The name 'Scott MacNeil' is used with permission of his name-sake voice actor in real life. Thank you, Scott.
 
Dagger walked down the corridor, deep in thought. He had just left med bay after Midnight had asked him to come and meet someone special. The conversation with his leader -- a rather civil one, he had to confess -- as well as meeting McNeil, had rattled him more than he would like to admit. Mainly because it reminded him of a suspicion cooking deep down inside of him. Something had happened to him throughout the last weeks and it was not something he was actually happy about. It had been a slow process, one he hadn't really been aware of until much too late. And anyway, there would have been nothing stopping it.
Hearing about Scott McNeil and his unacknowledged Interface had hurt him on a subconscious level and in a way Dagger had secretly wished it would have been him. Then again, no. He didn't want it again.
I can't Interface, he thought darkly, catching himself. Not anymore.
Not because of the inability to do so. His Interface circuits were only mildly scarred through the death of his near-Interface, Three Morning Star, but because he was afraid of it. At the time when he and Star had been about to complete their bond it had been a wonderful thing, something to look forward to, but now... it brought with it the fear of losing his partner and turning completely insane. He had seen what had happened to Archer. It was frightening, but still all Sentinels accepted an Interface as a gift. In a way, it was what completed them. Some developed new abilities, and all became more agile at high speed maneuvers, more enduring, more balanced. And even Seekers were still able to Interface, as Tornado had shown.
Dagger sighed. Braintrust had killed Star and ever since, Dagger had been changed. He had wanted this Interface and it had been denied to him. Hearing about a robot denying himself his -- or her, if it was Firefall -- human Interface partner, it was too painful a thought. In a way he had been jealous of each every Sentinel who had achieved the bond, especially of the young Sleeper who had managed a 100% bond. He had started to hate Midnight for something he hadn't been able to influence.
 But whenever Dagger's thoughts turned to his own situation, he shied away from the still remaining possibility of a bond to an organic.
He couldn't....
It felt like betrayal.....
He kept on walking, unaware of where he was going until he focused his optics on his surroundings. To his surprise he found he was near the small airfield used by private space ship and aircraft. His inner voice laughed softly at him because he knew exactly who had an apartment here. Some of the hangars were no longer serviceable for aircraft use, so they had been rented out to private persons. One of those persons was Matt Frasier, former EDC Colonel and special operative. They had been on a mission together for a few weeks,
accompanied by Cathy Lee Russell, and throughout the whole time Dagger had found himself immensely annoyed by the human. For no apparent reason as well. Something inside him was roused whenever Frasier was around and he felt angry, especially when the blond human gazed at him with this amused expression or the sparkle in his eyes.
Dagger stopped and gazed thoughtfully at the small aircrafts parked close by. Something inside of him vibrated with need and urgency and he flinched. He hadn't felt like this for a long, long time. Ever since... Star. A tremor race through him. The feeling increased and he dimmed his optics in emotional pain as old circuits reached out for something Dagger was trying to deny himself.
He couldn't do this!
And what about .... the human involved?
You want him to end up like McNeil? Forever involved in your nightmares without knowing it? Half dead but eternally alive? Living hell?!
No!
Dagger nearly cried out loud. He stumbled back, turned and fled quickly from the airfield.
No, no, no!
He didn't get far and he didn't even think about transforming and flying off. The gray Sentinel simply sank down the side of a wall in a lonely alley, shaking, arms curled around his chest where the aching feeling came from. He couldn't do this! What would happen if he lost him? He couldn't go through this all over again!
Insanity, was the answer.
He'd go insane.
Without him, you'll slowly turn this way as well, the voice told him. The longer you deny it, the more you will turn into something like Firefall. Look at her!
No.... please... I can't.....
As much as Dagger yearned for it, he was so terrified of another loss, it blocked all his rational thinking. Of course, if a Sentinel didn't acknowledge, the involved parties suffered. The robot more than the human, as Tornado had demonstrated.
"Why do you think you will lose me?"
Dagger's head snapped up and his optics flared, staring at the human standing in front of him. Matt Frasier was wearing casual clothes, his whitish blond hair as always cut very short, his unlined face open and questioning. For a second the sun-tanned features blurred and seemed to morph into the gaunt, pale one of Scott McNeil, then it was Frasier again.
"What?" Dagger whispered, then caught himself. "What are you doing here?!" he demanded harshly.
"I had the unmistakable feeling that you were here and needed someone to talk to. Dagger. Well, I found you." He shrugged casually, hands shoved in the pockets of his pants.
The Sentinel scrambled to his feet. "Leave me alone!"
Matt stayed where he was. "Why are you making this so hard for yourself? I realized what happened a while ago. I might not know so much about the actual process, but I know it happened sometime throughout our little trip to Earth." He shrugged. "It was hard to ignore the sudden flashes of hurt and desperation, especially while you are feeling pretty good at the moment. I've been around Interfaces for a while. I talked to Nick lately. He told me a few things and I recognized the symptoms."
Dagger felt a new tremor course through him. "No, that's a lie! I can't...."
"Can't what? Interface? Well, I think you did a while ago, and you know it." Matt's blue eyes held the flaring optics. "Like it or not, you are stuck with me. And to tell you the truth, I'm not exactly thrilled either. It's not the person at the other end of the link," Frasier smiled at the larger robot, "but more the fact that I'm now more or less immortal. Puts a dent in your future plans."
Dagger violently shook his head. "This is impossible!"
"Why?"
The simply question made Dagger stop for a second and he turned away, unable to face Matt. "Because I Interfaced before and my partner died. I didn't turn into an insane suicidal case, but it hurt. My circuits have scars. I can't connect again." Realizing that he had just spilled some of his very private thoughts he shut his mouth and glared defiantly at the human.
A presence moved closer and he moaned silently. Matt was still standing where he had a few seconds before, but he was still closer. "No, you didn't go insane, just secluded and solitary. I can feel the scars, but they are not permanent. Dagger, it happened and we can't deny it. It might not be perfect and never will be, but it's there."
Dagger didn't say anything.
"I heard about Scott," Frasier went on. "Even met him very briefly. Nice guy. Do you want to end it like this? I'll be immortal and going slowly insane, you'll just be insane. We would be a great combination, wouldn't we? Not to mention what Midnight will do the moment he realizes what's happened. He'll move heaven and earth to get us Interfaced properly."
Dagger winced. "Low blow," he whispered.
"No, the truth. I don't expect you to like me, or to let me any closer than you feel comfortable with, but just accept it, okay? Makes it easier on us and we can come up with a solution to it all."
Dagger sank to his knees in front of his future partner. His face was a mask of anguish. "It's not that easy, Matt," he said, voice suddenly dropping to a soft and almost friendly tone of voice. "You automatically come closer because we are one. Separation is not a way to do this. Tornado and Nick tried it, and they failed, after nearly draining each other's strength because of this foolish attempt."
Matt shrugged. "So what now?"
It was an innocent question, posed not so innocently, Dagger knew. The Sentinel dimmed his optics again, aware that there was only one way out of it. He didn't want to, part of him still fought it desperately, but he was losing fast.
"I don't have the strength any longer," he whispered brokenly. "I can't..... it hurts...."
"You don't need to," he heard Matt say like through a long tunnel. "Just let it happen."
His Interface circuitry throbbed and demanded he acknowledge the Interface completely. He had done it before, he knew how it worked. It was so easy, yet so hard as well. The decision was not his, but he would have to live with the consequences forever.
Dagger gazed at the small human. The consequence.
Matt's brows rose as he felt waves of what was happening, then he smiled. He closed his eyes and Dagger gave an involuntary gasp as his Interface circuits were suddenly opened by a gentle force. His mouth opened as if to scream but no sound came out, his optics flared, then he felt an unaccustomed warmth flood through him, enveloping what had always been a cold and scarred lump inside him, caressing the scars.
It felt so good.
So incredibly good.
Something he had missed all those centuries was finally coming back, stronger and more beautiful than he had ever imagined it could be. Three Morning Star had been close to achieving the Interface, but Matt had completed his. It was what had been started millennia ago. It was what should have happened back then. Now it did... and it was so good!
Dagger trembled, but there was no pain, no negative feelings, only the beauty of it all.
<Thank you> he managed.
Matt just smiled, his presence everywhere.

* * *

Days passed into weeks and Dagger tried his best not to be too obvious about Matt. Frasier in turn had not changed his daily schedule a bit and sometimes it drove his newly Interfaced Sentinel partner up the walls. In the early stages of an Interface, being around and close to your new partner was only natural, but since Dagger didn't want the others to know, Matt did what he usually did: he worked.
"Why are you trying to hide it?" he now asked as he sat down in his partner's quarters, feet dangling from the desk.
Dagger looked down at his Interface and shot him a dark look. "I'm not."
"Right. It's just my imagination that I feel like some big secret and have to hide." Matt raised an eyebrow. "You haven't told anyone, you refuse to go to Skywolf to get your systems checked and whenever I run into an Interface, I keep getting a migraine because you are trying to restrict me."
"Am not!"
"Are too! Dagger, why?"
"It's nobody's business!" the Sentinel snapped.
"Hah.... why?"
Dagger glared. "Just because."
Matt sighed and shrugged. "Okay, if you want to play it this way....," he slipped off the desk and walked over to the door, "... then we play it this way. Just an advice, Dagger, these things backfire. You'll only make it worse. Midnight...."
"Midnight doesn't need to know!" Dagger hissed, furious.
"He's your leader."
"And that's all!"
Matt's eyes narrowed a bit. "Really?"
Dagger appeared flustered, but he refused to answer. Frasier sighed again, shaking his head.
"We'll do it your way, Dagger. Just remember, hiding it will make it worse by the time the others find out. And they will find out." He grinned. "Because you are starting to be less moody."
"Moody?" Dagger exclaimed. "I've never been moody!"
Matt laughed and left the room, leaving his new Interface partner for a while to get some of his own stuff sorted out. Being Interfaced would change his life forever, and to make the transition more bearable, he had loose ends to wrap up, legal stuff to deal with and inform some of his old contacts that he would stay on Cybertron now. It hadn't been the plan; Matt had wanted to travel around, see the galaxy, just be himself, but well, fate wouldn't have it. Then again, Dagger was a space-worthy jet. Maybe he could be convinced to go traveling. He smiled slightly. Dagger's presence inside his mind felt good, though a bit strange, and he would have to get accustomed to a lot of things, but it was.... nice. Mind communication was something they still had to train, but phased in they could talk just perfectly.
He had learned some things about Dagger and he knew about Three Morning Star, but Matt didn't feel like a replacement. He and Dagger fit, though it made him wonder. A Sentinel was supposed to react only to one individual and Interface. Dagger had had a partner who had nearly linked to him, but who had been killed. Theoretically he shouldn't have been able to Interface ever again. But he had. Just a few days ago.
Matt frowned. Theoretically. Practically it was possible to find a substitute. What if an Interfaced Sentinel met another match? What would happen? Then again, robots like Skywolf and Spellbinder had been Interfaced for ages, for millennia, and nothing had ever happened..... He rubbed his forehead. Geez, this was another headache source. He'd have to talk to Skywolf or Jill, and get some answers.
 

Dagger, alone in the room, glared at the innocent window, then slumped against the wall.
"He's right and you know it," a soft, female voice startled him.
He whirled around, already drawing his gun, then forced himself to relax. "You!"
A slender, female robot walked out of the shadows, her movements lithe and almost predatory. Red optics glowed softly in a semi-demonic face, artificial hair falling down her shoulders, wings adorning her back.
"Yes, me," Samantha said calmly.
"How did you get in here?!"
"The old-fashioned way: the door. You should choose private rooms for being alone if you don't want unexpected visitors."
Dagger snorted. "What do you want?"
"Congratulate you. You Interfaced."
Another snort. "I don't know what you are talking about!"
Sam smiled. "Of course not." She came closer. "Dagger, I know you, if you want it or not. We've met and talked for such a long time now.... I notice such things. You feel better, more complete, whole."
Dagger's mouth opened to deny it, then he shut it again, falling back on just glaring.
"Matt is a nice man. He is your partner, your Interface, and you fit together."
"Hah!"
She chuckled.
Dagger sighed deeply and shook his head. "So what will you do now? Tell it to the others?"
"No, that's not my decision to make. You have to come out in the open with it, not someone else."
The Sentinel growled. "It's no one's business."
"Maybe, but why hide it? It's something that makes you feel good, isn't it?"
He was silent. Samantha regarded him steadily and finally Dagger surrendered. "Okay, okay, yes! It is a great feeling! Satisfied?!"
She shape-changer leaned closer. "Yes," she whispered. "You are one step closer to healing from your injuries." With that she turned and left as silently and stealthily as she had appeared.
Dagger remained behind, baffled and speechless. Somewhere inside he heard soft laughter that he knew the source off.
<Oh, shut up!>
More laughter answered and he grumbled something, deciding against slipping a shield into place. He enjoyed the Interface contact; he didn't want to cut it off. Ever.
<Same here> Matt said calmly. <We'll play it your way as long as you want it. I understand in a way...>
Dagger hugged the presence close, dimming his optics. <Thanks> he managed.
<Hey, what are friends for?>

* * *

They left Cybertron three weeks later. Matt had wrapped up legal business as much as possible since there was no telling whether he would come back in a normal life span or not. They might go cruising for the next century or two. He had had a medical check-up, which had told him he was in good shape, he had sold his spacecraft, the apartment, everything but a few personal items, and he had cashed in his life assurance. That meant he now had some spending money.
Dagger had told Midnight briefly that he would leave Cybertron for a while. His leader had simply acknowledged it. No questions asked, no demands of keeping in touch, but in a way, the black Sentinel had asked him to give him a call once in a while, just to let him know.... and Dagger had just as silently agreed. He respected the young leader, had so for a long time, and respect had turned to acceptance. Somehow, he was convinced that Midnight knew of the Interface as well. Something told him.....
Now they were both going over last minute things and Matt was trying on his new armor, a very resistant, spaceworthy suit, made of gray metal with black highlights. It would be able to withstand a direct blast from a handweapon and more. Neither had an idea where to go, though Dagger was silently favoring a trip to Alean, his former and still current home. The Sentinels had lived there for a long, long time.
"Hey, Colonel," a voice called and Matt turned, smiling as he saw Steve approach. Midnight's Interface was dressed in his usual, black jumpsuit. "I heard you were leaving today. I just wanted to come by and say good-bye and good luck."
"Thanks, Steve. I've been looking forward to this ever since joining the EDC. Sadly, my missions only took me to crisis areas, never to the beauty spots," Matt chuckled.
"Well, you have all the time in the world to make it up," the older man replied, voice light but eyes serious.
<They know> Dagger whispered, but there was less fear and shock in his voice than Matt would have thought.
<Of course. Told ya it wouldn't go unnoticed how much more tolerable a person you have become>
The Sentinel snorted.
"Yes, it seems I have," Matt said aloud.
"If you two come by this end of the galaxy, drop in," Parker now told him. He stretched out a hand.
Frasier took it. "I will. That's a promise."
They took off twenty minutes later, Cybertron dropping off below them as Dagger climbed through the atmosphere and into space. Matt leaned back, gazing into the darkness ahead of him.
He had more than a thousand lifetimes to explore now. He would use them. A smile crossed his features. And it would be fun.
And Dagger increased speed, aiming for the nearest warp gate.

* * *

Steve watched the gray Sentinel take off and disappear, his heart contracting slightly at the thought of not having Dagger around any more. Just now that he had finally discovered the beauty of life again, that he had Interfaced, he had left.
<<They need the time alone. Dagger would not have been happy here. He tried to hide so much>> Midnight said softly.
Steve sighed. <<I know>>
The larger robot approached almost silently, gazing at the sky. "And it's not like Cybertron is our home. It's a station in life," he went on.
Steve looked at him. "I realize that as well. I just thought that it would have been fun to see those two interact." He smiled wryly. "Though the bickering can't be worse than Voodoo and Kyle."
Midnight laughed. "No one can top them. Agreed."
"Have you heard from Gryph and Nikaa?"
Midnight shook his head. The female Sentinel and fellow Sleeper had left two months earlier with her partner. Nikaa had wanted to visit his homeworld after such a long time of absence, and to everyone's surprise, Gryph had agreed to come along.
"Well, no news are good news, right?" Steve shrugged. "What's on the schedule today?"
"Believe it or not, nothing."
Eyes wide with mock shock, the human stared at his partner. "Nothing? There must be some kind of mistake! That means we actually have time to... ourselves?"
Midnight chuckled. "Apparently. So, any plans?"
They walked back inside the huge, sprawling complex of West Central, swapping ideas on how to spend their free time.

Not far away, Dagger made his first warp gate jump.