Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime. It is the rightful property of Hasbro. My only claim is the plot to this fanfiction.

A/N: I must once more thank you all for your patience for the update of this particular fanfiction. For some of you wondering, it isn't lack of inspiration that has kept these updates so spaced out, it's time. I have been going through a rough one since last fall started and things have been hepatic moreso than usual. I have been trying to get this one out as fast as I can along with my other projects, so I must ask once more for everyone to remain as patient as possible. With that said, I must ask that you do not review on my other work to update this fanfiction. It's both annoying and disappointing and shows you have no regard for our other work. If you need to PM us, please do, but do not waste a review to simply state to 'Update Rise of the Predacons". They will be ignored if not removed. If you have issues, make them known but don't demand, please. For those of you who have been eagerly waiting patiently for this update, here we go!

xXx

Rise of the Predacons

Chapter 11

The last thing Agent Fowler expected from the recent mission Prime and his bots ventured out to take care of…was to bring home more Autobots, let alone bring back news that they lost the red energon.

"How in George Washington's Cherry Tree did you let the red energon get away from you?" Agent Fowler exclaimed in confusion. "This was supposed to be a snatch and grab mission, what went wrong?"

"Airachnid is what happened, Agent Fowler," Arcee answered, seeing Prime was not in the mood to talk.

At the mention of the mutated Decepticon, June rushed over. "Arcee…w-was Jack there?"

"…He was, but you won't like what we've discovered," Arcee answered truthfully, then began explaining what had happened during the mission.

Over to the side, Agent Fowler was trying to get the Prime to debrief him, but Prime was standing before Springer with a look that clearly showed he was ready to bash heads. When Fowler finally stopped trying to get answers and saw the expression, he slowly clammed up. Obviously there was history between these two and from how uncharacteristically hostile Optimus Prime was acting, this new Autobot was going to be trouble. "Optimus, mind introducing your new friend?"

A loud shriek of metal grinding over metal echoed up, drawing everyone's attention to Bulkhead trying to walk toward them. Springer's optics widen in surprise, then a faint glimmer of concern. "Bulkhead, is that you?"

"Commander?" Bulkhead grunted back in recognition, trying his best to approach the Ex-Wrecker Commander.

Springer rushed over to the damaged Wrecker. "What's the meaning of this, Prime? Why is this Wrecker in such disrepair?"

Ratchet came over and tried to stop Bulkhead from moving. "He had a run-in with Tox-En."

Springer snarled. "Tox-En! Here on this planet?"

"Yes, sir…but I destroyed the only remaining bit of Tox-En, it's not a threat to any Autobot, ever again," Bulkhead said, panting hard.

"Good work, Bulkhead. It was sad day indeed when you left the Wreckers. You should have remained with us," Springer stated, patting the large bot on the shoulder.

"With due respect, sir. I made my choice," Bulkhead said, looking up at Ratchet and then Optimus Prime. "I was needed on Team Prime and I've never regretted it."

A look of disappointment flickered over Springer's optics, but he nodded all the same. "We have all had to make choices to survive since the loss of Cybertron. I won't deny I'm displeased with you for leaving the Wreckers, but it was probably a good time when you did. The Wreckers lost much when it was passed onto…" his optics shifted over to the Prime. "…Stricter leadership."

"Be that as it may, it's sure good to see you made it, commander!" Bulkhead said.

Springer smirked. "At least I can say there was some good that came from this day." He looked around at the base, seeing the humans dismantling the place. "Is there a reason why these organics are striping your base and you are allowing it?"

"This base's location has been compromised after Airachnid escaped from a Stasis-Pod. We were unaware of her…true nature, and did not anticipate she'd free herself," Optimus Prime answered. "We are moving to a more secure location until we can establish a better one. We cannot trust that Airachnid will keep its location from Megatron."

Springer nodded in approval, turning to Ratchet. "I do not like seeing a fellow Wrecker in such poor state. Why has he gone this long without proper repairs?"

Ratchet narrowed his optics, not at all liking the tone Springer was given him. "If you've bothered to look around. You can see we've had to make do with what resources we can obtain. Most of what you see here was provided from our human allies that I've ingeniously managed to make somewhat adequate equipment out of it."

Springer was not pleased with that answer but from the sight of the stripping base and what tech was left alone, the only real piece of Cybertronian tech was the Ground-bridge. It was almost fitting for a fallen leader like Optimus Prime. Now all he needed to do was get the Prime's soldiers to see what they have been lacking so long…

"We have a proper Medical Bay on the Voyager. Anything you need, I will see that it's transferred to your new base. The days of the Autobots salvaging for parts are over," Springer decreed.

The humans were treated to a sight they never would have thought possible: Ratchet smiling.

"Finally! Proper, working equipment!"

"Ratchet, dude…wrong moment," Miko said, folding her arms and giving the Medic a pointed look.

Ratchet didn't seem to hear her. For a lack of a better work to the Miko, he looked…giddy.

"Okay, we lost Ratchet," Miko uttered, throwing her arms up in defeat and storming off.

Optimus Prime returned to the serious matter. "The equipment will be very much appreciated, Springer. But there is one thing that we must make clear. We are here as visitors on this planet. Any action that may put any human life at harm will not be tolerated…may I clear?"

The Prime and Springer stared hard at each other for a few moments, then the Ex-Wrecker Commander grunted as he averted his optics. "Fine, if that is how things are to be done on this planet, then so be it."

"Good, now after we have moved to our new base…" Optimus Prime than began explaining the importance of obtaining vehicle-modes and keeping the human population mostly unaware of their existence and their war with the Decepticons.

While that was happening, Hot Rod was examining the human race with great fascination. He had seen many sentient races during his travel as part of Springer's crew and had admired each one for their uniqueness. He studied them as they systematically broke down the surrounding equipment with care and loaded it up, marveling how well they handled machinery. His intrigue was pulled away when he saw a familiar blue and white schemed Autobot walking right up to him.

"Hot Rod! Is that you, bro?" Smokescreen hollered in joy.

Hot Rod's optics widened in pleasant shock and marched over and clamped his hand over the arm Smokescreen extended out to him. "Brother! It's good to see you! I thought you had perished when Iacon fell!"

"Nah, just the embarrassment of being captured, though. I managed to break out and escaped in a Decepticon Escape-Pod and made it to this dirtball…er, this blue marble," Smokescreen said, rephrasing when he saw one of the humans stop to glare at him for what he called earth. "Heh…no offense."

The human grunted and got back to work.

"Funny little guys, but they take things way too seriously," Smokescreen murmured when the human was far enough away.

Hot Rod chuckled and shook his head. "You haven't changed at all. Even during our basic training in the Elite Guard, you were always letting your mouth run before your processors could catch up."

Smokescreen shrugged, then looked over to where the Prime and Ex-Wrecker Commander were debriefing about earth protocols. "Seems you've been doing pretty well yourself, Rod."

The happy expression on Hot Rod's faceplate vanished when he glanced over at Springer. "…Not as well as you might think," he said lowly.

"Rod?" Smokescreen uttered, noting quickly the sudden change in mood.

Hot Rod tapped his outer thigh and Smokescreen instantly clammed up and stared over at Springer. That gesture was their code that something was seriously wrong and only used when dealing with something that was the cause of it. It was how Hot Rod was able to tell Smokescreen during Boot Camp which instructor to watch out for, knowing his training-brother's inability of obeying authority.

Tapping his own thigh, Smokescreen coded to Hot Rod: 'Explanation later…'

While the two Elite brothers were sending their message, Arcee was finishing up telling June about their encounter with Airachnid and Jack. June was trying to keep her cool but she was finding she could not handle the stress of it and couldn't stop some of the tears that escaped from her. "I can't believe Jack would actually choose to fight the Autobots. That's not the boy I raised! Why has that spider bitch ruined my boy?!"

"June, I think I might know how to stop Airachnid from controlling Jack," Arcee replied, placing her hand on the human mother's back. "When they first appeared, I witnessed Airachnid doing something very…disturbing. I think the method she was using is how she is keeping Jack under her control."

"W-what did she do to him?" June asked quickly.

"She placed her mouth against Jack's. There seemed to be a transaction when they did this and Jack seemed to turn fully cooperative to Airachnid afterwards. I think she might be injecting him with some kind of mind-controlling agent when she does this. If I can get Jack away from her before she does this again I might….June? Are you all right? Your skin is changing to a very pale scheme," Arcee said and tilted her head at a very horrified June.

"Oh god…oh god!" June muttered to herself.

Arcee patted her back and called out. "Ratchet! I need you!"

Finally snapping out of his daydreaming, the old Medic returned to his serious demeanor and rushed over to her and the panicking June. "What's happening?"

"I don't know. I was telling her about how I think Airachnid was controlling Jack, then suddenly June started acting like this!" Arcee replied fanatically.

"Tell me what you told her, now!" Ratchet demanded immediately.

Arcee quickly re-told her speculations about Airachnid's methods, but as she was, Miko came right up to them and looked the bots right in the optics. "That isn't some mind-controlling thing being slipped into him. That's . . . how we show people we like them. Like them a lot, actually. Love them, even."

"What are you saying…?" Arcee started to ask, but felt a sinking sensation in her Spark-chamber.

Over to the side June couldn't make up her mind. To faint dead away or start screaming her head off. Apparently she chose the former as her eyes rolled up and she became limp and started falling toward the floor. Ratchet was ready for this and caught her just in time. He called for one of the Techs over to him, and the Tech rushed over once he saw June had faint and called to others for help. Ratchet held June until the humans brought over a gurney, and then let them take and place her on it. They started to wheel her away and it was then that Optimus broke off his heated decision with Springer as he saw them carting June away.

He glared over his plated-shoulder at the Ex-Wrecker commander. "We will continue this later…" Then without waiting for a reply, Optimus dismissed himself and stalked over to Arcee and Miko.

Seeing his self-claimed leader turn his back on him in such a manner enraged Springer and there was a faint snarl on his faceplate. 'Just a little longer…until I have no more need of you, Prime.'

Optimus continued over to Ratchet and Arcee. "What happened here."

It wasn't a question. Arcee replied immediately. "I mentioned a method I thought Airachnid was using to control Jack, but Miko states that it's something else."

The Prime glanced down at Miko. "What was it actually, Miko?"

"They were kissing!" Miko blurted out. Causing all the humans to pause and look at her as if she just grew another head.

"What is kissing?" all three Autobots said simultaneously.

Up in his workplace Raf was blushing lightly. He may still be young but coming from a large family, he knew about kissing and what it meant, but being so young it was a topic he was too embarrassed to speak out about openly. So in Raf-fashion, he did what he always did when he was confronted with an uncomfortable topic: he buried his nose into his laptop and started pushing away at the keyboard.

Miko was all too eager to start explaining what it was, when Agent Fowler ran over and slammed his hand over the young Japanese girl and get her in a semi headlock. "Now's not the right time to be asking that particular question, especially from someone like Miko!"

Miko was peeved by that remark and decided Agent Fowler was going to pay. Opening her mouth as wide she could, she brought her teeth down over Fowler's hand and bit down. Not expecting to be bitten, Agent Fowler released her and yanked his hand away from her surprisingly sharp teeth. "What in Abe Lincoln's tall hat was that for?!"

"I'm unqualified?" Miko exclaimed angrily. "You might think I'm still some kid, but I know what I'm taking about!" She then readdressed the curious Autobots and stated firmly. "Kissing is what couples do when they are in love or in a romantic relationship!"

Raf palmed his face and looked over at June who had just started to come to, only to faint and turn paler than before when she came awake long enough to hear Miko's declaration. The Autobots all blinked and stared at one another. Springer in the background looked back between the Autobots and the humans and shrugged. "Strange these humans, what pointless habits they have…"

The Autobots all flared up at that remark, even Ratchet as he took into account Raf's feelings. Optimus Prime showed a face he only showed when he was about to battle Megatron and his Decepticons. He wasn't going to let that slander go, not after all these humans have done for them. They have fought side-by-side and become more than just allies as far as he was concerned.

"Do not belittle the humans, Springer. It is because of them that we have finally started to push back Megatron and his Decepticon army. Miko, Raf…and even Jack in particular have been a valued part of each and every victory we have gained over Megatron here on earth. Were it not for Jack, I would not have regained my memories after he Space-bridged straight to Cybertron. He walked on our homeland, survived the dangers that still lingered there and used the key to Vector Sigma to restore my memory after I used the Matrix of Leadership to keep Unicorn the Destroyer from fully awakening."

Springer, for all his eons of battle-hardened experience, was overwhelmed. Optimus Prime…would entrust one of Cybertron's most important relics, let alone the location of Vector Sigma, to an alien, a feeble little organic? "Have you lost your senses? To allow a creature of non-Cybertronian origin to use, let along, hold onto that key? That was a risky move and completely irresponsible of you, Prime!"

Optimus Prime's optics narrowed dangerously, seemingly having had enough. "You have no right to judge anyone, Springer. Not as it was your own actions that led to Airachnid to becoming who she is now."

Springer became outraged but held it all inside. How dare Prime still lay that blame on him and in front of his own men! Glancing over, he saw his men looking at him curiously. He gritted his teeth. This was information that was not supposed to be shared with anyone save for himself and the remaining members of his team from that mission. He needed to stop this before it was too late.

But his chance was gone when the human girl, Miko, raised her head up and asked. "Wait, what about Airachnid?" after those words left her mouth, everyone save for Arcee, who had already heard the story, turned to Optimus to explain.

With a solemn face, Optimus began to lay out Springer's mistake to any who would hear. All the while looking the Ex-Wrecker dead in the optics as he did…

xXx

There was a strong scent that lulled a three-bot team of Insecticons. It smelt like refined energon and that could only mean their enemies were near. More than likely, a base of some sort. They knew Megatron did not have any mining operations in this area…any more. So it had to be the Autobots! They were the only ones that would be dumb enough to allow so much energon fumes to filter out into the air. Their stupidity was their gain! Once they located them, they would report immediately to their Queen and alert her to their discovery and see what course of action to take.

They transformed into their insectoid-forms and flew to where the scent was growing stronger. They clicked their bladed mandibles excitedly as they neared the source, anxious to bury them into Autobot metal. The scent led them to what looked like a human facility. From the semi-opened hanger door, they saw energy surges flicker into the darkened night. Thinking they may have been detected, they landed and transformed and hid in the forest growth.

"New scent!" one of the Insecticons crackled warningly.

The other two swiftly started to identify the new scent their brother had picked up. It was organic by nature and smelt as if it was…burning. The Insecticons then heard a loud engine revving to life and the hunched down as one and waited. The leader of the squad took the initiative and crawled on all fours and pushed down the shrubby that blocked his vision. From the facility, a familiar blue, patched up vehicle drive out and quickly rode out on the road leading away from it. The Insecticons waited until it was out of site, and then proceeded to the facility.

They snuck inside once they were sure there was no sign of Autobots and began to investigate what happened here. It soon became apparent this was neither an Autobot nor Decepticon hidden base. The tech around them was advanced but only by human standards. In the center of the large room, there were incinerated spots that appeared to have been caused by an energon based weapon. This was quickly ignored when they heard a scarp of metal in the far corner being moved. They flexed out their claws and ready to attack, only to pause when a small, burnt hand rose up from behind one of the consoles that had also been shot away.

Clicking his mandibles anxiously, the squad leader stomped over and looked at the owner of the hand. The leader reared back his head at what he saw. "We must report this to our Queen! Now!"

It reached down and snatched up what remained of a human, its attire burnt and melted metal fusing to its feeble, soft frame. The human spoke. "….W-why? Why Silas? W-we all wanted technological….p-perfection…"

The Insecticon clicked his mandibles once, then he sent out the mental message to their Queen, and she was all too eager over the news he reported.

xXx

Megatron slammed his fist into a console, for what had to be the eighteenth time. The console was beyond operational now, having dents and multiple cracks all over its panel. All it did to serve was to continue taking the full blunt force of Megatron's rage. He had just received the recent report form ten of his patrols units that had been sent out to investigate the sudden silence from their energon mining operations. Each ten spots were reported to have been completely stripped of all energon and the mining equipment gone. Only thing they did find were the shredded remains of the Vehicon mining crew. For security purposes, he had the patrols secure the remains of the fallen Vehicons to keep the humans from discovering their presence on earth.

There was no way possible for so much energon to be removed without at least one Vehicon sending out an alert that they have been compromised. Knock Out and Soundwave had finished examining the remains of the dead Vehicons and found claw markings matching the same as the rebellious Insecticons. This news only infuriated Megatron even more. Not only had he lost half his forces to that traitorous Airachnid and her pet cybertronized human, now they were using them to steal his energon deposits. The gull!

It raised his energon-pressures to near super-heated levels. They both would pay for this…once he's used the Cortical Psychic Patch to torment and drain every bit of information he would need to replicate the virus Airachnid used on the human…then the earth and its inhabitants will become of actual use to him. Just imaging an endless army of cybertronized humans at his command almost made him calmed down. That is until a signal from a fellow Decepticon was detected…one that shouldn't still be active.

"Strange…" Knock Out said in bewilderment, staring at the monitor and then turns away from it. "Lord Megatron! It appears Breakdown's signal has popped back online! Albeit, corrupted."

Megatron took only slight note of this, his processors still working on their more pressing dilemma, but still taking the matter into quick consideration. "It may well be an Autobot trick."

Knock Out was quick to respond, with some note of actual concern. "I certainly hope not…Breakdown may act the brute, but he's a maestro behind a rotary-buffer!" Then quickly departed to investigate, taking a squad of Vehicons for support…and likely cannon-fodder should it be a trap.

The most he hoped from the useless soldiers was for them to buy him enough time to make a quick exit. Their performance had been lacking greatly with the recent encounters with the Autobots. Still, one never knows. One of them might get lucky and land a shot that may cripple or end the Spark of an Autobot. Either way, the added firepower would be welcomed, rather than going in alone...much like he had been forced to do since Breakdown's signal first went offline.

It would gladden his Spark to have his brutish companion back, not merely for his cosmetic skills, but because he was the one Decepticon that Knock Out could talk to. The two had a sort of 'friendship' that was unlike what most Decepticons would have with their fellow comrades. The two could settle down in vehicle-mode and never worry about the other going nuts and trying to blast them to atoms. There was no deception between them, just common companionship, which had helped Knock Out more than he would ever admit to how he had been able to handle this drawn-out war with the Autobots.

That was why when they Space-bridged to the surface of earth and walked out onto a smoking human military base, he was more than excited to reunite with his comrade to note the destruction. He soon took it all in curiously, wondering what trouble Breakdown had gotten himself into until he heard the familiar servos and heavy footsteps of his comrade. The noise drew his optics to a human building with a hole blasted in its side, black smoke rising out of it and he caught the glimpse of a hulking figure that could only be his one and only Decepticon partner.

"Breakdown, where have you…" Knock Out started to blast, wanting to give his partner a good chewing out for disappearing on him…but his voice died out when the hulking figure turned to him, revealing an unfamiliar optic-glow and an unnerving dead one that seemed to be operational again. The state of his friend was dreadful. His outer-frame looked as if it was ripped asunder and then messily welded back together by a butcher of a medic. Parts of him did not look even and some were considerably coated with rust. "Breakdown? What happened to you?"

The freakish cybertronian that once was Breakdown responded with a voice of some other person, and it sank Knock Out's Spark that this was not his partner's. "Therein lies a tale, which won't be nearly as interesting to Megatron…as this!" The fake Breakdown stated and raised up a case that he had dragged out of the human building, like some primitive prize, then continued with a boast of pride and an amused grin on his cracked faceplate. "So, take me to your leader…"

Knock Out was too confused by this creature's demand. What was he? How did he come to possess Breakdown's mutilated body? Things were getting creepier on this planet the longer they remained on it. First, Airachnid and her human-turned-cybertronian pet…and now this…this abomination wearing the frame of a dead Deception like it were some trophy! He had no desire to have anything to do with this thing…but he knew Megatron would need to hear of this and whatever 'tale' this freak had to offer. After it had told its story…then he would rip the arrogant creature apart! Bit…by…bit!

It was the least he could do for his now confirmed…dead partner.

xXx

"At 16:30 hours a satellite was stolen from a high-security military bolt…"Agent Fowler announced to the Autobots, explaining a recent raid on an American military-base. A visual from the security-feed from the base identified a vehicle matching Breakdown's vehicle-mode…and reports that he had a human passenger. Fowler quickly deduced the 'driver' was Silas, who had returned to re-claim his weapon, a project called Damocles he invented before he went AWOL and started up .H.

"As if things weren't complicated enough with Airachnid. Now Silas is back and packing major Decepticon firepower," Miko said, sighing over the guard-rail, then added, "And we don't have Raf to help us track him…since he got grounded."

Poor Raf was forced to temporary quit Team Prime, because his school grades had started to slightly decline. His mother decided his extracurricular activities…namely hanging out with his only friends in the world was hurting his education and forbade him from spending time with them, until his grades were back up. Miko was having a hard time keeping it together. Team Prime was losing its members, even though they got Bulkhead back, who was starting to show improvement with his daily exercise and movements. The rookie, Smokescreen, was still a stranger and too much of a glory-hound to really be officially part of the team yet.

Wheeljack was more fit than the so-called Elite-guard, but he still liked being a one-show bot. Speaking of the demolition expert, he was the only Autobot that was happy Springer had showed up. It was almost sickening to see the rough, loner Autobot act so…fawning over somebody. After he had learned Springer had showed up at base, Wheeljack had totally forgotten everything else…including her.

"Hey, Miko! Wanna tell the commander how you single-handedly took out that Insecticon?" Wheeljack called out to her.

Miko perked up, glad she hadn't been completely forgotten, and was ready to do so, but Optimus Prime halted that conversation.

"Now is not the time, Wheeljack. We have an urgent crisis to handle."

"S-sorry, big guy," Wheeljack said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his helm.

Miko suddenly felt like someone was staring at her. Looking up she saw Springer observing her…and it wasn't a nice look. She brushed him off and acted like what was going on was more interesting, but those optics of Springer's: they were colder and less expressive than any Autobot she's met so far. It was like he was trying to be more machine than person. Obviously, he's not the touchy, feeling type, but even Optimus Prime with his stoic manner showed compassion and concern for others when someone on his team was hurt or in danger. With Springer…it was like he didn't feel anything at all, and she quickly decided she wasn't going to like him. He might be an Ex-commander of the Wreckers, something she wanted to be a part of, but he was a real jerk, not the kind of bot like Bulkhead or Wheeljack she had come to care for.

Agent Fowler grunted at the bot's lack of focus. This was a serious matter on their hands. "Listen, people. We cannot allow Damocles to fall into the hands of the Decepticons! It's bad enough Silas got a hold of it! There's no telling what amount of damage he may plan on doing with it!"

"Agent Fowler is correct. In the wrong hands, this weapon will cause considerable damage and many lives may be lost. We will assist in stopping Silas's plans…before it is too late," Optimus Prime said.

Ratchet was skeptical, as usual. "Bah, I highly doubt that Megatron would entertain such an idea! It's absurd!"

Miko felt suddenly as if this was a moment Jack would have picked to lay down some wisdom. The impulse was unnervingly strong and she almost looked around for him, until she remembered he was no longer there…Maybe it was some of his personality that rubbed off on her that compelled her to speak where her transformed friend couldn't. "Why not? The human-bot relationship we got has been paying off," she said, and then groaned, realizing how lame that came out. Jack would have said it much better.

Arcee regarded her words nonetheless. "Most of the time…"

Miko sagged on the guard-rail. 'Damnit…I'm really missing Jack.'

xXx

In the Decepticon warship, Megatron was finding every bit of patience he had left to process the disturbing thing before him. "Knock Out, what is this abomination?! And why have you brought it here?"

Not waiting for Knock Out to explain for him, Silas spoke up confidentially. "I am Silas. As in Cybernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis. I come with a proposition."

But before he could explain further, Knock Out stepped forward angrily and pointed his claw-like finger at the freakish remains of his friend. "This is the human who dissected Breakdown!" In the heat of the moment, he shifted his pointing hand into a buzz-saw, then looked pleadingly to his master. "Please, my liege, allow me to return the favor!"

Megatron remained silent as he thought upon giving into Knock Out's request. It would have been only right that this abomination be completely destroyed. It was one thing to fall in battle, to lose to a weaker opponent and lose honor…but this? To become some inferior flesh-alien's husk for him to parade around as his own like some kind of parasite? Even Megatron found this unforgiving…and yet, he restrained himself just long enough to learn what this 'thing' might be playing at. With a stern look, he gave Silas a chance.

Silas mistook the look for something else, figuring he was in control of the situation. He mockingly smiled at Knock Out and continued. "I propose that you not overlook the one asset that provides Optimus Prime an advantage—at least, on this world."

Megatron strained to keep his tone controlled. "And that would be?"

Silas smirked. "The human factor…"

"Look around you, Silas!" Megatron retorted quickly, sneering the things chosen name. "I command an army from a mighty warship. What could a human possibly offer?"

Silas was not deterred in the least. "I am no ordinary human…" He then turned and waved a hand to the package he had 'extracted' earlier. "And this, is no ordinary weapon." And began to explain its importance to the menacing Decepticon leader, who despite himself…was intrigued with the possibilities of such a powerful weapon at his command, but it did not miss his intelligence that this unsightly monster would not present such a gift without a price, so he asked after deciding to let this creature live a bit longer.

"And what is it that you wish in return?"

And Silas was all too eager to reveal with a false humbled bow. "Merely a place at the table…"

xXx

There was one catch, one that Silas failed to inform his new master, but one Agent Fowler was all too willing to share with the Autobots from a file he was reading off for them. "The cons may have the satellite, but they can't use it without the interface code. The only existing copy is on the secured servers at headquarters in Colorado."

"We must keep the code out of Decepticon hands at all costs," Optimus Prime stated, and then turned toward the Ground-bridge.

"It's roll-time!" Bulkhead said excitedly, slamming his fist into his hand, eager to get back to the action and tried to follow Optimus Prime.

"Ep! Ep!" Ratchet quickly spoke up, gesturing for Bulkhead to wait. "I have not cleared you yet for active duty, nor are you ready to roll!" Bulkhead was starting to lose it, his hulky frame shaking with impatience, but Ratchet was quick to give the Wrecker hope. "Just wait a bit more until Springer allows me access to his medical facility aboard the Voyager, and I will have you back in top shape in no time!"

"Ergh!" Bulkhead grunted out. "That might still be too long! I'm needed out in the field with Optimus!"

Springer stepped forward and placed a hand on Bulkhead's shoulder. "Easy, soldier. I'm happy to see your spirit has not diminished since you left the Wreckers, but no battle is won when not at your best. I will give Ratchet access to the Voyager now."

Bulkhead grumbled some more, but he could not dismiss Springer's advice, he had still once been a commander of the Wreckers…even if what he had recently learned from Optimus Prime was disquieting. "…Fine, just hurry up, Ratchet."

As the Medic was trying to calm Bulkhead, Springer lumbered over to Hot Rod and spoke in a hushed manner, pulling him in close by grasping his shoulder. "Hot Rod…I want you to go with Optimus and aid them, see that things go well. If they don't…report back to me immediately."

Hot Rod kept his faceplate passive and nodded to the order. "Yes, Commander…"

"Good, I hope things go as Prime expects them to, but if not, I will be there to clean up his mess," Springer added and then stalked back over to Bulkhead to take him personally back to the Voyager.

Hot Rod shot a quick look over to Jazz, who had overheard the order and nodded himself and discretely tagged along with Springer.

'You're getting too bold, Springer. Much too bold. I don't care what you think you're trying to accomplish. But I know what you're going to do…and I won't let this planet all the same fate…like the others,' Hot Rod thought grimly and clinched his fists some. He had too much regret weighing on his shoulders, all because he did not have the courage to do what was necessary at the time. Now was his chance to make amends, even though what he had done under Springer's command could never be forgiven…he would see that things were made right, or die trying.

Hot Rod started to go offer his help to Optimus Prime, but then he halted when he felt something on his frame. Not quite sure what it was, he looked over his shoulder, and was surprised to see the little human female, Miko, climbing up his backside and looking at something just under the frame-plate of his shoulder. "Miko? What are you doing?"

"Heh, just trying to sneak aboard! Don't want to miss the action!" she answered quietly, but then she started reaching in under the plate over his shoulder, trying to wiggle herself in there.

"Hey, don't go in…what the?" Hot Rod said, only to pause when he saw the little human pull out…and yank out something that wasn't one of his parts.

Hot Rod widened his optics and then quickly snatched the device from her and closed his fist around it, but not enough to crush it, just to muffle any sound. It was a transceiver! Springer had put a bug on him! Had he gone on that mission and talked to Optimus about the dangers…Springer would have learned of his betrayal, and then it would have been doom for them all. Looking over and making sure Springer hadn't seen the discovery, Hot Rod leaned his head over to Miko and whispered very softly to her: "I owe you my Spark, little one..."

"Saw the jerk plant something on you when he tried to be all buddy-buddy! Seems he isn't really trusting, even with his own people!" Miko said lowly as she lifted up a small round device that was bigger than her whole head, pigtails included. "You better remember this! We Wreckers gotta stick together!"

"You, are a Wrecker?" Hot Rod replied in surprise.

"In training, techinally. Wheeljack is giving me a crash-course…at least, he was until he turned into a total Springer-geek and been trying to get all chummy again with the jerk," Miko muttered.

"Wheeljack is training you? He doesn't train anyone," Hot Rod said, amazed by this bit of news. Then he pondered for a moment. "Miko…Don't tell anyone yet, not until you can be sure you can talk to Optimus alone, but Springer…cannot be trusted. I can't say how or why, but just let him know, he needs to watch Springer closely." Then before she started asking questions, he placed a finger over her mouth, quieting her and carefully put the transceiver back under his armor-plating and smiled widely at her. "Sorry, Miko! This is big-bot business! Maybe some other time. Hey, I got an idea, why don't you tell me more about your planet later. I'd like to learn more about humans."

Miko caught on quickly and nodded some to him. Hot Rob carefully removed his finger, and she smiled and said brightly. "You're on, Hot Rod! We can look for a vehicle-mode for you to use while you're here on earth!"

"Sounds good," Hot Rod replied and then gently plucked her off his shoulder and put her back up on the platform the humans were using to walkabout. Then he went to join Optimus, frowning heavily after he turned away from the human. 'Slag it! He's suspicious of me…I better tighten up things before he starts to realize everything.'

He needed more time. He even hadn't had a chance to fill in Smokescreen what was going on. Springer had been keeping him close and he wasn't too sure of the whereabouts of one Autobot that Springer liked to have nearby…Mirage. The guy had his Spark in the right place, but was a nuisance, especially when it came to hiding secrets. Mirage was Springer's spymaster and the guy loved to use his Cloaking ability. He spent most of his time keeping out of sight, so it was hard to know exactly where he was…but Hot Rod had a few tricks to get around even a nosy, hidden Autobot. That's the only reason he hadn't been taken Offline yet.

If Springer had planted a bug on him, then there was no doubt in his mind that Mirage was around and would probably be tailing him. There was a risk that he might have been watching him now and saw him discover the bug and overheard their conversation. He would just have to hope Mirage wasn't around yet. All his hope now rested on the small human child…if she can at least warn Optimus Prime of the threat Springer presented, then everything he had done will be worth the risk.

Hot Rod would play Springer's loyal second-in-command just a bit longer. Once all his crimes were laid bare, he'd have no regret answering for the sins that he had committed along with Springer. Steeling himself for the act, Hot Rod went to Optimus Prime, and prayed to Primus himself that all would be well in the end, and said the only mantra that Cybertronians had after asking Primus for hope.

'…Till all are one.'

xXx

The plan should have been simple, at least to Silas it should have been! The wretched Autobots showed up far too soon to put a halt to obtaining Damocles's code. Thankfully, Soundwave was an excellent hacker, a skill Silas will have to put to good use…once he re-established the line of command. Soundwave was able to show Megatron the raw might of Damocles, with but a minor loss of one of his own Vehicons that was caught in the blast. Pity they had not been able to get any Autobots in the initial blast, but it did serve to make them run when Soundwave had Damocles trail after them, and all seemed to be going his way. Then a snag hit his plans.

Someone, a hacker, had breached Damocles's systems and was attempting something with the satellite! Megatron was not pleased at all, nearly throwing Silas across the bridge when he marched up to the screen. Soundwave immediately located the source of the hack to Jasper, Nevada…an area that Megatron was starting to suspect may very well be the Autobot's main base.

Once it was recognized, Silas cursed. "Jasper, Nevada…It can only be the Autobots human allies!"

"Then perhaps you should attend to the matter!" Megatron snarled.

Silas hesitated, the idea of actually being commanded repulsed him, and tried to reason out of the duty. "…Surely one of your subordinates is more suited…?"

Megatron would not have any excuses, especially from this freakish-human. He snapped at him with one solid command, "NOW!"

Silas flinched. There would be more reasoning with this warlord, not this early in the game. He would have to bide his time and keep playing the 'humble soldier', until he could get a better foothold, then deal with Megatron once he had the upper-hand. Moments later after he was transported to the neighborhood where the hacking signal was, he transformed and drove to the house it was coming from. Once he was in position just a few feet away from the house, he aimed his mounted cannon at the house, taking in some delight in the actual dirty work when he readied to fire.

"Good-bye hacker…"

His cannon primed itself and was ready to blast the house and all occupants off the face of the block. He was so focused on the victorious strike, he had not paid any attention to the shadow that overfell him. A thunderous roar echoed out and Silas was shaken down to his remaining human body to his bones by it. "What in hell…?"

Black talons came down on him and sank into his frame and something very powerful clamped down over his mounted cannon and ripped the weapon off with ease. "What is going on?!" Silas screamed and then was lifted off the street and was being carried away from the house.

From the window of Raf's room, Miko peeked out and looked around for whatever had nearly made her wet her pants, as well as the other people in the house. She just caught a glimpse of a shadowed beast carrying Breakdown away, and for a moment her eyes locked on a purple-glowing optic that stared right back at her, then dismissed her and proceeded to carry its prey away.

"…J-Jack?" Miko whispered, eyes widening. 'You saved us…there's something left of the old Jack still in there!'

Up in the air, Silas was screaming in rage. "Release me, you monster!"

"Interesting choice of words, Silas!" the black dragon replied and then dove straight for a river-trench just near the neighborhood. Roaring in triumph, he slammed Silas right into the surface and dug his talons in deeper.

"Couldn't settle with killing your own people, huh, Silas? You have grown a liking to killing more of them? What kind of a warrior are you?" Jack said darkly as he pushed down with his upper legs, feeling the framework of Silas's shell starting to carve in under his weight.

"The winning kind!" Silas replied and forced himself to transform.

The talons still buried in his frame ripped a good bit of his armor when he transformed, but that was the price he'd have to pay to get out from the monster's grip. Once he was in robot-form, he changed his right hand into a hammer and then tried batting at the dragon's head. Jack chuckled and easily avoided the blow, rearing his head back and then mockingly stepped away to give the 'warrior' his space. It was time to play, and show this backstabber who was prey and who was the predator…

Silas regarded the dragon-like robot with confusion. He knew from when it attacked him, it wasn't one of Megatron's subordinates. Else why would it have prevented him from carrying out his mission? It had to be in league with the Autobots somehow…but how did they have such a menacing creature working for them? He had to know.

"Wasn't aware that Optimus Prime liked to keep pets. You must have been his ace in the hole should things go really wrong for the Autobots," Silas bluffed.

The dragon bared fangs at him, but then chuckled. "Oh, you'll have to work better than that to get any information out of me, Silas. But I'll humble you with this…I'm not on Optimus Prime's side nor am I on Megatron's."

"So you're a new player on the field. Humph, that works for me. It would be dull if this was just a two-sided battle! Maybe we can come to some arrangement?" Silas bargained, maybe if he played this right…he could get this beast to help him take down Megatron.

Jack growled loudly, a sound that reminded Silas of rolling thunder. "I've no interest in dealing with someone like you, Silas! You killed your own people once you felt they were of no use to you! They were loyal! Yet you reward that devotion to your cause with death! I'd be a fool to trust you. No doubt, Megatron will have to be wary of you…but I think I'll do him an unexpected favor and take care of you here and now."

Silas smirked but he was curious to how this beast knew so much, particularly about his now deceased colleagues. "You think you can take on a veteran like me? A beast like you can never take on a true man!"

Jack was silent for a moment, his great bulk becoming motionless for two human heartbeats, and then he transformed in rapid-pace, bringing up his Thermo-Cannon and aimed right at Silas. "That will be hard…especially without a leg," Jack hissed and then lowered the weapon and fired at Silas's right leg.

The blast struck true and Silas screamed in pain from the feedback his brain registered from his shell's body, 'feeling' his leg blown off and the remaining attached limb melting up toward his lower torso until it slowly cooled. "W-wait! You and I can work this out! I-I can lead you straight to Megatron! We can take him out together!"

Jack did not answer. He started to slowly stalk over to Silas with an expression on his faceplate that spoke nothing but hate and disgust.

Silas knew that look. Too many times, in fact. It was a look of a man that would not yield or listen anymore. He had made his verdict on Silas, and he was going to carry it out. This was a lost battle and he was greatly outmatched by this black transformer. Quickly as he could, he opened a channel to Megatron's warship. "Silas to Megatron! Silas to Megatron! I need immediate evac, now!"

"Silas? How dare you cower out of your mission! What is the reason for this?" Megatron blared into his receiver.

"M-My apologies! There's someone who appeared! I can't stop him!" Silas replied shakily.

"Who?" Megatron asked threateningly.

"Black transformer, like a dragon!" Silas answered, starting to try and crawl away from the approaching dark warrior.

"…Jack?" Megatron murmured, surprised as any by this update, then a grim frown befell his faceplate and he made his discussion. "You are on your own, Silas. Your fate is in his hands…and in truth, I never was going to give you your 'place at the table.' This mission has failed anyway. The Autobots have infiltrated the base and Soundwave is on route back to the ship…you failed me, Silas. And failure can only be rewarded with one thing." Then he killed the transmission and leaned one hand on the control panel. 'Whatever is left of Breakdown…this is the only mercy I can grant him. Better to be annihilated completely than to continue on as some sick human's puppet! And what better way than to face another human that has truly transcended his humanity. Jack…make him suffer greatly.' Megatron thought privately to himself. He was a tyrant, the great warlord of the great Decepticon Army…but even he felt he owed Breakdown a chance to rest and return to the All-Spark. He was a loyal Decepticon to the end and deserved to be put out of his misery…

Back in the river-trench, Silas was screaming into his com. "Megatron?! Megatron!"

"So…he forsook you. Smart move," Jack smirked.

"Wait…he…he said Jack. That's the name of one of the Autobot's allies…" Silas muttered and stared up at Jack in a whole new light. "…You've become the perfect meld of man and machine?"

"Not machine, Silas….beast!" Jack snarled as he came to loom over the ex-leader of M.E.C.H. "I am something more than human and Cybertronian…something you'd never hope to become." He then reached down and picked up Silas with one arm, who tried in vain to bat him away with his hammer. Jack grabbed his wrist and crushed it with all his strength. The forearm caved in like a tin-can and sent agony rolling into Silas's human body. Jack then ripped the arm of completely with one good yank and tossed the scraped limb aside. "You abandoned your people for a greater path. You wanted to walk amongst titans…You got your wish, but it doesn't always end in the way you might wish."

"W-what are you going to do with me?" Silas quivered.

The grisly grin that appeared on Jack's face spoke more than he wanted. "I'm going to leave that up to my partner to decide."

"Partner?" Silas repeated.

"Yes, I believe you two have met…she's eager to meet you and get re-acquainted," Jack replied and then activated the ground-bridge. A portal opened up before him and he marched onward toward it, until…

"JACK!"

He paused and looked over his scaly shoulder. Over on the edge of the river-trench, he saw a very small figure running down the sloped side and heading toward him. His optics re-adjusted and zoomed in on the approaching small thing and he quickly saw it was a human girl with familiar pigtails. She ran up to him and almost tripped when she tried to stop. She stared up at him and he looked down at her, passively.

"Jack…is that…is that really you?" she said. "D-don't you recognize me. It's me, Miko!"

Jack tilted his head to the side, pondering for a moment, then a memory started to piece back together. A moment with this girl and he was very small…like her…and they were on a moving train, one that was not going to stop and would likely mean their demise. He started to try and embrace her, then she shyly pushed him back…and…and that was all he could remember.

"Miko?" Jack said softly. "I know you…"

"Yes! I knew you weren't lost completely to that spider-psycho!" Miko cheered.

Jack felt a spike of rage. He understood who she was referring to and he bared his metallic fangs at him. "Don't ever call her that again!"

Miko yelped and started back-peddling a bit. "Okay…okay, easy Jack. I'm your friend. I just want to help."

"Why? What help can you offer me?" Jack wondered.

"For starters, getting your head back in the right game!" Miko stated. "You're not what Airachnid is making you out to be! You're Jack! You're a human, like me!" She placed her hand over her chest and tapped it softly. "…And one of my closest friends."

"I remember trying to embrace you…when we both thought we were going to die, and you brushed me away," Jack replied bluntly. "A friend would not be so harsh."

Miko blushed. Was that how Jack remembered that moment on the train? "H-hey! I wasn't about to quit and lie down and die! I w-was trusting our friend, Optimus, to save us!"

"Optimus?" Jack said and then had a flash of another memory, one of a truck speeding beyond them and heading to the front of the train. It fractured in parts, but in scenes he saw Optimus risking his life, grabbing the engine of the train and by sheer might, he slowed it down. "…Yes, I remember!" Jack smiled and dropped Silas and kneeled down to Miko. "I remember he saved us!"

"You betcha!" Miko declared and planted her hands on her hips. "The real Jack remembers the truth! We just gotta wake you up!"

"But I am awake, am I not?" Jack replied, tilting his head to the other side.

"Ugh, that's not what I meant," Miko groaned and almost wanted to kick him in the foot…but refrained when she saw the really big talons he had for toes now. "You're not this hulking beast, Jack. You were a human…and you were stolen from us!"

"…Stolen? No…I was protected…Yes, I was being protected!" Jack answered back, a bit roughly.

Miko tried not to flinch and bore his raging tone, then spoke softly, something Miko was never known to do. "No, Jack…you were kidnapped by Airachnid. She turned you into what you are now…against your will."

Jack started to snarl. His beloved…forced this on him? She hurt him? That could only explain the pain he remembered going through. The loss feeling he was being ripped apart and remade into…this beast. But Airachnid, she was there through it all. The comfort she gave him, the promises of things becoming better! She was devoted to him! Why would she hurt him? His mind tried to reason out why, but then he made a conclusion. The virus, the mutating virus that she had…it was not a pleasant thing. What she used to make him was that agonizing? Yes, that would explain why he was in so much agony. She was re-making him…making him stronger.

He narrowed his optics down at Miko. "Whatever she's done to me, it has made me stronger! I'm not the small, weak little human like you are!" He slammed his fist against the ground next to her, cracking it and causing her to fall down from the force of his blow and fear filled her widened eyes. "I am…I am the leader of a new race! The black talon of Airachnid! I am her King as she is my Queen!" He nearly roared at her, clawing at the ground and racking up chunks of rubble. "This Jack, the one you knew…he's gone! I am what I am now! I am…" his optics softened and a strange deep pit of loss filled his chest. "…Not your Jack anymore."

Miko was scared by his rage, she never was this frightened except that time she thought Bulkhead had died. Then she saw something she hadn't expected from the imposing dark creature. Around his optics, a faint droplet of a purple-fused form of energon fell and landed by her foot. "Jack…You're crying?"

He reached up and touched his faceplate, feeling around his optics and pulled away to see the faint glow of energon on the tips of his talons. He remembered this, too. It was something…humans…did when they were sad or hurt. Why? Why was he feeling this when he was truly angry? Was he not in the right to be angry? What was causing this pit of sorrow? This human was causing something in him and he did not like it at all.

A bullet ricocheted off his face suddenly, followed by another that bounced off one of his horns. It didn't really hurt, more like a slight sting, but it made Jack look up and pull away from Miko and glare in the direction the bullets had come from. Running down the slope toward them with his gun aimed right at Jack, Agent Fowler was rushing over. "I got this Miko! Get away from him!"

"What…?" Miko uttered, then panicked at how this was looking. "No! Don't shoot him! Put that stupid thing away! I was almost through to him!"

"Not how it looked to me!" Agent Fowler stated and stopped beside her, leveling his gun right up at Jack's face. "Get back, son!"

The familiar surge of hate returned inside Jack. This human triggered a feeling of frustration, like someone he had difficulty with in the past…before now. He had no confusion how to react to his human and demonstrated fully he was not intimidated at all by his failed attempt at bravado. He stomped his foot, causing the humans to be tossed up in the air and fall, rendering them helpless. The jolt to the ground caused Agent Fowler to lose a hold of his gun and tried, desperately, swinging his hands out to grab it back. It landed ten feet away from him and he tried to go after it after he landed, roughly, on the ground, but Jack's huge foot slammed down over the puny weapon, flattening it to scrap.

Jack then bent down low to snarl at Agent Fowler. "You're going to need more than that little gun to deal with me..."

Agent Fowler shook a moment, then stopped and started smirking. "Oh, don't worry, Jack. I've got enough firepower!" he then looked over his shoulder and yelled, "NOW!"

The sound of spinning tires on concrete ripped out and Smokescreen came charging into the trench and racing straight for Jack. "HEAD'S UP!" Smokescreen shouted as he approached and then transformed, using the momentum he built up to leap into the air and kick at Jack's chest.

The strike knocked Jack back and he stumbled away, growling in anger at the newcomer. His optics burned brightly as he took in this Autobot, thinking some flash of remembrance would appear…but nothing but irritation and rage came as he looked upon this Autobot. "I don't know you…this will make it easy…" Jack stated as he charged-up his Thermo-Cannon and slowly aimed it up at Smokescreen.

"We're not done yet, buddy!" Smokescreen replied and transformed back into a vehicle-mode he was starting to become fond of, making a note to thank Miko for helping him pick this type of vehicle as his disguise on earth after he whooped this…whatever-he-was's plated rear. He drifted to the side and then speeded toward Jack.

Jack fired off a few shots but Smokescreen's new vehicle-mode was very agile and he appeared to be very skilled already with it. He drove around the shots and continued toward Jack, ramming his front right into Jack's right leg, forcing him down. Jack grunted from the sudden loss of balance and looked back behind him, trying to hit Smokescreen with a shot. Smokescreen spin completely around, transforming as he did and cartwheeled out of the blast's way and returned fire of his own when he brought up his own blasters.

"Just give it up, kid! I might be the rookie but I'm a born Cybertronian and a member of the Elite Guard! So I've got the upper…HAND!" Smokescreen stated plainly as he ran toward Jack and leapt right up at him and punched him in the face.

The punch should have jarred Jack…but the blow barely tilted his head to the side.

"Uh-oh…" Smokescreen said.

Jack's hand snapped up and grabbed the arm that Smokescreen had punched him with and started to apply pressure to the limb. Smokescreen instantly started cringing in pain as he felt his arm begin to cave in from the surprising strength the kid-turned-bot had. "S-some grip you got there, buddy!"

"Thank you, and yes, I wasn't born a Cybertronian…but what I lack in experience, I make up with force!" Jack roared and reared back a fist and punched Smokescreen, accomplishing in jarring the cocky Autobot as he had tried to do to him. Not waiting for him to recover from the stunning blow, Jack lifted him up by the arm and spun on his left heel and tossed the Elite-Guard away like he were a tin-can. "Speed and agility count for nothing once you're caught…" Then rose his arm-mounted weapon to finish the Autobot off…then paused, when he saw Miko looking at him. That look, it was so full of fear and disbelief…it unnerved him greatly.

Snarling away, Jack lowered his arm and went back to where he dropped Silas, finding the ex-M.E.C.H. leader trying crawl away. Glad to have something to take out his growing frustration on without any complicated feelings getting in the way. He had what he wanted, anyway. The Autobot wasn't a threat to him, and the humans, confused him deeply. Stalking over to Silas, Jack reached down and grabbed the back of his head and started dragging him toward the Ground-bridge wordlessly, never looking back to see Miko looking pleadingly at him.

When it closed and Jack was no longer in sight, Miko felt her eyes watering up, then she ran to where the Ground-bridge had been, falling to her knees and punched the ground out of frustration. She almost had gotten through to the old Jack, there was still a bit of her friend in that hulking creature. He wouldn't have cried if he was completely gone. The old Jack…was still suffering in there. She looked up at the spot that was glowing with the purple energon. His tear still humming with energy.

Agent Fowler had gotten back up and saw the energon tear, too. But he didn't see it as a Miko did, he just saw it as an opportunity. "Must have clipped him in a sensitive spot if he leaked out energon."

"Your gun didn't cause it," Miko said, straining to keep her temper. She was furious with Agent Fowler. "He was crying when you shot him!"

"Crying? Didn't think bots could cry," Agent Fowler muttered.

"Because he's not a bot!" Miko stood up and screamed at him, stooping her foot and shaking her fists in rage. "You shot Jack! I was almost getting through to him and you shot him!"

"Hold your tone, Miko. I was keeping you safe! From the way it looked to me he was about to splatter you flat," Agent Fowler retorted sharply.

"Jack wouldn't hurt me. He's not completely gone, that's why he was crying. When he was angry he stopped when he did and I saw the real Jack still fighting! Our Jack is in that hulking monster and is trying to come back to us! You ruined it by angering him when you shot him! This is all your fault!" Miko shouted emotionally and then could no longer hold her own tears back. She ran, wanting to get away from Agent Fowler, just get away from all the pain.

"Miko, come back!" Agent Fowler called out to her, but she kept on running. "Damn it!" He was only trying to protect her, and it did look like she was going to get killed. He did what was necessary. Holstering his gun, he then looked down at the energon tear and smirked. "Hmm, I wonder what Ratchet will be able to find with this sample." Then he looked over to where Smokescreen was starting to get back up, holding his right arm and groaning.

"That guy's packing some serious power. Thought he was going to rip my arm off when he had me," Smokescreen remarked.

"Ratchet will patch you up, Smokescreen. Let's get this energon sample packed and cleaned up. Maybe Ratchet can use it to help undo the virus that Airachnid used on Jack," Agent Fowler said.

Smokescreen brought up his optics to where he saw Miko running off into the distance, not at all caring about a little leaked energon. "What about her? Just gonna let her run off?"

"Miko's got a temper. She'll be all right. Just let her be until she comes to her senses. The girl can't stay away from Autobots for very long. Once she's calmed down, she'll call in Ratchet," Agent Fowler reasoned, kneeling down by the energon tear. "More importantly, we just might have the answer to our little problem."

Smokescreen did not like how things were going. He was a very passionate bot himself. Everyone thought he was just cocky and impulsive, but the truth was, he felt very deeply to what was going on around him. He couldn't just let things be as Agent Fowler had said. Making up his mind, he transformed and speeded off to catch up to Miko, leaving the adult human in his dust.

"Hey, Smokescreen! What are you doing!?" Agent Fowler cried as he shielded his face from the kicked up dust.

"Going to make sure she's okay! Don't wait up for me!" Smokescreen shouted back and quickly started catching up to Miko.

"….Damn rookies," Agent Fowler muttered and reached into his jacket to call Optimus. "Hey, big guy? I got a sample here for Ratchet. Need instant evac and clean-up now."

"We're on our way, Agent Fowler!" Optimus Prime answered.

xXx

Returning to the Harbinger, Jack threw Silas across the lab, bashing him against the metal wall. Airachnid and Kickback where waiting for him there and they stared in wonder at what had made Jack so angry. "Problems, my dearest?" Airachnid mused with a playful smirk.

He marched right up to her, wordlessly, and loomed over her. His intense stare had her instantly on guard. Did something happen while he was out there? Did his memory come back? Airachnid was almost about to order Kickback to restrain Jack, but then Jack's hands whipped out and grabbed her and lifted her up off her feet. She almost screamed but it was halted when he slammed his lips on hers and kissed her so passionate she felt her extra legs start to quiver in glee. When he ended the kiss he was panting raggedly and gently put her down.

"W-what was that all about?" Airachnid asked.

"…Sorry. I…needed to feel centered again," Jack answered and stroked her faceplate with his palm. "I had a moment of confusion but having you, kissing you, keeps me focused."

"Mmm, if you need a bit more, I'd be glad to take this to our quarters," Airachnid offered.

A dark grin played over Jack's faceplate. "In a bit. Let's deal with our…guest…first."

Both of them then slowly turned their heads toward Silas and an evil, twisted, fanged smile appeared.

Silas felt terror in the pit of his remaining stomach. "W-what are you going to do with me?"

"Just a little…experiment," Airachnid said tauntingly, bringing up a finger to reveal a syringe with her virus cocktail…mixed with processed red energon. "You won't enjoy this, I can promise you that. This is an unpredictable batch…and I used some local wildlife added into the mix, so if by some chance you do survive this, you won't be anything like my beloved Jack. But it will be interesting to see what becomes of you." She giggled wickedly and slowly started to approach the downed Silas.

"H-hold on! We can make a deal, like before!" Silas tried to reason.

"We've seen what you do to your partners, Silas," Jack replied coldly. "We found what remained of the men you killed…and a single survivor."

"Survivor?!" Silas panicked. He thought he had been completely thorough with his…dismissal…of his people. If just one of them was still alive, there was no telling what that man would do with M.E.C.H. without him! "You need me, Jack! I know M.E.C.H. better than anyone! I built it from the ground up!"

"And then you burnt it to ashes. The survivor was very bitter…am I right?" Jack said and then walked over to a table in the lab and started tilting it up.

Lying on the table was one of the M.E.C.H. scientists, most of his uniform was gone, revealing burnt flesh, a blacken stump that used to be a right arm and charred, nearly exposed ribs. His other hand still attached but just as burnt as the rest of him. The scientist was hooked up to some kind of life-supporting unit that was keeping the man alive. What could be made out of his mostly burnt face was a scowl and a loathing glare at Silas.

"You…were supposed to be our hope for a more advanced technological era, Silas," the man said weakly, it was obvious he was in immense pain from the crack in his voice. He mustn't be on any painkillers, but he had a stubbornness that allowed him to keep living. "M.E.C.H. was going to change the world, but now I see…the future had already been made." He looked up at Jack and a glimmer of admiration and zealous returned to his broken body. "Consider this my resignation from M.E.C.H….I helped Airachnid with the DNA mixture for the virus she's about to use. Good luck, Silas…I wonder how you'll turn out."

"Let's find out!" Airachnid said with eagerness and raised her other arm, firing a few web-strings at Silas, pinning him against the wall.

"No! No, damn it! I will not become some lab experiment!" Silas declared.

"But you already were, Silas," Airachnid said as she came right up to him and tapped his face with one claw, then with a few good swipes, she cut through the chest plate, exposing the real Silas within. "Hmm, it might get cramped in her soon…heh heh! Scream a lot of us, Silas. I want to record it to lull me to sleep as Jack holds me in his arms." Then, finally, she reached in with the syringed finger and injected the new cocktail straight into Silas's neck.

All of Silas's nerves felt like they were on fire as soon as the virus was injected into him. His wailing echoed from the lab and throughout the entire remaining husk of the Harbinger. The working Insecticons clicked their mandibles excitedly at the sound, relishing it as their Queen did at the sound of misery. Their combined mind, hoping, that more such sweet melody will become a common occurrence should their Queen's experiment succeed. Near the back of the remaining belly of the ship, Sharpshot, to his satisfaction, was seeing personally to their King and Queen's other side project.

"Hurry with those cages! We must be ready when we begin recruiting more brethren," Sharpshot said eagerly, walking over and aiding in the construction of cages.

Behind him and the other Insecticons were already dozens of cages made ready. Each one stacked on top of one another, with room to spare for more as they cages weren't that large. Each cage was large enough…to hold a fully grown human, if they remained standing. Thickly-barred and only able to open from the top. It was not ideal for long-term holding, but it would be long enough until their Queen's favor entered their bodies and transformed them. After so many losses, so many of their brethren sacrificed for Megatron's blind ambitions, it will be wondrous for the Hive to finally have more join their numbers. The Hive will be made strong again…and woe to all who try to stand against their King and Queen.