Hello again all and welcome back. First off, a shout out to dragonheartdelven and Monkey D. Connan for figuring out that Bludgeon in this story talks in Haiku (A type of Japanese poetry). And an extra kudos to Monkey for spotting an error I made in the last chapter with it. (I've taken your advice and fixed that part how you suggested.) Now, in this chapter will be some touchy subjects for some, so be warned. I've dropped little breadcrumbs in past chapters to hint at it, but this is the exposition. That also said, I know that Pride month is over a week away, but I didn't want to leave you all waiting so consider this my contribution. Enjoy.
Arcee hoisted herself up over the cliff. It had been three days since Galavar had landed her in the Lost Lights' sick bay. Raf, after eating and some rest, used his CR pulse one additional time to heal her scorched T-cog. She'd only just gotten the clearance from Ratchet and First-Aid to go on this scouting trip with Jack the day before.
Speaking of. "You okay down there partner?" She called over the side. She moved over a bit as the cord from Jacks' whip wrapped around an outcropping in the rock. Jack reeled it in, pulling himself close to the top and swing over it to stand next to Arcee before reeling it in completely.
"Never better." Jack replied. "Are you okay though?" He asked, checking for any signs of fatigue from her recent injury.
Arcee scowled. This was the third time Jack had asked her that in less than an hour. "Again Leobolt, I'm fine." She gave a sigh. "Alright Jack, what's going on?" This was something more than just being seriously injured. And she knew it had nothing to do with the incident with Dealer/Doubledealer. She still couldn't figure out how that conbot got away with his charade as long as he did.
"Sorry Arcee." Jack sighed. "It's just in all the time I've known you, you've been at the top of your game. Then you get shot up by your brother, who just so happens to be a Decepticon. I mean I know he's your brother but."
Arcee cut him off. "Jack, Galavar has wanted me dead even before the war broke out." At his confused look she gave a sigh of her own. "Would it help if I told you why he wants me gone?"
"Sorry, I know it's personal Arcee. I just can't see why he'd want to kill you." Jack replied. Ever since his father left him and his mother, it had just been the two of them. Now though he had Raf and Vince as pseudo siblings. Even Sierra and Allison were to a lesser extent, to say nothing of Miko. He couldn't imagine wanting to harm any of them, let alone kill them.
Arcee sat down so she'd be on eye level with Jack. "Well first off, I think I need to explain something about him." She began. "To use Rungs' words, my brother is a megalomaniacal narcissist. He believes can do no wrong and the only thing he truly cares about is himself."
At Jacks shocked expression she continued. "Now, knowing that." She swallowed a bit. "I need to tell you something about me." She stopped herself when she noticed a slight shimmer on a rock near where they sat.
Deploying her guns, she took aim at the spot. The shimmer appeared again and seemingly leaped down to the ground. "Woah wait, don't shoot." Came Mikos' voice as her falcon mode shimmered into view.
Arcees' optic twitched. "Up to your old tricks again, Wingsaber?" She asked as Jacks girlfriend transformed under both their disapproving looks. "And where did you get that thing?" She said motioning to the device on her left wrist that was the cause of the invisibility.
"Sorry." She said, looking like she genuinely meant it. "I know you said you didn't need backup on this mission, but after what happened to you, I got worried about you two." She rubbed the device on her wrist. "And I borrowed this cloaker from Brainstorms' lab. That way if your brother or someone else ambushed you, I thought maybe I could ambush him."
Sighing Arcee looked at Wingsaber. "Miko, I understand, but Galavar surprised me the other day. I hadn't seen him in millions of years, but next time I'll be ready for him." She looked over at Leobolt. "And don't be too angry with her Jack. Honestly, I think she was more worried about you than me." Leobolts glare softened to a more caring expression.
Miko smiled. "I'll just get airborne and give you two some space to talk." She went to transform before Arcee stopped her.
"It's alright Miko, you can stay." She spoke. "Jack's my partner, and frankly I'd be very surprised if you two don't become Conjunx Endurae sometime in your lives so I'll tell you both." At their confused look about the term, she explained. "That's life partners or spouses, essentially our equivalent of being married." She smirked watching as the two blushed while holding hands.
Deciding to spare them anymore embarrassment, she continued. "But as to mine and my brothers' relationship. Do you remember when I told you about how the sibling concept works for Cybertronians?" She asked, sitting back down.
At their nod, Arcee continued. "Well, when Galavar and I were forged, that is, born from the metal of our hotspot, our sparks were close enough to be siblings. The problem was his spark is what's called a point one percenter, a superpowered spark. Somehow, his spark completely took over my formatting, causing he and I to be born as identical twins."
Jack looked confused but Mikos' eyes widened. "No way, you're transgender?" She cried out in surprise. Jacks' expression went from confused to shocked in a big hurry.
Arcee nodded. "That's right, I was forged mech, or born male in human terms." She looked down at the two, focusing on Jack. "You okay Jack?" She asked. She really hoped that this didn't change anything between them. She'd lost more than a couple of potential Amica Endurae because of this.
"What? No!" Jack replied. "Arcee, this is the only version of you I've ever known. I could care less that you were born male. Honestly, I never would have guessed if you hadn't told me."
"Like Jack said, I have no issues with transgenders or transexuals. Hell, I'm pansexual myself so I'm not about to deprive you of friendship because of this." Miko said.
Arcee scooped the two Maximals into her embrace. "Thank you." She whispered. Had she been capable of it, she would've cried.
"A-Arcee, can't breathe." Jack gasped, bringing her back to reality.
Releasing the two and clearing her throat, she continued her story. "Well as you can guess, I never felt right in my body, but Galavar was delighted to have a twin that looked like him. So, when I decided I wanted to change my body, he became furious."
She winced. "He tried to kill me that night. He claimed that I lost the right to call him brother because I no longer wanted to be his brother. He wasn't charged because you couldn't legally change jobs let alone your gender back then, so no one viewed what he did as wrong."
At their outraged looks she continued. "That was what life was like back then which I'll explain later. After I was released from the hospital, I looked for a way to transition." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ultimately I fell in with a scientist named Jhiaxus."
Miko snorted a bit. "Gee, axe us?" She was silenced by a sharp look from Arcee and an elbow to the ribs from Jack.
"Jhiaxus was Shockwaves' mentor, and like him interested in pushing the limits of transformation." Arcee explained. "The problem is he had nothing in the way of morals or ethics in regards to his experiments. It wasn't until years later that I saw him for what he really was, a monster. "
Arcee shivered. "My procedure was done by changing my CNA on a cellular level. He molded my body into the form I have now. Unfortunately, he didn't believe in things like anesthesia or aftercare." Jack and Miko winced. Their reformatting had been painful enough.
She closed her optics. "My body matched how I felt, but my brain and mesh memory weren't aligned with my new body. When I went to Jhiaxus for help I found he'd left, and ultimately didn't care about what would happen to me after the surgery."
Seeing the Maximals horrified expressions she decided to finish her story. "Ultimately, I ended up in a mental institution. The senate didn't want my story to get out so most of the doctors wouldn't come near me with a ten-foot pole. However, there was one psychologist who was willing to help me. A doctor who specialized in treating the after effects of the recently legalized body modification surgeries."
"Rung." Jack interrupted. "That's how you met Rung."
Arcee smiled at the two and nodded. "He helped me heal mentally after my transition. That's how I knew he'd be able to help you kids."
"That's not the only person she met." Came a chilling, unknown voice, catching them by surprise.
Looking up at the rocks above Arcee, they saw what looked like a purple Cybertronian with a gaunt, paper white face and red optics. His overall appearance seemed to be akin to a samurai with a horned helmet and small wings attached to the back of his shoulders. On his back was a sword similar to the one Drift carried.
As the stranger leapt down from his perch, Miko and Jack drew their weapons. "Oh slag, a Decepticon!" The former yelled as the latter readied his whip.
The stranger glared at the two Maximals. "Young femme, I do not tolerate that kind of language. And second of all, I am not now, nor have I ever, been a Decepticon." He ended with a sneer. Upon closer inspection, they noticed an absence of any faction insignia.
Arcee gave a sigh. "It's okay, he's a friend, I think." She muttered the last bit. She had wondered when he'd show up again. "Cyclonus, it's been a while." She got up and walked over to him, offering a servo. Hoping this conversation wouldn't be as difficult as their last one.
Cyclonus sneered at the offered servo. "Yes, it's been a while since you swore to me that you'd hunt down Tailgates' killer." He replied coolly. He turned his gaze to the two Maximals as they returned their weapons. "Although I see that hasn't stopped you from taking on replacement partners. I notice Cliffjumper isn't here." He finished with a scowl.
"Now Cyclonus, you're not being fair." Arcee argued, anger rising. She couldn't believe He'd bring Cliff up like that. She'd only briefly introduced him via comms to point out she'd have help completing her vengeance.
"No, Arcee. What's not fair is having my Conjunx Endura join the Autobots despite my warnings only for him to be cut down by a psychopath." He interrupted. "A psychopath that is now active on this world."
Jack took a step forward. "What do you mean active? Last we saw she was shoved into a stasis pod."
Acee looked at him. "The pod was lost with the outpost. I wouldn't be surprised if the Decepticons did release her." She swallowed. She knew the irate swordsbot in front of her wouldn't like that.
"What!" Cyclonus shouted, glaring at her. "You had her locked in a stasis pod and didn't kill her!" He bellowed. "You didn't complete the vendetta?"
"That's not how the Autobots operate!" Jack yelled, coming to Arcees' defense. Miko put a hand on his shoulder to keep him from doing or saying anything stupid. A complete reversal to her and Jacks' usual dynamic.
Taking a minute to compose himself, Cyclonus continued. "Arcee, I admit the main reason I left the vendetta to you was because Airachnid killed him as a way to torture you." He looked at the Maximals and then back to her. "However, since Airachnid is now active on this planet and your status as an Autobot soldier seems to supersede anything else I will now take over the mission to exterminate her."
Jack seemed like he wanted to argue but Arcee silenced him with a shake of her head. "Very well Cyclonus." She said, using what sounded like a legal formula. "Having failed in my mission, I cede the vendetta to you." Nodding, Cyclonus transformed into a futuristic needle nosed jet with backwards looking wings and took off.
Once he'd disappeared over the mountain, Jack broke the heavy silence. "Arcee, why did you let him talk to you like that?" He asked. He'd never known Arcee to just lay back and take any kind of insult.
"Because to a point, he's right." Arcee sighed. "I met Tailgate at the same institute I met Rung. He was the first bot to not shy away from me after I told him I'm trans and we became Amica Endura or best friends almost immediately. He fell in love with Cyclonus and became his Conjunx a few years after he was released." She decided not to mention that he was there for treatment after spending nearly a million years alone underground.
She looked at Jack and Miko. "Cyclonus wasn't as understanding as Tailgate but accepted me as a friend for his sake." She sighed again; her optics full of sorrow. "He tried to talk Tailgate out of joining the war, tried to convince him to go off world with the other neutrals. He reluctantly supported his choice to join and when Airachnid killed him, we both swore a vendetta that one of us would kill her. Somewhat like how Miko and Wheeljack went after Hardshell." She finished, pointing out the Wreckers' revenge mission.
"I was granted the first chance for the reason Cyclonus said. However, having had her at my mercy in the stasis pod and not killing her, I failed in that mission. Cyclonus, being next in line will now hunt her down." She finished.
"He'll have a harder time tracking me than he thinks." Came a scarily familiar voice.
The trio barely had time to react when Arcee was shot by Airachnids' webbing, sticking her to the cliff face. Miko went to pull her katanas, but ended up being webbed to the rock she'd initially landed on before she could draw them. Finally, she landed in her spider mode, landing a kick to Jacks' midsection, knocking him into Arcee and disorientating him.
"You know." She began. "When one of my Insecticons mentioned something about humans being turned into techno-organics, I didn't believe him." She scoffed. "Now I'm almost sorry I ripped his spark out."
She stepped up to Jack. "Well well well, what do we have here?" She preened, taking a closer look at Jack. With a flick of her wrist, she stuck him to the cliff face before he could clear his head. "If it isn't little Jack Darby, or not so little anymore." She purred, running a finger seductively along the side of his face.
Miko struggled against the webbing. That was the spider bitch that tried to slag both Jack and his mom. Now she was admiring him like a piece of meat. She was just itching to throw some of her kunai now.
Unfortunately, her struggling garnered Airachnids' attention. "And here we have my little Jacks' mate." Miko blushed. She attempted a comeback but was cut off. "Don't even, I've killed enough couples to know the signs. I think I'll kill you first, just to see the look on his face. Don't worry though, he'll join you soon after." She smirked. "I hate to separate a happy couple though so I'll make sure to hang your heads next to each other." She finished as Jack began to struggle, his head finally clearing.
She turned to Arcee. "You know, I was watching you three for some time now. Enough to hear your entire sob story." She said looking Arcee in the optic. "While I commend you for taking the leap you did, you really traded down. I've met your brother and he wouldn't've been captured so easily." She added with a smirk.
Turning back to Miko and shifting into her bot form, she extended a finger that was now glowing a sickly green. "Now, since I want to preserve your heads for the first of my new trophies, I think a little poison is in order." Strolling up to the struggling femme she jabbed the tip of her finger into her arm and dispensed the poison.
Seeing what was about to happen, Jack redoubled his struggle against the webbing. As Miko was being injected the sounds he made went from basic grunts to more bestial growling. Still the web didn't give way. He stopped when he sensed the shadow of Airachnid looming over him. "Okay big boy, your turn." With that she injected him with the same poison she'd just given to Miko.
As Airachnid was infecting the Maximals Arcee began to struggle against her bonds too. "Airachnid, this is between you and me." She grits out. "Leave them alone."
Laughing, Airachnid turned back to Arcee. "Arcee, this stopped being just between you and I when Jack blew up my ship along with my collection. Besides, of all the mechs and femmes I've played with, you were always one of my favorites. So strong and stoic when attacked but harm someone you care about, and you crumble like a cheap paint job."
She stepped aside and gestured to Miko. "Now, I gave her a stronger dose, and we're going to stay and watch as she dies. Jack should start to feel his systems shutting down while his mate is in her death throes. He'll take a little while to expire but that'll make it all the more satisfying."
Arcee felt her spark chamber breaking. "Please." She beseeched. "Kill me, but give them the antidote. Don't do this." She finished with a whisper. She didn't think she could stand losing either of them let alone both.
Airachnid laughed. "Who said I had an antidote. Don't worry though, once you witness the removal of their heads, I'll put you out of your misery. I learned my lesson the last time, never leave a victim alive to-."
She was cut off as a familiar purple needle nosed jet slammed into her carrying her away from her victims. "On the contrary." Cyclonus called over the rushing wind. "The only one who dies today will be you." With that he transformed in midair and kicked Airachnid hard towards the ground.
Airachnid opened her optics in time to see her opponent, sword drawn, dropping down to deliver a blow. Rolling out of the way she switched back to her spider mode, his sword slicing through the rock her head had been next to seconds ago. Crossing two of her spider legs in front of her she caught his sword as he turned to strike again, although the force he put into the blow drove her back several paces. Whoever this bot was, he was a seasoned warrior.
She growled. "Look, I don't know what Megatron said to you, but I'm not-"
Cyclonus cut her off. "I don't know why everyone thinks I'm a Decepticon, but I assure I'm not one." He backed up a pace, lowered his sword swung and spun, taking off one of Airachnids spider legs. "And as I plan to kill the one that killed my Conjunx Endura, I'm no Autobot either."
He lunged forward, aiming at her neck. Gritting her dentia at the pain of losing a limb she blocked him with her spider legs again. Priming another dose of poison, she growled. "I don't know who or what you are, but I've had enough!" She yelled. She went to stab Cyclonus in the abdomen with her poison, only for him to spin away and bring his sword down, severing the finger with the poison in it.
Grunting in pain she transformed into her helicopter mode to escape only for her opponent to sever two of the rotor blades with his sword, grounding her. Quickly she shifted into her bot form and deployed her guns. She fired on Cyclonus who used his sword to deflect the blasts. As he deflected the second one, she caught the blade with some webbing and with a yank, tore the sword from his hands.
Seeing the tables had turned she grinned. "Lost your weapon huh. Now tell me, what do you call a warrior without a weapon?" She lunged for Cyclonus, holding her guns out to fire at point blank range.
Cyclonus growled. "A warrior still." With that he somersaulted under her blasts and drove both his feet into her abdomen. Putting all his strength into the kick he flipped her, the momentum causing her to smash upside down into a nearby cliff face. Seeing his sword off to his left he picked it up and pulled the webbing off it.
Shaking away the cobwebs, Airachnid saw that Cyclonus had retrieved his sword and was turning back towards her. "Tailgate my love, wherever your spark now resides, I hope you hear me and know you'll be avenged." He said as he advanced.
Hearing the name and remembering who it belonged to, Airachnid had an idea. "Tell me, how would your beloved Tailgate feel if he knew you left two sparklings to die? Let alone the fact that you left his Amica Endura to watch like she watched him die." She taunted deciding to rub salt in the wound.
Seeing Cyclonus hesitate she continued. "It's your choice big boy, you can either kill me here and now, or you can go help them before my poison takes them." From his expression she already knew his decision. Honorable bots were usually scrap when confronted by their own moral codes.
Looking to his right, Cyclonus saw the finger he'd severed earlier. It still had the venomous glow to it but it was fading. With luck he could use the Starshades' med kit to make an antidote. Giving a sigh he whispered. "I'm sorry Tailgate."
With that he jumped right, picking up the finger and sheathing his sword in one fluid motion. The second his back was turned Airachnid attempted to get the jump on him. What she didn't expect was for him to transform in front of her and hit the afterburner. Unfortunately, she was close enough to get a full blast of exhaust to the left side of her face, scorching it. Cyclonus barely registered the scream before he was out of range.
"Starshade, lock on my location and descend." He radioed his ship, heading back to Arcee and the Maximals.
The several minutes after Cyclonus flew off with Airachnid seemed to last hours for Arcee. The moment the two were out of sight she renewed her struggles. If nothing else to reach her comms to call for Ratchet, or First-Aid, or Raf, anybot who could help the two. However, for all her strength, she couldn't break out of the webbing.
Pausing to check she saw that Miko was now groaning in pain, trying to curl in on herself as the venom began to make its' way to her spark.
Jack on the other hand was struggling just as hard as Arcee was. If he could just get far enough out to grab his whip, he could cut them all loose. Hearing Miko groaning in pain combined with the pain from his own injection only spurred him on, not knowing his exertions were making the poison spread faster.
Feeling the latest surge of pain fade, Miko looked at the two across from her. "H-Hey you two." She panted. "I'm all right, just need to catch my breath before." She bit back a groan as a fresh wave of pain tore through her.
"Miko, Jack don't struggle. It'll only make the poison spread faster." Arcee called as she began struggling again. "I swear I'll get you two out of this." She would NOT let anything happen to them. Not after they'd fully accepted her.
"Jack, Arcee, if I don't make it, please remember this wasn't your fault." Miko grit out.
A tear ran down Jacks' face. "It wasn't yours either." He whimpered in both pain and sadness, wishing with all his spark to hold her.
Further conversation was cut off as Cyclonus returned and transformed in front of Jack and Arcee. He'd heard the last thirty or so seconds of conversation and it had him thinking hard about how he'd spoken before.
"Hold still." He said, drawing his sword. With several swings he sliced through the webbing holding them up. Arcee stumbled a bit and stood up but Jack had collapsed to the ground and began crawling over to Miko.
Turning to the moaning femme, Cyclonus quickly cut her loose. Catching her, he balanced her on one arm and picked up Jack in the other. A sudden shadow darkened the area, but looking up revealed a grey, box like ship that was landing near them.
"Come on." Cyclonus said motioning to an opening hatch. "The Starshades' med kit should be able to give us a viable antidote from this." Looking at his hand, Arcee saw a familiar looking severed finger.
Nodding, the two ran for the ships' opening. Going down a hall and turning right they came to a room with two berths which Cyclonus gently put the Maximals down on. Once he made sure they were comfortable, Cyclonus initiated the built-in scanners and walked over to the computer. Placing the severed finger on an additional scanner the computer began to identify the toxin.
Looking at the computer readout, he grimaced. "Alright, good news is the computer is starting to synthesize the antitoxin. The bad news is that these two will need a high grade energon infusion soon for them to live long enough to get it and we don't have much time.
Arcee looked around the room and saw what she was looking for, transfusion kits. Taking one of the small boxes, she connected it to her chest. Just over her spark chamber. "My innermost energon should do it then." She said turning to the Maximals.
Cyclonus looked at her wide opticed. "Do you have enough for both of them?" Donating one dose to someone was pushing it, but two in a row was risky. Giving too much innermost energon at one time can kill a Cybertronian.
Arcee glared at him. "I already lost Tailgate and Cliffjumper. I'll be damned to the pit if I lose anyone else." She replied angrily, taking Cyclonus by surprise.
Turning to Jack she unraveled the tubing and smaller needle box and went to connect it to his energon reservoir before his hand stopped her. "No." Jack groaned in pain. "Miko, first." He gritted out." Arcee hesitated a second before hearing Miko moan again. "Please." Jack begged.
Looking her partner in the eye, Arcee nodded and turned to Miko. Quickly, she placed the small box on the abdomen, right over her reservoir tank as she remembered from Ratchets' explanations. Activating the device, Arcee barely registered the hypodermic needle drilling through her spark casing and into the energon that collects in it around her spark. She watched in relief as the blue glow of energon flowed through the tubing and into Miko.
A few minutes later, Mikos ragged breathing began to ease as she slipped into unconsciousness. The energon infusion was diluting the poison. Arcees' vision however was becoming a little blurry as the device signaled that the transfusion was finished and she felt lightheaded.
Trying to shake the cobwebs she turned to infuse Jack only to find something she hadn't expected. Cyclonus had taken a second transfusion kit and connected it between him and Jack while she wasn't looking. Jack looked decidedly uneasy with the whole thing but his breathing was beginning to ease too.
Cyclonus looked at her. "Tailgate wouldn't have wanted you to risk yourself. Not when someone was there to ease the burden." He spoke.
Several minutes later the computer beeped. "The antidote's finished." He saw two vials of orange substance emerge from the computer. "There's an injection gun next to the transfusion kits, you can inject this one when the transfusion is finished."
Picking up the injector and scrambling over to the computer, Arcee grabbed the vials. Loading the first dose into the gun she placed it against the same arm Airachnid had injected her in. She gave a sigh of relief as the antidote drained into the femme; they'd been in time.
A beeping drew her attention. She turned back to Jack and Cyclonus in time to see Cyclonus remove the transfuser from his chest and Jacks' abdomen. Stepping up to the berth she gave Jack his injection.
"Miko's alright partner." She spoke. "The antitoxin will probably take some time to work fully but she's out of the woods. Just sleep for now and we'll head back to base when you wake up." Jack nodded and drifted to sleep, leaving Arcee and Cyclonus alone with each other.
Cyclonus nodded towards the door. "Would you follow me?" He asked. Arcee followed him down the hall, both of them light headed and using the wall for support, into another room. Inside she saw what looked like a simple Hab suite or bedroom. The thing that drew her attention though was a hologram statue of Tailgate.
Seeing what she was looking at, Cyclonus spoke. "Arcee, I owe you an apology." He began. "I was so focused on Tailgates fate and my own anger that I began to forget the kind of bot he was. Tailgate was always a caring, compassionate bot, if not a little naïve at times."
He looked over at Arcee. "Ultimately, he'd be very disappointed in the way I treated you today. Let alone the fact I was almost willing to let two young sparklings die to satisfy a vendetta." He gave a sigh. "In the end, you respected the past by trying to offline Airachnid, but grew as an individual by moving on and letting others in."
Arcee was stunned. In the time she'd known Cyclonus she'd never known him to apologize whatsoever. "You may not have moved on yet Cyclonus, but you have grown as a person too. This is the first time I ever heard you apologize for anything."
Cyclonus gave Arcee a genuine smile. "Thank you. Oh, and I'm sorry for how I acted in regards to you being transgender. While I didn't understand it, you were Tailgates' friend and that should have told me all I needed to know. And for that I can never apologize enough.
Arcee smiled back at him. "You know you're welcome to come back to base with us. If you want to."
Cyclonus shook his head. "No, I stand by my staying out of the war. I do however plan to stay and hunt down Airachnid and finish the vendetta." He looked back at Arcee. "However, I will drop you off at your base, and if you or your charges have true need of me, call." With that he offered a servo. Nodding, Arcee accepted the offered servo.
Meanwhile, in a cavern several miles away from where Cyclonus left her, Airachnid was examining the damage she'd sustained in a pool of water. While she'd been able to reattach the parts that Cyclonus had severed excepting her finger, the burns on her face were likely going to leave scars.
Silently she berated herself. When she'd heard Arcee she figured that she could get started on her revenge. Finding Jack and his mate with her had been an added bonus. However, her plan hadn't accounted for interlopers, and she paid the price for it.
Looking out at the cavern she saw that the Insecticons were about to replicate for the second time since she'd escaped. She smiled to herself. "Only a setback, once my Insecticon hive is big enough again, I'll be able to track them all down. It's only a matter of time now." She laughed as the Insecticons doubled in number.
A/N: Quite a ride huh? Cyclonus is based almost entirely off his IDW version, hence the 'not a Decepticon' thing. That's also where I got the notion of Arcee being transgender albeit with my own twist. I hope I handled her coming out tactfully. Originally, I hadn't planned to include Miko but she just worked her way in. Next time on Beast Wars Prime, Mentors.