so much for taking the time to read my works. I appreciate each view, favorite, follow, and review I get. Until next time, though, TTYL! *listening to Johnny Boy by Santiano when I should be getting sleep*