The crippled Autobot shuttle lumbered into orbit around Earth, its pursuers not far enough behind. Desperate, the passengers prepared for emergency separation, hoping the decoy would throw the Decepticons off the scent of the true prey.

***

 Shanygn checked her partner's energon levels, then decided they were adequate and turned off the machine charging him. Her news couldn't wait.
 "Roddy?" She tapped on his arm with the claws of her exo-suit. "Roddy, wake up! We need you!"
 "Erm..." Rodimus Prime's head moved from side to side as he started to wake. "Shanygn?" He propped himself on both elbows, turning to her as he focused his optics. He'd been deep under, receiving a badly-needed recharge.
 "Wake up, Roddy, we've got company." Shanygn backed up as her partner swung himelf to his feet, still leaning on the bed.
 "Company? What do you mean? Optimus isn't due back here...he just..." He stopped as Shanygn shook her head.
 "An unidentified shuttle just went into orbit around Earth. All we can tell is it's badly--I mean -very- badly--damaged, very old, and of apparently Autobot design."
 "So, radio them and see what's going on."
 Shanygn shot him a disgusted look. "We already tried that. They either won't or can't answer. And none of the reasons any of the others came up with to explain it were good."
 "Great. Wonderful. Just what I need, another crisis," Rodimus grumbled, still half-asleep, as he turned to head out the door.

***

 Far above the surface, the great ship divided into two sections, the larger one tilting towards the planet and firing its engines, plunging into the upper atmosphere. The smaller, more damaged section went adrift.

***

 "I still think we should wait. They haven't done anything yet, and frankly I don't think they have the capability to do anything," Springer argued.
 The emergency conference had gone on for about half an hour, with Springer, Blaster, and Midnight voting to wait and see what happens, Ultra Magnus voting to send a party up to the ship to find out what was going on, Rodimus undecided, and Kup strangely silent on the matter.
 "What are we supposed to do, wait until they infiltrate our security?" Magnus asked.
 "What do you think, Kup?"
 Kup sighed and opened his mouth to answer but never got the chance.
 Shanygn burst into the room. "Guys, whatever you're going to do, you better do it quick! The ship just separated, and part of it's on a crash course for the state park west of here!" She moved to her partner's side, waiting.
 She didn't have to wait long before Rodimus started giving orders. "Kup, get First Aid and meet me at the west entrance. Midnight, get Voodoo and head out to the crash site. I want to know what's going on there as soon as possible. Springer, Shanygn, you're with me."
 Rodimus smiled a bit as he heard Shanygn mutter, "As if I was gonna stay here..."
 He got to his feet as Kup and Midnight left the room, then finished. "Blaster, radio Cybertron and let them know what's going on. Ultra Magnus, hold the fort." He turned and left, Shanygn and Springer following.

***

 The crippled shuttle plowed into the desert landscape, digging a miles-long trench before coming to a shuddering halt. Computer consoles sparked, then exploded, injuring the sole occupant. The smoking hulk came to rest, a broken relic of an ancient war.

***

 Rodimus Prime, Kup, First Aid, Springer, and Shanygn found the crash site with ease, as the smoke rising from the wreck led them straight to it. Midnight and Voodoo were already there, monitoring the shuttle from a ridge overlooking it.
 "Anything?" Rodimus asked after transforming and joining the two Sentinels.
 Midnight shook his head. "Looks dead. But somebody -had- to be on that ship to pilot it..."
 "And that someone just made her entrance," Voodoo interrupted, still watching the ship. "Aft hatch." He pointed to the small figure leaning against the door.
 There was silence as they all studied the figure as she stumbled a few yards away from her ship, then collapsed and did not move again.
 "I don't believe this," Kup said quietly. "This is impossible!"
 Rodimus looked at him questioningly, wondering at the half-shocked, half-pained expression on his friend's face.
 "Stay here," Kup ordered, then transformed and went hurtling over the edge of the ridge, speeding down the steep slope before anyone could stop him.

*****

 //Something went wrong! I'm going down there....// The pale blue robot watched the screen in horror before turning away, reaching toward the hatch release.
 A red hand grabbed it. //You're staying put. As are the rest of us.//
 The blue robot glared back in mute defiance.

*****

 "Firefall?" Kup skidded to a halt next to her, transforming and going to his knees beside the injured female. "Firefall, it's me, Kup! Can you hear me?"
 Firefall's optics glowed dully for a moment, the went out again. "Kup?" she whispered, her voice rough and gravelly. "Told you...pull through..."
 //Pull through? You call this pulling through?// Kup thought to himself, pain ripping at him as he took in the damage done to her.
 Her paint was dull, washed out, and nearly gone. Armor was worn to nothing, and what little was left was pitted and gouged, and scorch marked in places. Her skin was cracked, bits broken off around joints, exposing delicate circuitry and muscle cables, equally badly damaged. But the worst was the gaping hole in her abdomen, severed tubing, wires, and circuitry all but destroyed. Fluids seeped from the wound and had stained most of her right leg.
 "Firefall, some friends of mine are waiting up there," he indicated the ridge, "and First Aid's a medic. I'm going to get you out of here, ok? Just hold on..." He carefully gathered her into his arms, smoothly getting to his feet.
 "Have to tell you..." She fought to get each word out. "Restore...fluid levels. No repairs...Not strong enough...to turn off...internal security...systems. Gaelon...keep me stable." A warm, golden light pulsed from her body at that, confirming her words and making him realize just how she'd survived. "No one...else on board..." she added, almost as an afterthought.
 Kup nodded, making his way as quickly as he could back up the ridge to First Aid and help without jarring her more than necessary.
 Firefall was quiet, conserving her strength and sinking deeper into unconsciousness.
 
*****

 He couldn't stand the shrieks of pain any more. He whirled, stabbing a -look- at the robot nearest the one making all the noise. //Get him locked down! Kkyrani, get him immobilized and find some way to bind up that wing! Tasikk, find the repair bay and bring what you can to start repairs. Take Kkobra with you.// More orders followed, and as the able-bodied scrambled to do his bidding, blessed silence returned to the ship.

***

 Rodimus Prime felt something inside him twist painfully as he saw the broken body of the female Kup carried. "Is...Is she still alive?" he asked doubtfully.
 Kup nodded. "Firefall said to restore her fluid levels. She's not strong enough to deactivate her internal security systems." His voice was curiously flat, having no inflection, making Rodimus and the others wonder just what going on.
 "Is there anyone else on that hunk of tin?" Voodoo was still watching the ship.
 "No," Kup answered curtly, turning Firefall over to First Aid.
 Midnight nodded to First Aid. "I'll Gate you back to Metroplex. I don't think she'd survive the trip straight." First Aid nodded and transformed, Firefall in the back of his ambulance form.
 Kup watched in silence until they were gone, then turned back to the wreck.
 Rodimus, knowing something was very wrong, gestured for Shanygn, Springer and Voodoo to return to Metroplex. Springer and Voodoo moved off agreeably, Springer with a sympathetic look at Kup.
 Shanygn protested wordlessly, giving her partner a dirty look, which was returned. She sighed and joined Springer.
 Rodimus moved to stand beside Kup and waited.
 "She's been calling me...crying out, telling me not to give up on her, ever since you and Optimus had that talk with Alpha Trion," Kup said a few minutes later without preamble. "You think someone's dead..." He sighed, shaking his head.
 "Calling you?"
 Kup shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it was just my imagination..." He turned away from the crash, transforming and heading back to Metroplex.
 Rodimus followed, more confused than ever.

***

 //We have to let them know we made it!// the larger one snarled, arching his neck towards the viewscreen showing the derelict shuttle still in orbit. He was trapped in his alter form; his injuries overall were light, but several armor panels taken dents that would, had he transformed, shattered vital systems.
 His commanding officer looked at him calmly. //I agree. But...they have no communication and they're shielded against us. Any ideas?//
 The robotic dragon swiveled his head around slowly until his green optics stared the other robot in the face. //As a matter of fact, I do.//
 The smaller robot blinked in confusion as the dragon grabbed a towline with a claw and dangled it in front of him.
 
***

 Far above, the Decepticon ship approached the derelict half of the shuttle, stopping well out of range and one occupant left to rendezvous, knowing the Autobots had no communication capabilities. Soon after, the Decepticon ship moved so that the Autobot shuttle could dock.

***

 Perceptor watched the exchange, fascinated.
 Firefall lay on a table in the sickbay, her body hooked to machines bringing her energon and fluid levels back to normal and electrodes monitoring her lifesigns. She was deep under, her condition very weak, but stable. First Aid was baffled at that, and had tried every non-intrusive scan he could think of to find out why she'd survived, but came up blank. Her systems were completely different from everything he'd ever encountered, First Ones and Sentinels included.
 He'd been even more perplexed as to what the enormous energy field buried beneath her chest plates was for. His one attempt to get to it had been violently repelled, as Firefall's self-defense systems had caused a shockwave of pain to roll over him as soon as he tried to open the chest compartment. He'd blacked out for a few moments, and had decided not to try again. Further investigation showed the energy field was mobile, stretching itself inside Firefall's body, forcing all of her vital systems to run.
 First Aid turned away from her with a sigh, returning to his analysis of the scan reports showing onscreen.

 --Activating Alpha Level internal security systems--
 --ISS: Virus mutation online--
 --ISS: Nightmare online--
 --Evaluating--
 --Evaluating--
 --Stand by for instructions--

 First Aid nearly fell as the screen monitoring Firefall's condition on went blank except for those lines. Trying to guess what the programs now online were for, he threw up layer opun layer of protections within the sickbay's computer systems, only to have them torn down or neatly bypassed by whatever had infiltrated the system. The medic watched in horror as file after file was opened and discarded as the program 'evaluated' its situation.
 Then it stopped as suddenly as it had begun.

 --Terminating evaluation--
 --Location: Neutral--
 --Deactivating Alpha Level internal security systems--

 First Aid regained control of the computers, warily checking to make sure nothing had been damaged, and running anti-viral programs just in case before writing up a report of the strange event and sending it off to Rodimus Prime's office.

***

 //What's going on down there?// The red robot leaned over the control panel, as if it would help her see the planet's surface better.
 //She's alive, we know that...// The dark grey robot sighed and looked away. //We don't know much else...there're other robots down there, but we don't know who, they don't fit any pattern-scan Firefall gave us..and organic lifeforms. We don't know what we're dealing with here, and none of them// and he gestured weakly towards the rest of the troops who were either trying to repair as best they could or conserving energon, //want to go down there without more information. This is strange, Rikkochet. We -know- what we're getting into on Kaiy'Thayla...this is new, and we're not used to it.// His optics dimmed and he shuddered, as if his words brought up a bad memory.
 Rikkochet nodded, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder before turning away. //Tarrakk?//
 A brown-and-gold robot looked up at her and saluted, smirking as if she knew what her commanding officer was about to say. //I'll get right on it.//
 //Wrong.//
 Tarrakk stopped midturn and blinked at her. //Wrong? Why? You need information, I'm the best you have! And my reserves aren't...//
 Rikkochet wouldn't let her finish. //We go as a team. I'm not sending you down there alone. And if she needs repairs, you'll need cover.//
 Tarrakk's eyes narrowed dangerously. //Not smart, Rikk. They've already got her. They don't need both of you, and we can't afford it. I can take care of myself.//
 //No, Tarrakk. I said, we go together. Understand? Or would you rather Vendetta go?//

***

 Rodimus Prime waited impatiently as the transmission patched through to Cybertron. //What in blazes is going on? I've been saddled with a female who's holding on for whatever reason--First Aid said she shouldn't have survived in her condition--and now Kup's going spacy on me! What's next?//
 He stopped his internal rantings as Optimus appeared onscreen.
 "New developments on that ship?" Optimus asked by way of greeting.
 Rodimus grimaced. "Yeah, you could say that. The sole occupant is in sickbay right now. Kup insisted that no one but First Aid be allowed in there with her until she recovers. Something about being war-tuned or some such. He also said her name was Firefall," he ground out. "Recognize the name?"
 The older Autobot's optics flared a feverish white in shocked surprise. "Firefall? Yeah, I know the name." The reply was little more than a whisper.
 'Oh, no,' Rodimus groaned inwardly. 'Not you too!'
 "Well? Are you going to tell me anything about her, or just sit there?" Rodimus snapped, feeling his temper growing a mite thin with all the secrecy concerning their new guest.
 Optimus shook his head, trying to snap out of it. Then he rose. "I'll be there as soon as I can, Rodimus. Kup's right about her being war-tuned--until she's completely recovered, I don't want anyone near her that doesn't have a damned good reason to. She was the commanding officer on Kaiy'thala, Rodimus. Look it up in the Sentinel's database. Optimus out." The transmission cut off.
 Rodimus slammed a fist into the wall in frustration.

***

 Shanygn sighed, taking another sip of her coffee as she glanced over yet another energy scan. Since no one but First Aid and Perceptor were allowed in sickbay with Firefall, she and the other Interfaces, as well as some of the Sentinels had decided to find out as much as they could about their guest from the scans. Voodoo had printed them out as they came in, as new files were transferred periodically, and the table the humans were working at was now covered in printouts.
 "This just doesn't make sense!" Shanygn said to no one in particular. "Why would this...this -thing- block out the scans? And why just certain places, or on certain levels?" She cursed under her breath, laying out the set of energy scans in order, comparing them. The left forearm was filled with some kind of interference on every sheet, as was the chest cavity known to house the energy field suspected of disrupting the scans. The abdominal cavity, however, was only blocked on some scans, not all of them. It was yet another puzzle to solve.
 Kyle looked up from his pile of fuel system scans, bemused, as Shanygn made a disgusted sound. "Maybe you need a break from those." He nodded at the spread of sheets she was studying. "Wanna trade?" he offered.
 Shanygn sighed, clearing her mind. "No thanks."
 "Here, these might help," Voodoo said, dropping another stack of printouts on the table.
 "Thanks." Shanygn leafed through them, a dubious expression on her face. Finding one she wanted, she pulled it out, comparing the energy flow/flux chart to the corresponding pattern scan.
 //This still doesn't make sense! She should be absorbing the energon better than this. It's almost as if it's going someplace else!// She ran a hand through her dark blue hair in frustration. //Maybe it's because she's so...strange. Maybe it's because she's female. Primus knows I haven't had a chance to work on any of the females...// She gasped as something occured to her, her eyes widening. She flipped through the stacks of energy scans, discarding some, pulling others out and examining them closely.
 "Damn it! So -that's- why she isn't recovering!" she exclaimed as she confirmed her suspicion.
 "You mean besides the fact that her repair programs were all but erased?" Jill asked.
 Shanygn shook her head impatiently, gathering the scattered papers into a rough pile. "That doesn't explain what she's doing with the energon feed. She's only absorbed about a tenth of the energon," she said by way of explanation. Kyle winced.
 "I have to talk to Roddy." She headed for the door, papers under one arm. "He's not going to like this..."
 "I don't think I like it, either, whatever it is..."

***

 Tarrakk moved silently, a shadow among other shadows, hidden by her cloaking device. Her scanners told her there were organic creatures as well as robots nearby, and she wanted to find them and listen.
 It was all she could do to keep her silence as she slipped through the door when one of the organics left.
 //Sentinels!// Her instincts screamed at her to attack. She fought the urge down, telling herself again and again that she had to find out what they were doing with Firefall and this wasn't the time for violence.
 Still, she almost vibrated with an undeniable fury...

***

 Firefall fought her way to semi-consciousness, careful not to move or activate her optics. Neither were necessary for what she needed to do, and doing either might set off her internal security systems, something she was sure whoever was helping her was not prepared to deal with.
 //Gaelon?// She received a strong sense of warmth and comfort from her Symbiont. //What's going on? Do they know?//
 //They try to help. I am doing what I can to keep them from finding out about us, but they will find out eventually. They wonder at my presence.// Gaelon was calm, as she always was.
 //They will kill her to save me. And they will try to kill you,// Firefall thought with despair.
 The Creator was unperturbed. //They cannot kill me without killing you. And Kup will not allow it. And I am stablizing her; I can keep you alive as long as it takes.//
 //I wish my repair programs still functioned...//
 //You can rewrite them after we recharge. Be thankful I can block your pain synapses.//
 Firefall smiled inwardly at the mild rebuke, then allowed herself to fall back into unconsciousness.

*

 [Roddy?] Shanygn called her partner as she hurried down the hallway towards his office. She winced as a wave of angry frustration hit her, then blocked as best she could.
 [What?] he snapped in answer.
 [I need to talk to you. And if we're going to have a shouting match, I'd rather do it face to face,] she bit back. She felt her partner calm himself through their Interface.
 [Did you find something?] Rodimus answered finally, his temper under control for the moment.
 Shanygn reached his office then and didn't bother to answer telepathically. "You could say that."
 "Did you figure out what the energy field is?"
 "No, not yet, but this is more important for the moment. I can't be sure, but I think I figured out why she isn't absorbing the energon feed," she said distractedly as she pulled out the files she needed. "Here. Eighty-eight percent of the energon feed is going into the abdominal cavity. Only two percent leaves. We can't tell what's going on in that space," and she pointed to the blocked area of the scans, "but I'm willing to bet it's the same with the fluids."
 Rodimus was silent for a moment as he checked the corresponding scans of the fluid feeds on his computer, then murmured, "It's almost as if she--or that energy field, whatever it is--is building...something..." He trailed off as he realized the truth of his words. "Are you sure?"
 Shanygn shook her head. "I want to see her, to confirm it. It might mean the difference between life and death for her, Roddy," she argued automatically.
 "What makes you think the energy field is going to let you look? She's rejected every attempt First Aid made at any repairs at all."
 "I don't know, but I bet the thing understands English. Maybe I can talk it into letting us help. Even if it is after Firefall's body, there's no sense in letting her die." Shanygn shrugged. "Besides, if it does let us help, we'll be in a better position to help get rid of the energy field without killing Firefall."
 Rodimus stared at her blankly for a moment, then gave her a reluctant half-grin. "You know, you have a point there."
 Shanygn scowled in mock offense. "Of -course- I have a point! Now can I see her or not?"
 Her partner heaved a sigh as he got to his feet. "Oh, I suppose. But you're not going in there without me. I don't know what that thing's capable of."
 "Whatever." She waved a hand in passive acceptance. "Just as long as I can see her."
 "All right already, I get the hint!" Rodimus gestured for her to preceed him.

***

 Rikkochet melted against the wall, taking a position where she wouldn't be tripped over yet she could observe the goings-on. Firefall lay on an operating table a few yards away, the machines helping her survive surrounding her. A tangle of cables lay on the floor around her.
 The red robot jerked her head up at the sound of the door sliding open, and at the sight of the organic creature accomanying the robotic entering the medical facilities, backed into the protective shadows.

***

 First Aid looked up in surprise as Shanygn and Rodimus entered sickbay. The area had been made off limits to anyone not having permission to be here, and doubly so for the Sentinels and humans.
 "I'll take the rest of your shift, First Aid. Shanygn wants to try something," Rodimus said by way of explanation. First Aid had less than an hour to go before Perceptor took over the watch.
 The medic looked at him questioningly, then nodded. "Call me if you need me."
 Shanygn, oblivious to the two Autobots for the moment, checked Firefall's absorbtion rates again, comparing them to the charts. "It's a little better now, but not much." She turned to the table Firefall lay on and grimaced, realizing she couldn't reach it on her own. She squeaked in surprise as she felt herself being lifted onto the table. "You could have warned me," she
grumbled, carefully stepping over a cable to Firefall's body.
 "Well?" Rodimus asked after a few moments.
 Shanygn sighed in exasperation. "Would you be patient, please?" She climbed on top of the prone body, making sure the skin was sound where she stepped. Cringing at the sight of the damage, she knelt below the chest plates, feeling for the seams that would allow her to open the compartment.
 Finding them, she pulled gently, trying to get a look inside. "Damn thing's stuck!" she muttered to herself.
 Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, then lit into whatever she was fighting. "Look, I don't know who or what you are, but keeping us from helping Firefall is -not- helping either of you. I don't -care- why you're in there, but I know it's in your own best interests to let us help!" She paused to regroup and felt something tickling the back of her mind, reminding her of the voices she'd heard before she and Rodimus had acknowledged their Interfacing. Then she was plunged into an alien mind.
 Rodimus Prime saw Shanygn stiffen, then went for his gun as her body was enveloped in warm gold light.

***

 Rikkochet couldn't keep herself from smiling at the humanoid's tenacity and tactics, and mentally catalogued her as an ally, if not a friend.

***

 //Who are you?//
 Though the words themselves weren't spoken, the question was plain in the sea of curiosity Shanygn found herself floating in.
 //I am Shanygn.// Something made her feel comfortable and at home here. Welcomed. //I am Rodimus Prime's Interface.//
 The curiosity changed to surprise. //Interface? Interface...Interface...// The word became a chant inside Shanygn's mind.
 Shanygn let herself drift within the entity's mind, not resisting the gentle probe of her Interface. She was rewarded with a rush of childish pleasure, then the entity withdrew the probe, opening itself for her inspection.
 Shanygn braced herself, then accepted the invitation, moving deeper within the energy being. Taking her cues from the sea of emotion around her, she stopped, taking in her surroundings.
 With a start Shanygn realized she had just patched herself into Firefall's circuitry. She felt the table, cold against her back, the cables pulling gently at her skin. The entity was with her, holding her in an endless comforting embrace, forcing her vital systems to function, keeping her alive by the barest of margins. The energon feed was but a trickle, teasing her with the promise of more strength but never delivering as it was diverted to the pulsing presence sheltered beneath her heart.
 Confused at what all this meant, Shanygn withdrew.
 //Questions?//
 //How do you know what I want before I do?// The half complaint came unbidden.
 //I am Veneran. I can speak with those Interfaced.// The half-formed words were accompanied by an emotional impression that left her with the understanding she needed.
 //Who are you?// Shanygn asked.
 //Gaelon.// The name seemed to echo oddly.
 Shanygn paused, debating how to ask about her almost-proven theory.
 She was abruptly returned to her own body before she had a chance to ask.
 

 "Shanygn?" Rodimus said tentatively, taking a step towards the table.
 There was no answer.
 [Shanygn? Are you all right?] He projected it as loudly as he could.
 Still no answer.
 Panic rose within him, and he fought it with anger. This...this -thing- had done something to his Interface!
 Rodimus lowered his gun, aiming at Firefall's head. He paused, feeling something probe at his Interface circuits, then withdraw. His eyes flashed with fury and he jammed the gun on its highest setting. "Let her go, or I'll shoot!" His finger tightened on the trigger.
 To his surprise, Shanygn collapsed on top of Firefall, the golden light surrounding her gone.
 

 Shanygn felt groggy, disoriented. The link with...Gaelon, though short, had taken its toll on her.
 "Shanygn?"
 She struggled to lift her head, answering Rodimus' anxious question with, "'m okay."
 Rodimus slowly lowerd his gun, keeping it ready in case that thing took over his partner again. "What happened?"
 Shanygn swallowed heavily, focing her into a sitting position. "Gaelon showed me..." She shook her head, unable to answer in words, sending emotional images instead.
 "Gaelon?" Rodimus looked dubious.
 Shanygn nodded weakly. "Gaelon's Veneran. I can only guess that's something like an Interface." She paused, gathering her strength before looking up at her partner. "Roddy, Gaelon's keeping her alive. She showed me what Firefall needed." Then she grimaced. "And you broke the link before I had a chance to ask," she added, taking note of the gun in her partner's hands.
 "You wouldn't answer me, Shanygn," Rodimus bit out. "And Gaelon probed my Interface circuits."
 "She was surprised and pleased, Roddy. Now, if you don't mind, I have a few more questions..."
 Rodimus interrupted before she could finish. "I do mind."
 Shanygn shot him an angry look.
 //She will come to no harm with me.//
 Rodimus stiffened, his optics flaring as he heard the reassurance through his Interface.
 "See?" Shanygn's tone was almost gleeful.
 Her partner grumbled a bit in answer.
 Taking his non-answer for acquiecense, Shanygn turned her attention back to the matter at hand. //Gaelon?// she projected at the Veneran.
 There was an answering sensation of expectation.
 //Can I ask you a few more questions?//
 Shanygn felt a pleased murmur in the back of her mind, then she was back inside the alien.
 //Ask.//
 //Can you handle an energon surge? I don't want to fry what circuitry Firefall has left.//
 There was an overwhelming sense of graditude. Shanygn took it as a 'yes.'
 //Can you block or deactive her...what did he call it? Her internal security system?//
 //I can block it somewhat, but...// and Gaelon explained in pictures and emotion that the circuitry allowing her access to Firefall's databanks was too badly damaged for her to deactivate it. //I will do what I can.//
 //Thank you,// Shanygn said simply, then withdrew back into her own body. Surprisingly, she didn't feel weak this time. In fact, she didn't even feel the aftereffects of her first talk with the Veneran.
 ''Roddy?"
 "Hmm..." He was still upset.
 "Oh, stop it! Gaelon didn't hurt me!" Seeing his continued disapproval of the entire thing, she lost her temper. "Geez, Roddy, what -is- it with you today? Did Kup tell you off again or something? What gives?"
 Roddy sighed and shook his head. "Kup...I have no idea where Kup is. He lit out of here as soon as Firefall was reported stable and hasn't been seen since. I can't get -any- information about her from him, or from Optimus! And Optimus is on his way -here!-"
 "He didn't tell you anything?" She got to her feet, intending to increase the feeds.
 "He just said to look up some backwater planet called Kaiy'thala." He shrugged.
 "So, have Voodoo look up Kaiy'thala and don't worry about it. Our main concern is keeping her alive for the moment. Relax." She took two steps towards him and stumbled as her foot caught on a groove in Firefall's armor. "Geez, she really got herself shot..."
 Shanygn turned to look at the piece of armor that had tripped her. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized there were no burnmarks or other outward signs of battle damage, other than general wear. Closer inspection revealed a strange insignia etched into Firefall's skin, nearly worn away and almost invisible. She'd tripped over one of the few well-defined edges left.
"Roddy?" Her voice was almost a whisper. "You better have Voodoo look this up, too." She pointed out the unfamiliar symbol.
 Rodimus studied it for a moment. "I think I recognize it--vaguely-- from when I looked up Midnight's insignia...If this is what I think it is, Firefall predates the Autobots...and the Decepticons...I wonder if Kup knew about this. Or Optimus." He straightened, back in control now that he had something to work with. "I'll call Voodoo." He started to turn to the computers.
 "Just don't freak if I decide to talk to Gaelon again, okay?" Shanygn laid a hand on her partner's arm.
 Rodimus looked at her and nodded reluctantly.
 Shanygn went to the feed controls and increased all of them by several hundred percent, staying in constant contact with Gaelon to monitor them. She watched silently as Firefall's lifesigns strengthened over the next few minutes, absently listening to her partner's intructions to Voodoo and the other Interfaces over the comm. Deciding the fluid and energon levels were at an acceptable level now, she turned away from the monitors.
 The strange robot Shanygn saw watching from the shadows alarmed her, but only for the moment it took her to take in the female's battered and war-torn condition, as well as the insignia matching the one on Firefall's shoulder. The reddish robot held up her hands and nodded, acknowledging Shanygn's notice of her, then put one finger to her lips and jerked her head towards Rodimus Prime.
 //Gaelon?// Confused and wary, she projected a mental image of the stranger. //Who is that...? Does she pose any...//
 //She is Firefall's daughter.//
 Shanygn blinked in surprise, her mouth forming a small 'o.' She looked up at the stranger again, who nodded and tapped her chest silently in answer.
 Still confused, but satisfied that neither she nor anyone else was in any danger if Gaelon was so unconcerned, Shanygn went back to her hypothesis. //Umm...Gaelon...?//
 //Yes, I can. One moment.//
 Shanygn was slightly surprised the Veneran knew what she wanted as she felt the energy being withdraw from the abdominal cavity. Then the armor plates opened with a gentle click and rose a bit. Shanygn climbed back on top of the Autobot's body, carefully pulling open the panels so she could look inside.

***

 Midnight opened his personal comm link, curious as to who was calling him. He became instantly wary as Optimus Primes voice came from the small speaker.
 "Midnight, I need a favor. Can you gate me to Earth? I've cleared my schedule here, but the next shuttle isn't due out until tomorrow." His voice sounded strangly haunted.
 'And you want to see Firefall as soon as possible,' Midnight thought to himself. "Send me your coordinates and I'll be there a.s.a.p."
 "Thanks."
 "No problem," Midnight answered, then shut off the comm as soon as he'd gotten the coordinates. He wondered to himself just who Firefall was, since she was getting so much attention at the moment...

***

 Shanygn was just finishing her examination of Firefall when Perceptor requested entrance. Startled, she pushed the opened panels nearly shut as Rodimus went to let the scientist in.
 "I have precipitous news. Voodoo and the other Interfaces have discovered a plethora of fascinating information concerning our guest. And Optimus Prime will be arriving momentarily via gate, courtesy of Midnight," Perceptor announced, tactfully not approaching the examination table.
 "Already?" Shanygn asked in surprise.
 Perceptor nodded.
 [Can you close those, Roddy? He'll see it if I do, and this isn't exactly the kind of thing we have to right to announce...] she sent silently. "I guess we'd better go greet him, then..." She waited for her partner to lift her to the floor.
 Rodimus sent a flash of understanding, then moved to the table, blocking Perceptor's view as he shut Firefall's armor panels gently.
 Perceptor waved a hand absently in dismissal as he approached the table, too
engrossed int he changes in his patient's energy levels to note their lack of response.
 Or the changes onscreen.

--Unauthorized security breach noted--
--Activating Delta Level internal security systems--
--Analyzing Alpha Level evaluations--

***

 Rodimus Prime and Shanygn met Midnight and Optimus Prime on their way to see what the others had turne dup. Rodimus suppressed a grin as he felt Shaygn's frustration well; she was just as curious about Firefall as everyone else, including him.
 "How is she?" Optimus asked by way of greeting.
 "Much better now," Shanygn answered before Rodimus could, "but we have to talk. In private." It fell just short of an order, and Optimus stared at her for a moment before nodding and gesturing towards his office.
 Once the door was closed, Optimus turned to them and prompted, "What's wrong? I thought First Aid said she was stable."
 "He did," Shanygn started.
 Rodimus broke in before she could continue. "Two things. One, she's possessed by some weird energy creature by the name of Gaelon." His optics flared with remembered anger, left over from when he couldn't reach his Interface.
 Shanygn groaned at the wording her partner used, as well as the bitterness in his voice.
 "And you don't agree with that interpretation?" Optimus asked.
 Shanygn shot her partner a scathing glare before answering. "No, I don't. I talked with Gaelon, and -she- is a Veneran, which is something like an Interface. Roddy here doesn't like her because she communicates through -our- Interface and he can't reach me when I'm talking with her."
 "It's more than that and you know it," Rodimus growled. He opened his mouth to continue, but Optimus stopped him.
 "All right, you two, you can argue all you want--later. Now what's the other thing you needed to tell me?"
 Rodimus and Shanygn appeared stunned for a moment, then looked at each other, obviously uncomfortable.
 "Ummm...Well, I really don't know how to break this gently, but..." Rodimus broke eye contact, searching for the right words.
 Shanygn figetted. "I not sure we really have the right to say this..." She moved closer to her partner, both defensively and protectively.
 "Well?" Optimus prompted after a moment of strained silence. Midnight stayed out of it though he watched attentively, leaning against the wall behind Optimus.
 Shanygn grimaced, then blurted it out before she could change her mind.
 "Firefall's pregnant."

***

--Analysis complete--
--Initializing Escape/Scatter program--
--ISS: Escape/Scatter online--
--ISS: Radiation Scanners online--
--Accessing databanks--
--Rerouting energon flow--
--Activating secondary motor control systems--
--ISS: Escape/Scatter active--

 A surge of concerned interest flooded Perceptor's circuits as he saw Firefall's optics activate. Setting down his clipboard, he drew closer, leaning slightly over the injured female.
 "Firefall?" he asked tentatively. "I'm Perceptor. Is there anything I can do to help?"
 The scientist was completely unprepared for his patient's reaction.
 One hand shot around his neck.
 A flash of pain.
 Then the world went black.

***

 "Firefall's -what-?" Optimus responded in complete shock.
 Behind him, Midnight looked sick, his black skin seeming to pale by several shades. But then, that was understandable; he'd been there at the crash and had seen Firefall's condition for himself.
 Rodimus and Shanygn remained silent, watching as the Autobot leader digested the news and sank into his chair.
 [I don't think it'd be a good idea to mention that insignia right now,] Shanygn sent.
 [I wasn't planning on it,] Rodimus answered. "Just who -is- Firefall, anyways?" he asked when Optimus seemed to have recovered his composure somewhat.
 Optimus didn't say anything for a long moment.
 Then, very quietly, he began, "Firefall was a living legend when I was young. She was quite probably one of the most respected Autobots that ever lived."
 Shanygn began to get a hint of why Firefall's pregnancy was such a shock, but it didn't explain everything. "You talk like she's dead."
 Optimus regarded her with pained blue optics. "She's been dead for almost ten million years," he whispered. "Or so we thought."
 His second-in-command made a choking sound. "Ten...-million-...years?"
 Optimus nodded. "Firefall led a suicide attack on the Decepticons to cover our retreat from Kaiy'thala." He looked away. "I have no idea how she survived, and I'm almost afraid to find out." He was silent for a moment, then stood. "She's still in medbay?"
 "Yes. Perceptor's there with her," Shanygn supplied.
 Optimus nodded, then left the room, the others following at a discreet distance.
 Shanygn grew wary halfway there, suddenly aware of the same tickle in the back of her mind that had preceeded her talks with Gaelon. But this time it wasn't welcoming.
 It was warning.

***

 //Where am I?// Firefall asked herself, partially conscious. She had no memories of where she was or how she'd gotten here, other than the name and 'feel' of the one who'd helped her. Nor did she have any control over it; her internal security systems had activated and taken over her motor control. She wouldn't have control of her body until the AI programs recognized and acknowledged something that fell within their safety parameters.
 Gaelon didn't answer, but Firefall didn't expect one. The first thing her security systems did was seal the Veneran off in her Matrix, protecting her from drainage. Unfortunately, it also kept her from communicating with her host.
 Firefall watched almost disinterestedly as her programs took over and knocked the robot hovering over her unconscious, then removed the feeds and monitor cables from her body. She was less than half charged, but compared to what she was used to functioning at these past few million years, it was an overdose, and she was consequently groggy and disoriented.
 Half aware of her body getting off the examination table and leaving medbay, she accepted the futility of fighting her programming and let herself drift back into unconsciousness.

***

 Shanygn listened for that little tickle, fear sparking as it didn't return. [Something's wrong.]
 Her partner sent a rush of surprise and understanding. [You felt it too?]
 Shanygn stopped dead in her tracks, turning to stare at her Interface. He stared back for a moment, then they came to a silent agreement and bolted for medbay, dodging Optimus, who gave them a disgusted look.
 The sight that greeted them when they reached medbay was not encouraging. Firefall was gone, the cables and feeds scattered over the table and floor, leaving pools of various fluids and energon. Perceptor lay on the floor in a heap, leaning against the table supports.
 Shanygn looked around, taking note of the security system activation commands still onscreen. She pointed it out to her partner. "You alert the others. I'll take care of Perceptor," Shanygn told Rodimus, already halfway to the fallen medic.
 Rodimus nodded, opening a comm link on one of the computers other than the one displaying the only traces of Firefall's disappearance. He told Springer and Ultra Magnus to put out the general alarm, cautioning them not to hurt her if they found her.
 "Perceptor? Can you hear me?" Shanygn tugged fruitlessly at him, trying to get him into a more comfortable position.
 Perceptor's optics flickered and he groaned. "Wh-what...happened?" He dragged himself into a sitting position, trying to remember.
 "Firefall's gone," Shanygn answered.
 "Firefall's gone?" Optimus asked from the doorway.
 Shanygn looked up at the Autobot leader and pointed to the screen. "Her internal security systems activated and took over. Apparently her programming thinks she's in trouble and is getting her to safety," she explained.
 "First Aid's on his way here," Rodimus said as he turned around, going to join his partner next to Perceptor. "Do you remember anything?"
 Perceptor thought for a moment. "Her optics illuminated, and I informed her that I was attempting to aid her. She choked me, and then I awakened here." He gestured to the floor, checking his internal chronometer. "I've been unconscious for six minutes and 37.26 seconds."
 "She's still in the area, then. I hope," Rodimus said almost to himself. "Shanygn, can you..." He stopped as he saw her vacant expression and felt her calling Gaelon.
 He tensed, keeping his temper in strict control as she was once again enveloped in the warm glow of the Veneran.

 //Gaelon? Can you hear me?// Shanygn sent, worry strong in her thoughts.
 The answer was weak and fearful.
 //We want to help, Gaelon. Can you show me where Firefall is?// Shanygn felt the Veneran strain to reach her, trying to complete the link. She mentally stretched herself and felt awash with relief as the connection was made. Blurred images rushed through her mind, then focused. //I'm going to come after you. Can you stay in contact? Do you know how to stop this program?//
 //I...can try...// came the tentative answer to her questions. //I'm trying to wake Firefall. Do not be surprised if she speaks to you.//
 Shanygn nodded inwardly, then thought a moment. The Veneran had kept Firefall alive all this time; she showed all the characteristics of being another kind of Interface, able to enhance her host's abilities. And unlike all currently known Interfaces, hers was apparently not limitted to her host.
 More pictures flew past her mind's eye. 'Speed is of the essence here,' Shanygn thought to herself, then plunged ahead with her idea. //Could you get me there faster if you took over my body?// A spark of fear ignited within her even as she voiced the suggestion, but she ruthlessly burned it away; Gaelon had shown no ill will towards anyone, even when her host had been threatened.
 Gaelon was thoughtful for a moment, considering the proposition. Then she probed the humanoid, taking careful note of the implanted exoskeleton, which ultimately made the idea feasible. //Yes. You are sure?//
 //If it will help FIrefall, yes, I'm sure.// Shanygn forced herself to be confident, then retreated deep within her mind. She was flooded with sensations as she felt the Veneran take control of her body.
 Almost absently she remembered she ought to warn her partner.
 

 Rodimus watched his Interface as the golden light brightened, then died, except for her eerily glowing eyes.
 [Roddy, Gaelon's taking me to Firefall.] The half-aware message was weak, distant.
 "Gaelon's -what-?" Rodimus answered aloud, shocked as he realized exactly what she meant.
 It was already too late. Shanygn-Gaelon was already up and out of the medbay, moving faster than any organic could hope to run.
 Rodimus belatedly followed, an irrational anger at both his Interface and the mysterious energy being welling up inside him.

***

 Firefall's security systems kept her on the ground, trying to record as much information about the area as it could. It avoided living beings, which inevitably drove her on a winding path throughout Metroplex, then in circles as more robots began to appear, most of them pursuing her.
 The constant motion did further damage to her circuitry, causing more pain than her symbiont could handle as distracted as she was. The steadily growing aches woke Firefall, making her suddenly aware of her surroundings.
 Her body stopped, strangers ahead of her and an alley on either side. A brief glance at her ISS recordings made her realize she'd been here before. Her escape AI program was damaged, but then, that was to be expected. None of her systems were intact.
 She turned to go down one of the alleys and came face to face with a humanoid. Recognition swamped her--this was the one who'd saved her! Firefall attacked her security programing, trying to convince it she was safe. To her surprise, it worked.
 "Shanygn?" Her voice was hoarse with pain.
 The eerie light in her eyes died. "Firefall? Are you okay? Is Gaelon back?"
 Firefall's optics flared feebly in shock as she understood what Shanygn meant. She lifted one hand with difficulty, poking at her chestplates. Gaelon pulsed comfortingly, reassuring her host of her presence. "Yes. She's okay. I need to--" She broke off, and Shanygn could hear a faint mental scream.
 Shanygn's eyes widened when she saw Firefall stiffen, her face becoming a neutral mask instead of the grimace of pain it had been for that short period of time. She whirled, wanting to know who or what had reactivated the Autobot's security systems.
 Firefall had already acted on the perceived threat before Shanygn had a chance to warn her partner. Shanygn cried out involuntarily as Rodimus was slammed backwards into the building to her right, her partner's pain joined by Firefall's. She watched, helpless, as Firefall hauled Rodimus to his feet, one hand clamped around his neck, tightening.
 [NO!!!] Shanygn screamed inwardly, recognizing the move Perceptor had described as the one responsible for his blackout.
 Firefall hesitated, fighting herself. Shanygn could feel her inner struggle, then her stunned realization of...something. [Shanygn...] Firefall's mind-voice was pained and desperate. [The Matrix...Matrix radiation...it will...] The rest of her message was garbled, and Shanygn knew she wouldn't be able to repeat it; the injured robot was locked in battle with her programming.
 It took a moment to understand Firefall's message, then Shanygn flipped open her comm line. Fear for her partner and pain and fear she was getting from him deafened her to her own words, and she could only hope she got the right words out.
 [Hold on, Roddy, help's on its way...] Shanygn tried to help him stay conscious, knowing his oxygen intake was almost nothing from the pressure Firefall was exerting on his neck.
 Then the cavalry arrived.
 Sort of.
 "Springer, no!" Shanygn cried, then to herself, muttered, "This isn't the help I was hoping for..."
 The triplechanger had come up behind them, planting his gun against Firefall's back to get her attention.
 Firefall dropped Rodimus, then transformed, her wings knocking both him and Springer roughly to the ground. Shanygn got the upsetting mental impression of Firefall curling into a whimpering ball as the dull red x-wing jet moved slowly along the ground, gradually picking up a bit of speed.
 Springer got up and made sure Rodimus was okay, then started after the injured female.
 "Springer, no. Let her go. You'll only end up hurting her more." Shanygn went to her partner, noting with immense relief that Optimus had arrived further up the street ahead of Firefall and was even now transforming. "It should all be over in a minute." She ignored Rodimus's glare, glancing over the superficial scratched left by Firefall's attacks. Then, assured he would be fine and had suffered no lasting injuries, she looked around, noting that more of Firefall's skin had broken off in the short battle.
 She wondered if it was coincidence or not that the piece bearing the strange insignia had broken off and lay in shards next to them. 'Probably not,' she thought to herself as she scattered the pieces, obliterating the pattern.

 Optimus had stayed in medbay, even though he longed to be out searching for Firefall; he needed to know just how badly injured she was, and Perceptor and First Aid were the best people to tell him. Somehow, the degree of her injuries diminished the shock of her pregnancy; how had she survived? How? Why?
 Then came the frantic, almost panicked message on the broad comm link band, the one only used for emergencies. It was completely incoherent, mangled, but Optimus managed to pick out a few words: his name, a location, and something about Matrix radiation. With a feeling of dread, he realized what it meant; the message was from Shanygn, and the fear in her voice meant something had gone wrong, most likely with her partner, his second.
 He left, transforming into his truck mode as soon as he was clear of the building and sped towards the coordinates in the transmission, horn blaring.
 Optimus transformed, standing in an intersection a few blocks from his destination, but he didn't need to go further. A ghost plane was heading straight for him, skimming sluggishly along the ground.
 Firefall came to a slow stop in front of him, then transformed. Her eyes were fever-bright as she stared at him, her face an unreadable mask.
 That alone told him he wasn't facing his old friend; her security programs were still in control. He held up both hands, palms out, trying to tell it through body language this wasn't an attack, then touched his chestplates. They swung outward, and he felt the Matrix inside him pulse with power, bathing the injured female in a soft blue glow.
 He could almost see the change in her as the programs shut down. Her eyes gradually dimmed, her stance going from rigid to almost too relaxed. Her expression went from neutrality to...twisted in pain.
 Firefall gave a shriek of agony, her eyes flaring a blinding white as she staggered forward one step, then collapsed, unconscious.
 

 Optimus eased the unconscious robot to the ground, then closed his chest panels before picking her up. He held Firefall tenderly, his face a mask of stoicism covering the anguish he felt inside. Had she fought impossible odds and traveled halfway across known space, only to die here and now, a victim of her own programming? He supressed a shudder at the mental question.
 He looked up, focusing his optics on Rodimus, Shanygn, and Springer, the latter two of which were watching him. From his second's position, Prime knew Rodimus was glaring at his Interface, furious. And thankfully, he seemed unhurt by more than a few superficial scratches.
 Moving carefully so as to not disturb Firefall, he opened his comm. "Shanygn, I'm taking Firefall back to medbay. Is Rodimus okay?"
 "He'll be fine, once his fuel level gets back to normal..." came the humanoid's response, accompanied by a clearly disgruntled sound from her partner.
 Optimus nodded. "Good. I expect a full report later." He turned, making his way swiftly back to medbay, hoping fervently that Firefall's security systems were under control.
 

 Rodimus sat on the ground, rubbing his neck to ease the lingering ache. As it was, he was glad to have something to do with his hands; it took all his control to keep himself from throttling his Interface. He settled for glaring at her while he waited for the pain in his oxygen intake subsided.
 "Tell me something, Shanygn. What the hell did you think you were doing, pulling a stunt like that?"
 Shanygn looked up at him, startled at the tightly controlled anger in his voice. Irritation sparked in her eyes. "Trying to save Firefall's life, in case you hadn't noticed," she snapped in answer.
 "And giving Gaelon a chance to kill both of us!" Rodimus got to his feet, looking down at his partner. Remembering they weren't alone here, he gave Springer a pointed look.
 Springer shrugged and backed away, leaving to spread the word that Firefall had been found and was under control. He definitely did not want to get tangled up in fight between Rodimus and his Interface.
 "Gaelon's not about to kill anybody, Roddy! If she were, you'd have been dead back in medbay when you threatened her!"
 "And what was she trying to do a few minutes ago? Give me a neck massage?" He rubbed the worst spot again in remebrance.
 "Gaelon had nothing to do with that!" Shanygn shot back. "That was your own damn fault for setting off Firefall's security programming again!"
 "If I remember correctly, it was her security programming in control in the first place! It could have killed you!" Rodimus Prime's voice rose several notches, indicating his waning control of his temper.
 Shanygn shook her head impatiently. "She recognized me and shut them off! I had the whole situation under control until you came charging up here like some kind of conquering hero!"
 Her partner didn't answer for a moment, only glaring at her, as if he were fighting himself as well as her. Then, without a word, he transformed, the driver's side door opening for her. "Get in."
 "No thank you, I'll walk."
 "I -said- get in." This time it was an order, and there was no mistaking that he wasn't about to let her back out.
 Shanygn mumbled in fury, before climbing in, making sure it was as uncomfortable as possible for her partner. "Where are we going?" she asked stiffly.
 "Medbay to make sure Firefall made it."
 "Then?"
 There was a moment's silence.
 "To my office, where we can have this out in private."
 "Wonderful. Just peachy," Shanygn grumbled sarcastically.

 
 "How is she?" Optimus Prime asked as he watched First Aid and Perceptor reattach various feeds and monitor cables to Firefall's body.
 First Aid paused to glance over at the monitor screens for a moment. "Not good. She isn't stabilizing like she did last time, and I can't get a reading on that energy field. It's either not there anymore or it's sheilded against the scans somehow." He sighed, looking at Firefall's battered body regretfully. "And as far as I can tell from what I've heard, that energy field is what's been keeping her alive."
 "Which means if we can't get it back..." Optimus didn't finish the sentence; it was all too obvious that, even if she hadn't opened at least a dozen wounds in the brief battle, she wouldn't be able to survive much longer. He moved away from the examination table, standing back as he observed the frantic attempts to steady her vital systems externally. There was too much risk in trying to actively try to repair her even now.
 The silence was almost deafening, only broken by the hum and whir of the medical equipment and the soft murmurs of First Aid and Perceptor as they tried, however futilely, to save Firefall. Optimus neither moved nor spoke again until Rodimus and Shanygn arrived.

 
 Somehow, Shanygn wasn't surprised to feel Gaelon's presence within her when she and Rodimus got back to medbay. According to the grimly determined expressions on First Aid's and Perceptor's faces, and the pained worried look in Optimus's optics, Firefall's condition was deteriorating.
 Her anger forgotten for the moment, she turned her attention to the Veneran. //Gaelon? I thought you said you could keep her alive?// She was careful not to make it an accusation.
 //Systems malfunction. I can't get out of my housing without you here,// and Gaelon sent a mental impression of Shanygn being a bridge over a turbulent river.
 Shanygn felt a rush of pleasure--her own this time--at the realization of the role she would play in Firefall's recovery. She couldn't keep herself from grinning madly, either, when it hit her that she wouldn't be arguing with her partner in his office like he thought they would be.
 Exclamations of accomplishment jerked her out of her musings. She looked up to see First Aid and Perceptor watching the monitors as Firefall's vital systems steadied, then stabilized.
 "Gaelon, leave my Interface alone!"
 Shanygn, puzzled, stared at her partner. She shook her head, wondering to herself.
 "Your eyes are glowing again, Shanygn, if you can even hear me," Rodimus explained resentfully.
 Bitterness at his refusal to accept that Gaelon was a benign entity welled within her. "Roddy, Gaelon's trapped in her housing! If she leaves me alone, Firefall will die!" The thought was so horrifying to her that her voice rose an octave, coming dangerously close to being hysterical.
 "It doesn't look like she's about to die, Shanygn. She's stabilized again. She'll be fine. Now let's go." Rodimus turned to leave.
 "Weren't you listening to me? I'm not going anywhere!"
 Rodimus stiffened, then turned back to her.
 Shanygn stubbornly lifted her chin in defiance. "The second I walk out of this room, Gaelon loses her ability to keep Firefall alive. I'm -not- leaving, Roddy. I'm staying right here until she's out of danger." She glared at him angrily, then turned and stalked to the monitors.
 Rodimus clenched his fists at his sides, trying to keep his temper in check. "Shanygn, I am not letting you stay here! She nearly killed -me-, for Primus' sake!"
 "And you know very well whose fault that was," Shanygn answered quietly.
 Rodimus made an incoherent noise of rage and turned his head, his optics angrily sweeping the room as he tried to stay in control.

 
 Optimus watched the verbal battle half-heartedly, his mind spinning at something Shanygn had said. Was it true? Was Gaelon, whatever she was, using Shanygn as a bridge to her host? And if that was true, could they risk having her leave medbay?
 No.
 And it looked as if Rodimus was getting ready to physically remove Shanygn from medbay. Optimus shook himself, then stepped between the two combatants. They immediately stopped bickering and stared balefully at him, as if he'd lost some important logic circuitry.
 They didn't even let him say anything, just looked at him before snapping simultaneously, "Keep out of it!"
 Optimus blinked. Rodimus' expression darkened, like the clouds gathering before a storm. Shanygn's eyes flashed with anger and obstinacy.
 Optimus ignored the warning. "I'm sorry, Rodimus, but we can't risk losing Firefall. Shanygn is going to have to stay here." He could hear Shanygn's almost sarcastic laughter behind him as he watched his second's reaction.
 Rodimus growled, giving his superior an accusing look.
 Optimus though for a moment that the younger Autobot would attack him for overriding his orders, and was almost pleasantly surprised when he merely grumbled under his breath and turned and strode from medbay. Almost. He knew there'd be hell to pay when he saw him later.
 "Optimus?"
 He turned and saw Shanygn approach him, relief and graditude in her expression. He raised a hand, waving off whatever she'd been about to say. "Like I said--we can't afford to lose her. This will probably create problems for you two, but for right now I'm just glad Gaelon's back." He glanced over at the monitors.
 Shanygn opened her mouth to say something, then shut it and shook her head. She turned and went back to the monitors.
 Optimus turned and headed for the door.
 "I'll let you know if there's any change," Shanygn said just before he'd gone.

***

 Kup sped over the rough terrain, tires squealing and shocks protesting. Dust rose in clouds behind him as he tried to outrace his thoughts.
 //This can't be happening! It can't be her!//
 But something inside kept telling him it was true; Firefall had survived, somehow. She'd changed, likely in ways he wouldn't like, but ways necessary for her to have stayed alive.
 //I can't face her! I loved her so much. To see her hurting like that...I can't...Ten million years...// His ability to put together a coherent thought seemed to desert him.
 His front tire hit a patch of dry leaves and he spun out. He transformed before he had a chance to crash into a nearby boulder and sat there, head in his hands. He ignored the world around him; it held no real importance right now. He'd shut off his beeper after the second call, hours ago, his tracking device he'd destroyed. Not that anyone was likely to bother him here--he was far from any road, and he sat in the middle of the desert, not a man-made object in sight.
 //I let her go years ago...Okay, three years ago. But...Do we still have a relationship? Do I still -want- a relationship? Does -she- want a relationship? Hell, will she even survive?// he asked himself, mind whirling with possibilities and consequences.
 He shivered, knowing he was no closer to answering those questions, or the dozens that followed. And he knew, too, that he wouldn't face Firefall, or even go back to Metroplex, until he had--or someone found him and -made- him go back.

***

 Shanygn stretched, easing aching muscles. It had been three days since she'd been ordered to remain in medbay, giving Firefall a chance to pull through, and she was getting...what was the phrase here? She was getting cabin fever. She'd barely set foot outside medbay, and then only to go around the corner to relieve herself. Optimus had arranged to have everything she needed moved into one of the unused dorms.
 Which brought up another painful topic. Her partner wasn't getting any better about her staying here. If anything, Rodimus was getting worse. She could feel his anger simmering just below the surface, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation. He'd taken to avoiding medbay when possible, and she hadn't seen him for more than an hour or two each day.
 Something was going to have to be done about that, but not right now. Not tonight. Tomorrow would be soon enough for a confrontation, if Firefall's condition allowed for it.
 Right now, all she wanted to do was crawl in bed and get some sleep. The last few nights hadn't been restful, as she'd gotten flashback nightmares from Firefall. Though she didn't exactly like the intrusion even when she was sleeping, she had grown to look forward to it somewhat, as it gave her much-needed insight into what their guest had been through. And maybe she'd be able to help Firefall deal with it all when she was able. Somehow she wasn't worried about her partner's reaction to it; Gaelon had assured her that her sheilds were more than adequate to keep the dreams from his knowledge. Her presence was a comfort as much as it was a deterrent to her partnership with Rodimus.
 Sighing to herself, Shanygn got to her feet and switched off the computer, making her last rounds to check the monitors to make sure Firefall was stable. Reassuring herself that her friend would survive until morning, she crawled into bed, making certain that she could see the computer screen from her bed before allowing herself to drift to sleep.

***

 Shanygn didn't know what had awakened her. She hadn't been plagued by flashback dreams, but she was suddenly wide awake. A glance at the bedside clock showed it to be nearly 3 am.
 She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She heard the quiet hums of the medical equipment, as well as a clicking, scraping noise. She looked up, hoping to see Perceptor or First Aid, or even better yet, Rodimus Prime's bulky shape moving in the shadows. Noone was there.
 She got to her feet and padded to the wall, turning the light up a bit.
 What she saw horrified her.

<<Accessing primary repair programs>>
--Primary repair programs not found--

 Shanygn heard the scratching noise again and saw it was Firefall's hands clenching and unclenching.

<<Accessing secondary repair programs>>
--File found--
--Unretrievable--

 The monitor recording Firefall's fuel pump rate increased in speed, her fluid levels rising dangerously. Energon flooded her circuits.

<<Accessing transitory repair system>>
--Accessing--
--Transitory repair system online--

 Firefall's pump rate slowed a bit in relief, Shanygn guessed.

<<Target: Pain compensators, fuel pump, matrix circuitry>>
--Targetting--
--Fuel pump not responding--

 The monitor flatlined.

--Matrix cirucuitry failing--
--Systems overload--
--System shutdown imminent--
--Standby--
--Self-destruct online--
--Standing by for instructions--

 Firefall's circuitry sparked, making a small light show. The audience was not appreciative.
 Shanygn felt Gaelon's presence overwhelm her. She gave herself over to the Veneran, screaming inwardly that this wasn't fair.

***

 //Pain.
 Fear.
 Searing heat.
 Malfunctioning circuits.
 Pain.
 Have to live. Have to.
 Fight!
 Pain.
 Weak. So weak.
 Oxygen intake blocked. Fluids leaking.
 Pain.
 Alone. Where are you? Why won't you answer me?
 Panic.
 Pain.
 Where is she? What have you done with her?//

***

 Rodimus Prime played with his pen, trying futilely to concentrate on his work. With a mental sigh, he threw the pen down and reached mentally for Shanygn, hoping that maybe -this- time he could reach her.
 Shanygn was sleeping peacefully, and as he knew she hadn't had nearly enough rest since their visitor arrived, he reluctantly let her be.
 He let his mind drift back to what they'd found out about Firefall: that she was believed to be a first generation Autobot; that she in fact was of an older race of robots called Guardians, built to protect their creators; that she had had a reputation that may have surpassed Optimus Prime's...that she had indeed sacrificed herself and her troops to save several hundred young Autobots from certain death, and now she turned up, alive. Barely.
 Kup knew her. He also knew of her, things that weren't in the archives. Rodimus had been stunned to find that the file on Guardians had already been recovered some time ago, long before Firefall had shown up. A little research had shown it to have been restored by the security officer. It still rankled, but as Kup hadn't been seen or heard from since he'd left three days ago, there wasn't much he could do.
 //Just who -is- she? What relationship did she have with everyone?// Rodimus sighed. Kup seemed to have been emotionally involved with her, as far as he could tell...Her appearance had certainly been painful enough for him. And then there was that business with the calls. Rodimus still couldn't comprehend how or why, or even if they happened, but he wasn't about to doubt anything. //Just what does this all mean? Are there other survivors up there, in that Decepticon ship? Why haven't they tried to contact us? Are they waiting for Firefall to call them? If they are, why? Perceptor said the crash was most likely an attempted suicide...//
 Rodimus cut off his train of thought as he was swamped with foreign emotions. [Shan?]
 She didn't answer, but the feelings were most definitely coming from her. Fear, growing ever stronger, accompanied by a sense of urgency.
 Then overwhelming pain.
 Rodimus was on his feet and out the door, gun in hand, before he even realized he'd reacted.
 

 The alarm shrieked.
 First Aid bolted out of the recharging unit, double-checking the remote monitor. It had flatlined. He ran for the door, nearly colliding with Perceptor on the way into medbay.
 "Shanygn? What..." First Aid stopped. It was no use asking her what had happened. Her eyes were glowing a feverish yellow as she scrabbled ineffectually at Firefall's chestplates.
 "Can't breathe...Drowning..." Shanygn-Gaelon croaked. "Need suction...tube...Drain cavity." Not bothering to wait for them to respond, she--somehow--plunged both hands through the armor panelling on Firefall's chestplates and yanked them open. She shuddered as a jolt of power ripped through her, then became a steady flow as Firefall's security systems took effect.
 Fluids poured out of the chest cavity, running off the table and forming puddles on the floor. From the color, it seemed to be mostly fuel, with some oil and other lubricants mixed in.
 "One minute," Perceptor said emotionlessly, marking the time since the fuel pump had flatlined. He handed Shanygn a suction tube, then went for an airhose.
 It seemed as if everything they'd pumped into her had drained into the cavity. It took forever to reach the circuits below and free the oxygen intake, the slurping sounds the suction tubes and airhose made only intensifying the urgency.
 "What -is- that?" First Aid asked, pointing to the silverish sphere embedded in the center of Firefall's chest. He tried to touch it, but reared back with a cry of pain as he received a jolt of energy.
 Shanygn-Gaelon gestured for them to move back, then started ripping out destroyed circuitry, trying to disable the security system that blocked her from her partner.
 "Three minutes. If we don't save her now, she's lost." First Aid turned away to ready the electro-shocks.
 "Never!" Shanygn-Gaelon answered fiercely. Her hands started to glow, energy sparking from one to the other. The she leaned down, covering the silver sphere with both.
 Perceptor and First Aid almost cheered when the monitor bleeped again and they heard the raspy sound of Firefall's oxygen intake.
 Firefall reared up off the table, spinning around. Her hands went around Shanygn before she lost her balance and fell backwards off the table.
 "Shanygn!" Rodimus Prime screamed from the doorway.
 

 //Ow// was all Firefall could think of as she slammed into the floor on her back. She was painfully aware of her condition--her chest panels were open, matrix exposed...and she seemed to be holding something inside.
 [Sh...Shanygn?] she whispered, hoping the humanoid hadn't been hurt.
 Shanygn moaned a bit. She was extremely groggy, almost unconscious.
 Firefall hoped she would be all right. Her security systems were not to be taken lightly, even with her symbiont channeling.
 The pain faded a bit, enough to let her focus on her surroundings. Her security scanners showed three robots in the room with her, one armed and advancing on her.
 There was no time to lie around suffering. She had to act.
 <Target: pain compansators>
 --Pain compensators online--
 The pain faded to aches. Firefall's mind cleared and she got slowly to her feet, cradling Shanygn's prone form against her. A flattened cannon appeared on her left forearm as she lay her friend gently on the examination table. She kept her optics, blurry though they were, on the red form advancing on her from the other side of the table.
 "I wouldn't if I were you." She straightened, her expression that of harsh determination. She slowly made her way around the table, keeping her cannon trained on whoever this was threatening her and Shanygn.
 

 Rodimus watched, wary, as Firefall approached him. His eyes narrowed. "Get away from her." He aimed his gun.
 Firefall did the opposite, getting closer to Shanygn, this time on the near side of the table, effectively blocking his view of her. Strangely incongruous with her condition, her movements were fluid, graceful...deadly. Rodimus knew she was a formidable opponent even now, and wondered fleetingly just what was going on.
 "You have no idea who you're dealing with, boy. I can take you and your two friends here with one shot. I suggest you leave while you still function." Firefall's voice was calm and collected, showing no sign of the pain she surely must have been in. She was obviously in control of herself.
 "I don't think you're in any position to fight me...and win," Rodimus replied, taking a gamble.
 He lost as Firefall opened fire. A few moments later he spun around to see his outline in the wall behind him--made with darts embedded in the wall. He turned again to face her, slowly, realizing that turning his back on her was not a good idea.
 "Any other...thoughts?" Firefall taunted menacingly.
 Rodimus glowered at her, fuming. This...this zombie was threatening him! Not to mention insulting him!
 Firefall stared back, a half-smirk on her face.
 Rodimus shoved his anger aside, taking in the entire situation. Perceptor was watching the computer screens, fascinated by the commands and responses scrolling crazily. First Aid stood next to him, obviously torn between trying to help Shanygn and getting Firefall under control. He turned his full, undivided attention back to Firefall as she took another threatening step towards him, still being careful to stay between him and Shanygn.
 His logic circuits suddenly kicked in as he realized exactly -why- Firefall was threatening him. Rodimus felt sick and if he could have, he would have turned green at the thought. His expression was of sheer self-disgust as he lowered his gun, holding up his empty hand in surrender. "I'm not going to hurt Shanygn, Firefall," he said quietly, as soothingly as he could manage. "She's my Interface. I thought you had hurt her." He explained his reaction, hoping she wouldn't attack him for it.
 "I owe her my life. -No one- will hurt her while I function. No one. And Gaelon will continue protecting her long after I am gone," Firefall answered, some of the tension leaving her body. She stared at him for a long moment, and he felt as if he were being weighed, judged. Then she gasped in pain, and would have fallen against the table, ripping open the abdominal wound further had Rodimus not caught her.
 

 Firefall's optics cleared slowly. The pain hammered at her, and from what little she knew about the link with Shanygn, the humanoid was feeling it, too. She winced inwardly, knowing she couldn't handle shielding her from it...it was too much even now, with Shanygn acting as a buffer.
 She assessed her position slowly. Every muscle cable was tensed against the pain, several threatening to snap under the strain. Her fingers made dents in something...Someone was holding her upright.
 Firefall tried to focus her optics and found herself in the arms of the robot that had been threatening her moments ago. Her fingers had dented his forearms as she fought to stay conscious, and she realized with some small regret that she was hurting him, but she couldn't stop. Her fingers continued to curl. The dents were growing as the pain increased and she realized he was trying to get her back up on the table. She wasn't helping, as her fingers dug into his skin, finally piercing it.
 She heard Rodimus's swift intake of air, then he shuddered in pain as her fingers tore through circuitry. "I'm...sorry..." she bit out, her voice stiff and anguished. "Can't stop...hurts..." She let out a small scream as First Aid came to help and started to lift her onto the table. Her optics flared, her head rolled back in pain. She pulled on Rodimus's arms, twisting the alread-torn skin as they carefully laid her on the table again. She hissed as she felt the cold surface against her back and tried to relax. The pain wouldn't let her.
 

 Rodimus ignored the pain as best he could. It was obvious to him that the pain Firefall was causing was trivial compared to what she must be feeling, but it still sparked an irrational resentment, on top of her usage of his Interface for communication. He let himself glare at her, knowing she was too far gone to notice, much less care.
 He turned to look at Perceptor, who was still watching the computer screens, and saw immediately why the scientist was so fascinated. One screen scrolled disarming commands and the negative responses...the other was filled with colors chasing each other around the screen: black, sickly yellow, flourescent orange... The patterns were almost hypnotizing.
 Rodimus gasped and had to fight to stay upright as a shockwave of pain hit him through his Interface. His expression darkened with fury as he realized Firefall was bleeding it off through Shanygn. How DARE she? And she'd had the gall to tell him Shanygn was under her protection!
 //I CANNOT disarm my security systems if I am in more pain than I can handle. I am trying to repair my deactivation programming. Now can you please stop projecting?//
 Rodimus growled, muttering something under his breath as he slammed up shields. The pain faded, but remained a steady ache in his Interface cicuits.
 He waited a few minutes, his frustration rising at his inability to do anything.
 "We have a problem here, Rodimus..." Perceptor said softly.
 Rodimus whirled, wanting to know what the problem was and fix it as soon as possible so he could -leave-. What he saw made him both furious and terrified at the same time.

<Activate Security Clearance Programs>
--Security Clearance Programs Not Found--

 The fuelpump monitor went to a frenetic rythm, one beat blending into the next. Firefall's entire body tensed, her hands crushing Rodimus Prime's arms.

<Accessing Manual Code Files>
--Repairing Manual Code files--
--Data recovered--

 The fuelpump monitor slowed so quickly Firsta Aid nearly panicked, believing it to be flatlining again. Firefall relaxed with a tremendous shudder, finally releasing Rodimus's arms.

<Rodimus? You're going to have to help me...Shan's the only one who can do this and I can't think without shunting some of the pain...>

 Rodimus shuddered, eyeing his mangled arms. "No. Find another way." His tone was harsh, bitter with denial. Final.
 He felt something strike his shields. He tried to bolster them, but the second, stronger blow broke them. He gasped, bracing himself for the pain again.
 To his surprise, he felt nothing from his Interface circuits...Not even Shan's presence. That made him even angrier.
 //Listen, boy...You have three choices.//
 Rodimus stiffened at the insult.
 //You can help me help Shanygn deactive my security systems. You can let me die, in which case your people will have a hard time dealing with my friends. Or you can try having me repaired -without- deactivating my security systems. In which case you'll blow us all sky high.// Her mental tone was just as harsh as Rodimus's was. //Trust me...there -is- no other way. If there were, I would have taken it. Now will you help me or not? I do not have the luxury of time, so make it snappy.//
 Rodimus glared balefully at the prone robot on the table, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the truth.

 Perceptor watched the exchange, knowing -something- was going on, but not what. Whatever it was, he knew it was critical for Rodimus to help.
 "Rodimus, it is critical that you aid us in repairing Firefall."
 He cut short what he was going to add as Rodimus stiffened.

 //Roddy?// Shanygn's mind-voice was groggy and heavy with pain.
 She felt her partner tense.
 //You have to help...Linked. If she dies...// She moaned a little, tossing her head. //Can't stop hurting until she can repair. Can't repair until security clearance. Can't deactivate security without your help.// Her ability to form clear sentences was inhibitted by the pain coursing through her on every level. She whimpered.
 //Please, Roddy.//
 //Why? Why me? Why you? Why our Interface? Why can't she find another way?//
 //No other way. Only one who Gaelon can Interface with. Only ones who can help. Please, Roddy! She can't shut off her pain sensors.// She sobbed, almost choking. //You have to! If she dies...she could take me with her.// The last was almost a whisper.
 She was so awash with pain, she barely registered her partner's shock, then fear, then resigned agreement.

 //Firefall?// Rodimus projected, resignation and resentment in his tone.
 He felt her nod inwardly in answer. //Brace yourself. You may want to sit down. I will try not to overwhelm you.//
 Rodimus sighed, then made his way to the other examination table and lay down. He felt a slow, nagging ache well within him, coming through his Interface circuits. It grew in strength, threatening his ability to remain conscious. It ebbed a bit, waiting for him to get accustomed to it, then grew a bit more, once again letting him get used to it. Finally it stopped increasing in strength.
 Rodimus found he could barely breathe. His oxygen intake felt as if it were on fire, his fuelpump about to explode. Fluids drained into whatever cavities they could find. His entire body trembled with the pain. His transformation circuits felt mangled beyond repair. He couldn't move, much less think straight to block it or deactivate his pain sensors.
 He was peripherally aware that Shanygn was aware now, and was no longer shunting Firefall's pain. For that he was grateful.
 It wasn't much, but he was grateful.

 //Shangyn?//
 The humanoid shuddered in relief as the pain finally died. She slowly got to her feet, making her way across the table to Firefall's side. //Tell me how to help, Firefall.//
 A piece of armor slid aside, exposing a keypad with strange sysmbols on it and a small computer screen. //I will tell you what to do. Gaelon will help you.//
 Shanygn nodded, bracing herself as she felt the warm, tingly presence of the Veneran. She retreated, turning over full control of her body to Gaelon. This was dangerous--there was no room for mistakes.
 Gaelon send her a rush of pleasure at her understanding and willing cooperation. She started typing.

 Perceptor and First Aid tensed as Shanygn was once again enveloped in the golden glow that meant Gaelon had taken control. Her fingers seemed to move at light speed, the faint clicking of the keys loud in the room.
 First Aid caught movement out of the corner of his optics and turned. His jaw dropped in shock.

--Alpha Level security clearance--
--Status: Deactivating--
--Nightmare: Disabled--
--Virus Mutation: Disabled--
 

 Perceptor counted as disable reports scrolled up the screen. Nearly three hundred separate programs were in the process of being deactivated, on thirty-four levels of security. He was terrified to find out why Firefall had needed that much security.

 Rodimus shuddered in agony, his mind retreating in self-defense. He couldn't keep a grip on reality with Firefall's pain hammering at him, searing his circuits. His mind whirled, darkening.
 Finally he slipped into oblivion, hoping the pain couldn't follow him there.

 Nearly an hour had passed since Shanygn-Gaelon had started deactivating Firefall's security systems before the glow died away and the mini-console closed again. Shanygn slumped against Firefall's side.
 "It's done...You can repair her now," Shanygn said softly. She tilted her head towards her partner on the other examining table.
 //Roddy? It's over. Firefall's deep under.//
 There was no answer.
 //Roddy? Are you ok?//
 Still no answer.
 //Roddy!// Shanygn screamed inwardly, desperate to hear something, anything at all from her partner.
 Nothing.
 "First Aid, something's wrong with Roddy!"
 The medic turned to Rodimus, scanning him. He shook his head, puzzled. "There's nothing wrong with him, Shan. I have no idea why you can't reach him."
 Shanygn collapsed in a faint under the strain of the past few hours.

*

 Rodimus drifted through a haze of pain, his mind too far withdrawn to feel much of anything. The mist bouyed him, then solidified, colorized. He became aware, but only subconsciously; his body was different. Slimmer, sleeker, smaller. Feminine.
 This body was very definitely not his. But somehow it felt like he belonged in it...

 //Rodimus sat facing over a hundred Autobots he'd never met, but he recognized them. They wore expressions of grim determination, fear, confidence...All the emotions associated with a coming battle both necessary and suicidal.
 He himself felt an overwhelming sense of dread and terror. Not for himself, or even his troops, for these robots were his troops. But for someone else, not currently present.
 He had no time to analyze what was going on as the robot next to him rose, going to the podium.
 "As you all know, we have been stationed on the surface in order to provide protection for those on the moonbases." The female's voice was strong, sure. Rodimus recognized her as Razzle, the Autobot leader on Kaiy'Thala. "We have gotten information that leads us to believe, quite strongly, that the Decepticons will be moving to destroy them very shortly."
 There was a short grumble and a few gasps from the listening 'bots.
 "I agreed to take this position here on the condition that someone would be stationed here to take over in case of military emergencies. I did not expect the honor of having our premier tactitics and strategic expert at my command, but seeing our situation, I am very glad she volunteered for the job. I now resign my position of commander in favor of Firefall. She will be briefing you and leading the coming battle." Razzle turned and looked at Rodimus, who realized he was inside Firefall's dream. Which explained the differences in his body and what he was feeling. Sort of.
 Rodimus stood, taking Razzle's place att he podium. He looked around the room, eyeing the robots before him with a great deal of pride. They were listening intently, waiting for him to speak. Not knowing the situation, he couldn't...
 Firefall spoke for him, following the memory through. "I requested my station here to prepare for the coming battle. I do not believe I need to go into detail about what we are about to do. We have been stationed here, on surface, to provide cover for the evacuation of the moonbases in case the Decepticons decide to move on them. You all have known for some time, that we are greatly disadvantaged and most likely will not be returning from such a battle, and so we all hoped this time would not come.
 "Our luck has run out. I have received word that the Decepticons will be moving within two days from now. We will be attacking before then, to draw their attention away from their objective. I do not need to remind you that our hopes and dreams for the future of Autobot society, and thus for a free Cybertron, rest on the lives we are bound to protect. It is imperative that we strike, that we strike hard and fast and without warning.
 "Each of you was chosen to remain here for your skills and experience in fighting, and I expect each and every one of you to give this battle your all. I want the words 'futile,' 'suicidal,' and 'meaningless' wiped from your vocabularies. Anything can and probably will happen in the coming battle, and I for one refuse to believe I, or anyone else, will fall until I see it happen. What they have in numbers, we make up for in courage and determination. We have more reason to survive than they have to want to kill us." She scanned the room, seeing emphatic nods of agreement from a few soldiers.
 "Each of you has been given a disk detailing our battle plans, as well as the chain of command should I fall. Read it, erase it, and then destroy the disk entirely. I do not wish for any of them to fall into the wrong hands.
 "All communication with the moonbases and Cybertron will be cut off as of 0800 hours tomorrow morning. Until then, all channels will remain open and available for your personal use if you want to talk with anyone off-planet. In the meantime, I want everyone serviced and fully charged. Check your weaponry and clean it if you have the slightest doubt of its funcionality. I want nothing hindering the attack.
 "Squads will form at 1100 hours tomorrow morning. We strike at noon. That is all."//

 The scene faded, colors darkening, swirling together in a hazy mist. Rodimus tried to hold onto the images, trying to learn about his...host? It was a futile attempt.

***

 Shanygn pushed on Firefall's unconscious mind, trying to steer her dreams to something more useful. She was only peripherally interested in speeches...they didn't tell her much that she didn't already know about the robot. Battle scenes and one-on-one situations taught her much more.
 She met resistance. Not much, but enough to make Shenygn hesitate.
 //She's never fought me before! Why is she starting now?// She puzzled over it for a moment before pressing on. It took a bit of effort, but the scene dissolved and went dark.

***

 Nick paced, every muscle tense. He had no idea why everyone was so nervous, wary. True, some old friend of Optimus' had crash-landed, but surely the robot was too badly damaged to spark this kind of near-panic in the Autobot leader!
 //Maybe it's not because of what she's capable of...or more accurately, what she isn't capable of. Maybe it's what she was that's got him worked up...// he thought, trying to find more acceptable reasons than those he'd had before.
 "Would you sit down? You're exhausting me!" Jill complained as she watched Nick pace. She knew he was worried and confused; Nick had barely even glanced at the scans. His talent was with the real thing, not paper. "We'll know when we know."
 Nick glared at her for a moment, grumbling something under his breath, and resumed pacing.
 Jill sighed in exasperation and shot Kyle a questioning look. He smiled, nodding. They both rose and caught up with Nick, each taking one arm before bodily forcing him into a chair.
 "Sit! And stay put for once!" Jill ordered.
 Nick stared at her in surprise. He was about to answer when the comm unit blinked on.
 "Nick, Jill, Kyle, we need you down in medbay. Shanygn disabled Firefall's security systems and..."
 Nick didn't bother waiting. He surged out of the chair, knocking Jill flat on her rump as he bolted.

******

 "Primus! What the hell happened to her??" Nick asked as he saw the inside of Firefall's body for the first time.
 First Aid and Perceptor had started removing armor and skin to assess the damage, trying to see what needed to be done. It was worse than they'd feared. Tubes and wires had been shredded, circuits fuzed together. Old wounds had had patch jobs that looked shoddy at best and appeared ready to fall apart. Sensors had been sheared apart, very few still active.
 "Don't bother waiting for us, Nick..." Jill yelled from the doorway, half amused, half frustrated.
 Nick just glared at her before returning to what he was doing. "I suggest we replace what we can...I don't think much of this is going to last much longer."
 First Aid nodded in agreement, pulling out replacement parts. He turned to Jill and Kyle, lifting them up onto the table.
 Jill looked around, noticing Shanygn in her bed, so pale her blue skin was nearly grey, and Rodimus Prime lying on the other examination table, equally unconscious. She wrinkled her brow, puzzling. "What happened?"
 First Aid looked over his shoulder at Rodimus Prime. "We don't know. They're fine, physically, but we couldn't wake them. We're waiting to see if they'll come around on their own."
 Kyle frowned, then sighed and shrugged. "If they're fine, I can't really do anything." He looked over Firefall critically. "We'd better get a move on..."
 
*

 "How in the world are we supposed to repair her with -that- sitting there?!?" Kyle glared at the silver sphere embeded in Firefall's chest, as well as the surrounding wires and tubing supporting it. It had refused to be manipulated, changed, repaired, or moved in any way, shape or form. Apparently Firefall's security systems weren't as completely disabled as they'd thought they'd been.
 Several hours had passed as the three humans and two Autobots worked on repairing Firefall. Their main priorities were her vital systems, namely her fuel systems and oxygen intake. And since her systems were completely foreign to them, nothing major was done without Nick's approval. The mechanic was in seventh heaven.
 "Here, let me look." Nick looked up at First Aid, who obligingly picked him up and set him down inside the chest cavity. "You're right, we do need to get below this...this is a mess!" He carefully bent down, trying not to trip over any of the mangled wires and circuitry.
 "Hmmm...I wonder..." Nick murmured to himself after poking and prodding for a few minutes. "What does this do?" He pointed to a small panel on the inside wall of the cavity.
 First Aid shrugged. "You have more idea than we do. Shanygn's out, and we don't have any other way of talking to Gaelon."
 Nick sighed, nodding as he pressed on the panel gently. Something hissed, then clicked, and a long rectangle of metal connected to wires and tubes leading to the orb slid out and fell gently to the bottom of the chest cavity. Nick stared at it critically for a moment. "Well, there's my answer..." he muttered before levering himself up and out of Firefall's chest so First Aid could move the wiring and the orb and start repairs beneath it.
 "Fascinating," Perceptor mumbled as he studied Firefall's physiology.

***

 The darkness cleared again.

***

 Sensors screamed in warning. Danger!
 Firefall looked around warily, eyes taking in everything. The corridors were empty of everything but herself, Razzle, their gear and their backup unit. Just to be on the safe side, she waved Vengeance and the others back.
 "All done," Razzle said over her shoulder as she finished wiring the last of the explosives. "Let's get out of here. I don't like this place."
  Firefall nodded, nervous. "This was too easy. Too open." She bent to bick up her gear, motioning Razzle to do the same, and activated all her weaponry. Two steps towards home, it was too late.
 Decepticons appeared from nowhere, pouring in from a secret passageway, cutting the Venerakkin leaders off from the rest of their troops.
 Firefall dropped her gear and took a defensive position, opening fire. Several in the front line fell, then Razzle opened fire beside her. Firefall could feel her troops attacking from the other side, but it was too little, too late. The Decepticons vastly outnumbered and outgunned them.
 Firefall and Razzle backed into the deadend they'd set the charges in. Then Razzle screamed as a laser blast ripped through her knee, sending her to the ground.
 Firefall ignored the shock of pain she got through her Venerakkin bond and tried to cover her friend, but it was futile. More lasers trained on the downed robot, ripping her to shreds. Firefall vaguely felt Razzle's Veneran partner gather herself, then leave her host.

***

 Firefall wallowed in the agonizing emptiness within her, only vaguely aware of the outside world.
 Then what few operational sensors she had left, those involved in interfacing with another Transformer, screamed to life. Pain ripped through her, making anything she'd ever felt pale by comparison.
 Her grip on sanity crumbled.

***

 Rodimus screamed, bolting upright and sliding off the examination table so fast his legs collapsed beneath him. Images of the pain and torment Firefall had suffered ate at him, the loss of the link with Gaelon hitting hardest, slamming into him and making him shudder uncontrollably.
 Shanygn echoed his scream from her bed, sitting up as well, then burst into hysterical tears, sobbing her partner's name. She curled over herself, hugging her knees to her chest.
 Rodimus struggled to his feet, ignoring the shocked and concerned stares from First Aid, Jill, Kyle and Nick, and stumbled over to Shangyn's bedside before sliding to the floor against the wall. "Shan..." Roddy murmured, reaching over with a trembling hand to pick her up and cradle her against him.
 Shanygn snuggled against his chest plate, still sobbing as her partner leaned forward, pulling his legs up and curling around her protectively.
 "What the hell is that all about?" Kyle cursed softly, eyeing the pair worriedly.
 Jill shook her head. "I don't know. And if it affected them that badly, I don't think I want to know." She took a deep breath, then let it out again, debating with herself. "Someone needs to call Optimus..."

***

 Optimus sighed, trying to keep his mind trained on his work, with little success. The image of Firefall's battered body kept reappearing before him. The questions her very survival brought had no answers, and likely wouldn't have answers until she awoke from the coma-like state she was in now. He sighed and gave into a fit of pique, throwing the pen across the room where it clattered to the floor.
 He glanced down at the report he was looking over and winced as a sudden stab of pain and fear struck him, coming through his interface circuits.
 The intercom light went unnoticed as Prime bolted out the door.

***

 "Nick, watch out!" Jill cried out as she felt vibrations beneath her feet.
 The warning came too late. Nick fell hard, his shoulder slamming into the edge of Firefall's chest panel as she jerked, straining against invisible bonds. Dazed, the mechanic grappled for a solid handhold and hauled himself to his feet, swaying precariously as his patient shuddered, then pulled in the other direction. "What in the--" he gasped, pained. Nick turned to see what the problem was, still hanging on. Firefall's optics flickered dimly and her breath rasped in her throat.
 "Nightmare," Kyle breathed.
 Jill made a noise of agreement. "That would explain--" She broke off at the sound of loud footsteps and looked up, only mildly surprised as Optimus Prime strode into the room. She pointed to the corner where Rodimus Prime and Shanygn still sat curled together.
 Nick frantically began disconnecting damaged wires and circuitry, becoming alarmed as Firefall grew more restless. "First Aid, can you--"
 "I'm trying! She's not responding to anything!" The Autobot medic started to say something else, but stopped as Jill interrupted.
 "Forget it, we got bigger problems."
 Kyle whirled at the fear evident in her voice and went stark white as he followed her line of sight. Massive laser weapons had appeared out of subspace to cover both forearms.

 Optimus had a hard time hiding his shock at seeing the condition his second was in at first glance. The younger Autobot was shaking, clutching his Interface to his chest plate.
 "Rodimus?"
 Rodimus Prime's head snapped up at the sound of his voice and he scrambled to his feet, unsteady though they were. He couldn't seem to stop the tremors ripping through him.
 "What happened? Why--"
 Rodimus shook his head jerkily in denial. "I can't," he whispered hoarsely, leaning back against the wall and refusing to look at his superior.
 "Rodimus..." Optimus stared at him for a long moment, then rested one hand on his shoulder in support.
 "Please, Optimus....I can't!" Rodimus whispered, his face a mask of anguish.
 Optimus nodded after a moment, dropping his hand. //If she can do this to you, Rodimus, Primus knows what hell she went through,// he thought to himself as he backed up, then left medbay to find Midnight.
 //I hope you're up to it...You're the only one he'll talk to...if he can.//

 [Shan?] Roddy asked dazedly.
 [Don't let go!] Shanygn shifted in his arms, trying to burrow into his chestplates.
 [I won't.]
 [Hell Roddy...She went through hell...] She shuddered against him with a convulsive sob. [And that was only the tip of the iceberg...] She choked off a mental cry.
 Shanygn's words jolted him to full awareness that whatever pain and torment they'd been witness to, Firefall was still suffering it.
 He pushed himself off the wall towards Firefall. "Unhook her," he ordered softly.
 The humans turned to him at the sound of his voice. Jill blinked, glanced down at the guns warily, then scrambled to disconnect the feed lines and monitor cables. The others followed suit as Rodimus nodded grimly to them.
 [Shan, what's going on in there?]
 Shanygn stiffened, probing her connection with Firefall for clues to what the robot was experiencing. She swallowed heavily, bracing herself. [They're holding her prisoner...sensory deprivation...] She gave a mental shiver that communicated the horrors perhaps better than the experience itself.
 [Restraints?] Rodimus promted, knowing she'd have to be 'freed' before her nightmare could be put to an end.
 [Wrists and ankles,] his partner spat before wrenching herself violently out of contact. She shuddered.
 First Aid looked at Rodimus questioningly as he moved to the edge of the table. Perceptor was removing the last of the feed lines. "What's going on?"
 Rodimus tilted his head towards the humans. "Get them down. I'm going to wake her up and I don't think it's going to be pretty."
 A few moments later, Jill, Kyle, and Nick were on the floor in the corner, First Aid and Perceptor shielding them. Rodimus moved to free Firefall from her bonds.

 The pain didn't let up as Firefall felt hands on her ankles, then her wrists. The shackles fell away and she sprang to her feet, her weapon firing even as she felt a blow to her arm throwing her aim off. She smelled burning metal, then saw it as her optics surgged into focus.
 Firefall straightened in shock, then her gun fell from nerveless fingers as she realized what she'd nearly done. It vanished, sent into subspace, before it could hit the floor.
 "Firefall?" Rodimus reached for her with his free arm.
 She flinched away from him, stumbling backwards and falling to her knees with an hysterical cry.

 "Primus!" Rodimus hissed as Firefall curled into a fetal position on the floor in front of him, rocking back and forth. He knelt, pulling her against his chest.
 "It's over, Firefall. It was just a nightmare. You're safe," Rodimus murmured over and over.
 Firefall remained unresponsive save for her gurgling whimpers and an occasional tremor for a long while. Then she moved, instinctively shifting away from Shangyn as she leaned on Rodimus for support, one hand curled against his shoulder.
 [Roddy?] Shanygn sent tentatively. [You can put me down now...She needs you more than I do right now.] She felt him nod absently, then set her down on the floor before pulling Firefall closer.
 "I..." Firefall whispered finally. "I really...wish I could keep my nightmares straight..." She shivered.
 "What do you mean?" Rodimus asked quietly, rocking her against him.
 Firefall braced herself. "The situation was Decepticon...the enemy was Sentinel." She winced, burying her face in his neck and trembling at the memories. "I hate them!" she hissed. "I hate them I hate them I hate them...There is nothing in this universe bad enough to make them pay for what they did to me...to my race..." She gave a choked sob and fell silent again.
 Rodimus blinked at her answer, suddenly realizing where Kup's and the other Autobots' objections to their alliance with the Sentinels had originated. He shut his optics for a moment, trying to block off the string of problems this would create. He looked up again as a shadow fell over him.

 Midnight was shocked at the scene before him. The operating table was empty, the tubes and cords scattered, tangled up with bits of broken circuitry. Rodimus knelt with Firefall against him, the latter trembling. Shanygn sat next to her partner, curled up on the floor, one hand holding onto his leg.
 "Rodimus?" he mouthed when his friend looked up finally.
 The Autobot's optics widened, then he jerked his head towards the door.
 Midnight shook his head in confusion.
 "Get out of here!" Rodimus whispered hoarsely.
 Firefall shifted against him, turning her head to see who had entered the room. The insignia painted on Midnight's wing registered and she reacted before Rodimus could stop her.
 Midnight yelped in pain, clutching his injured shoulder. He dove behind the table to avoid a second laser blast from the hair-triggered female even as he saw Rodimus grab Firefall from behind, trapping her arms at her sides and making a second shot impossible.

 "Firefall, it's ok! He's not going to hurt you!" Rodimus hissed in her ear. He felt a shudder rip through her.
 "I'm sorry...Paranoid...It was reflex," she whispered. She bowed her head and leaned away from him, ashamed of herself, opening her hands to let her weapon fall to the floor with a clatter. "I won't shoot again." That she said loud enough for the stranger to hear. She cringed and uttered something that was close to a sob as she saw him slowly stand up and step back into view. The damage seemed minimal, but was obviously painful--it was written in the lines of strain in his face, the way he clutched his bleeding shoulder, the thick yellow blood flowing through his fingers. The skin on his shoulder and wing were burnt and blistered from the heat of the blast, while the impact itself had lacerated and bruised the skin, bursting veins. His expression was one of confusion and questioning as well as pain, and she returned it with one of guilt.
 "I'm sorry...I..." She broke eye contact, flustered. Struggling, she freed herself from Rodimus's restraining hold and scrambled to her feet, ignoring her own pain. She reached for the stranger, eyes only on the damage she had caused, then dropped her arm. "I can't keep from reacting...I'm too hair-triggered. Had a nasty dream, and your insignia on top of it...I'm sorry." She trembled, tipping her head down and to the side in guilty embarrassment.
 "It's all right," the stranger managed, his pleasantly dark voice tight with pain.
 "No, it's not," Firefall whispered, leaning heavily on the table. She shook her head. "There will be time for this later...I'm in no condition to be doing anything but concentrating on my repairs..." She hissed as exposed circuitry hit the table. "If you can get me back on the table, I can shut myself off so there won't be any more incidents like this."  She didn't wait for either of them to answer before her optics dimmed, then went out altogether.
 Rodimus caught her gently as she collapsed, unconscious, and lifted her back up to the table.
 "Is it over?" Midnight asked warily.
 Rodimus glanced at him, then back at the still form of Firefall. "It's just beginning," he replied softly. "You're bleeding, you know..." He gestured to the burns on Midnight's shoulder that were oozing yellow blood.
 Midnight flinched, coughing a bit to cover his embarrassment as he hardened his organic skin.
 Rodimus chuckled weakly. "Shan? You going to be ok in here?" He looked down at his interface, concerned.
 Shanygn nodded slowly. "I'll be all right. Gaelon says it won't happen again...she's blocked now and I can hardly hear her, much less Firefall." Rodimus watched her for a moment more as she turned and went back to her dorm and curled up in bed before turning to leave himself.
 "You're leaving her here after all that?" Midnight asked Rodimus on the way out, surprised at his friend's sudden reverse in attitude.
 "Firefall tried to protect her from -me- last night. I don't think I have anything to worry about her safety." Rodimus giggled a little, still shaky, then sobered at the thought of having to report what had happened to Optimus.
 "Well, I wouldn't be so sure you don't have to worry about yours."
 Rodimus looked startled, then glanced down at his forearms, which were still mangled. "Oh, that. She didn't mean to do it..."
 "Any more than she meant to shoot me." Midnight chuckled.
 
*****

 Kup felt numb. He'd come to terms, finally, with the fact that Firefall had survived and returned, but his other questions were no closer to being answered than they'd been when he'd first asked them. And, it seemed, they became more confusing and threatening the more he thought about them.
 He knew, though, that it was time to go back, and not just because he felt the weary ache of energon depletion...

*****

 Rodimus strode into his office and stopped up short as he saw Optimus glaring at him from the opposite side of the room. Midnight plowed into him from behind and demanded to know why he'd stopped, then looked up and blinked. "Errr..."
 "Hi..." Rodimus said warily.
 Optimus Prime only looked at his second-in-command, noting the mangled arms and the exhausted expression in his
eyes. Midnight didn't look much better, his shoulder burned and blistered, just like the wing, dried blood staining the black skin. "Care to enlighten me?" he finally asked, voice dangerously calm.
  "Uhm." Rodimus shot Midnight a quick look that didn't go by Optimus. The Sentinel leader only shrugged, then winced as the movement apparently pulled at his injured skin.
 "Yes?" Optimus said, crossing his arms in front of his massive chest.
 "Errrr....."
 "Just a little ...,misunderstanding," Midnight then said quickly.
 "I...see."
 Blue optics met green and Midnight tried his best 'I don't know what you are fussing about, it's just a scratch' expression.
He used that one quite often with Skywolf. And like when he tried it on his friend, it didn't work here either
 "Care to tell me why you leave med bay in this condition?" Prime then asked.
 "What condition?"
 "Rodimus!"
 His second-in-command didn't flinch but he realized he was treading on dangerous ground here -- especially if he continued hiding what had happened.
 "We had a bit of trouble with Firefall," he mumbled now.
 "What?" Optimus asked. "I think I didn't catch that just now...."
 "It's Firefall....she ...errr....had a bit of a nightmare problem and...."
 "It was an accident," Midnight finished.
 Optimus shook his head. "What in Primus name happened?!" he then thundered. "I want every tiny little detail, no matter how unimportant, and I especially want to know why I wasn't called!!"
 Midnight glanced at Rodimus with the message 'You're his second, you go right ahead'.
 Rodimus sighed, then slowly and carefully told what had occurred in med bay. If it had been possible, Optimus' jaw would have dropped at what he now heard.
 "What?!" he finally exclaimed.
 "She shot at Midnight and then shut herself down," Rodimus mumbled again.
 "And no one had the sense to put restraints on her? After what already happened? After she nearly choked you and was ready to gun everyone down?! Do I have to make it an order that dangerous patients have to be restrained? I thought you had enough common sense in you!" Prime shook his head, disbelief in his optics.
 It was Rodimus' turn to explode. "We couldn't put restraints on her, Optimus! That's what started the whole thing in the first place in her nightmare! Putting restraints on her could very well drive her insane!" Seeing he wasn't getting through, Rodimus narrowed his optics and growled, "Trust me, Optimus, putting Firefall in restraints is a Very. Bad. Idea."
 "I see."
 Rodimus muttered something unintelligible before stalking around Optimus to his desk and sitting down. He glared at his superior. "Now. Would you mind leaving my office so I can get some work done? Just because Firefall's making a mess of things in medbay doesn't mean the rest of the world has stopped," he snarled, his optics shooting daggers.
 Optimus glared at him for a moment before striding out of the office.
 Rodimus sighed in relief as the door slid shut behind him.
 "Well. That certainly went well," Midnight said amicably from his spot against the wall.
 Rodimus snorted. "I just hope he doesn't go barreling into medbay to see her...from what I got, her survival instinct has become little more than 'shoot first and ask questions later.'"
 Midnight chuckled. "You got that much right." He rubbed his injured shoulder and winced.
 [What the heck happened to you?!]
 Midnight flinched as Steve blasted him mentally. [I had a little accident, that's all. It's just a--] he replied, defenses up.
 [Don't give me that bull, Mid...You got shot, didn't you? Go find Skywolf and get patched up! I don't feel like suffering phantom sunburn all afternoon!]
 Midnight grumbled in answer.
 "Steve?" Rodimus asked from his desk, his tone amused.
 "How'd you guess?" Midnight sighed. "He wants me to go get repaired so -he- doesn't suffer phantom sunburn." He muttered to himself.
 [Hey, sunburn HURTS, dang it!]
 [Oh, go to hell. YOU have shields. Use them!]
 Rodimus just laughed.

* * *

 Kyle collapsed into a chair with a sigh, his mug of coffee coming dangerously close to spilling. His hands shook with fatigue, and he wrapped both of them around the mug, both to steady them and to absorb the warmth.
 "Rough going, hmm?" Jill asked from her place on the couch. She set her own coffee mug down and pried Nicholas' out of his hands. He wouldn't need caffeine anytime soon, as he was curled up fast asleep, and snoring lightly.
 "I have -never- seen anything like that before..how she survived in that condition..." He closed his eyes against the images his words flashed in front of him. "She fought battles like that! And I'm wearing myself to the bone just trying to repair it!" He took a sip of his coffee, letting it run down his throat before swallowing.
 Jill eyed him sympathetically. "We all are, Kyle. We all are." She held up one hand and stared at it in mute fascination as it trembled. The numbing, bone-deep exhaustion had sent them from medbay barely able to walk. They'd spent hours trying to repair Firefall. Perceptor and First Aid were still working on her, but the humans had been banished one by one for food and rest.
 The two Interfaces sat in silence for a long while, trying to regain the strength to walk to their quarters for much-needed sleep.
 "Thank you for helping her."
 Kyle blinked at the sound of the unfamiliar voice, too tired to do much else. Jill jerked upright, her mug thankfully on the table beside her. "Who-who said that? Who are you?" she demanded weakly.
 A pale red and white figure stepped out the shadows. Her movements were hesitent, wary. "Rikkochet, First Officer and field commander, Venerakkin forces. And Firefall's daughter." She gracefully folded her legs beneath her and knelt on the floor.
 "Firefall's daughter?" Jill said in mild surprise.
 Rikkochet nodded. "I'm just here to protect Firefall..." An expression of pain flitted across her face. "She wasn't expected to survive, even by our standards." There was a pregnant pause, then Rikkochet scrambled to her feet and backed against the wall.
 The door slid open. "Kyle?" Voodoo strode in, looking at his Interface with concern. He'd been assaulted with feelings of sheer exhaustion.
 "I know, I know...Trust me, I was getting there." Kyle tried to reassure his partner.
 Voodoo chuckled. "You don't have the strength to get up, much less get to bed." The Sentinel strode over to him and picked him up, waving to Jill as he passed, and went back out the door.
 Jill smiled to herself and wiggled deeper into the couch. "Rikki, you going to be all right over there?" There was no answer, and Jill glanced over to her, only to find that the Venerakkin was gone.

****

 "Shanygn?!" The surprised question came from everyone as she stepped into the room where they were eating breakfast.
 Shanygn smiled. "It's all right. Gaelon said I could leave for a little while." She made her way around the table and took a seat.
 "Here, eat. You look famished!" Jill said as she passed down the plate of pancakes, followed by butter, syrup and sausages.
 Shanygn laughed a little and served herself, then passed the pancakes back up the table. "Nick, I thought you liked pancakes?" she asked, puzzled, watching him push his food around on his plate.
 Nick glanced up in surprise, then pointedly ate a bite.
 "No, he just wants to get back to medbay," Kyle said in a long-suffering tone of voice.
 "Firefall--" Nick started beligerently.
 "Will wait until -after- you clean your plate. You won't help her if you keel over from hunger, and I know you didn't eat anything yesterday. So eat!" Kayla glared at him from across the table.
 Nick grumbled in resignation and started pushing his breakfast around on his plate again.
 "So," Jill started, leaning towards Shanygn. "How's Firefall, and what's going on in there this morning?"
 Shanygn took a moment to finish the bite of pancake she'd taken before answering. "First Aid finished the fuel pump replacement...It was touch and go for a while, and they shut down repairs so she has time to integrate the new systems." She shrugged and took another bite before continuing. "We aren't due back in medbay for another 3 hours or so. Actually," and she blushed slightly, "I was summarily kicked out once her lifesigns restabilized."
 Nick was hung up over one particular line. "3 hours?!" He gaped at her in disbelief. "How the heck are--What do they--Argh!" he broke off in sheer frustration.
 "See?!" Jill crowed gleefully. "You have absolutely no excuse not to eat a decent meal for once!" She jabbed a finger in his direction. Kayla smirked.
 Nick glared at her.
 "Who's keeping an eye on her? I assume First Aid and Perceptor need a recharge badly by now," Kyle asked with concern.
 "They're taking shifts again...But I could wish someone who knew her systems was keeping an eye on her..." Shanygn's voice faded, and there seemed to be a hint of something in it that she didn't want to say outright.
 Kayla looked thoughtfully at her for a moment. "You've seen them too, haven't you?" she said softly.
 Everyone around the table stiffened, as if unwilling to admit the strangers' presence.
 Shanygn coughed nervously, then nodded a bit, jerkily. "I'm not so much worried about -them-" and she glanced around the table, seeing that everyone knew who she was talking about, "as I am about Firefall's reaction to Midnight." Her expression grew broody for a moment.
 A low, rumbling voice interrupted the thoughtful pause. "Firefall would not risk the lives of her troops for personal vengeance."
 There was a startled cry and a loud THUNK as Nick's chair tipped over with him still in it.
 A stunned silence hung in the air for a moment.
 "Tarakk, one of these days one of us is going to shoot you if you keep scaring us like that!" Jill snapped, glancing around to make sure they were the only ones in the room. Sure enough, everyone else had already finished eating and gone. She got up out of her chair to help Nick up. "Where are you, anyways?"
 "Over here. Sorry for startling you...stealth is--was--my only way of surviving, really..." She padded out of her corner by the soda machine and rested her paws on the table, balancing on her hind legs. She grinned, her wolf-form making her look more threatening than happy as Nick regained his feet, tipped his chair upright again and sat down, glaring at her. "Hey, what'd I do?"
 Nick sighed and shook his head.
 Jill sat down again and looked deep in thought for a moment. "Not to change the subject or anything....But if the Primes find you two skulking around, there'll be hell to pay."
 Tarakk looked at her in confusion. "Why would they? We're cloaked...None of -them- can see us."
 "You said yourself your equipment isn't exactly reliable..." Shangyn added.
 Kyle nodded and added. "If it fails...At least ONE of them should know about you two. Not necessarily the Primes, but someone with enough weight to keep them from doing something..."
 "And Optimus isn't exactly rational when it comes to Firefall," Kayla finished.
 Tarakk went back on all fours and paced for a few minutes, thinking about the pros and cons of what the humans were suggesting. {{Rikki?}} There was no real answer, but she felt her sister was listening. {{The humans want us to meet one of the Autobots...}} She quickly explained their reasoning before Rikkochet had a chance to refuse.
 "Tarakk?"
 The robotic wolf growled, snapped at the air and shook herself wildly before turning back to the table. "Who do you want us to meet? And where? Rikki doesn't want it to be when Firefall's undergoing repairs. There's just too much chance of something going wrong, and I agree with her. Her systems aren't easy to repair even for us, and we're used to it."
 "Silhouette," Shanygn put in before anyone else even had time to think about it. "Sil's Rodimus' lifemate, and Optimus will listen to her." The others nodded agreement.
 "Sil it is then. Lead on."

***

 Rodimus put the last stack of papers aside with a sigh and stood up. "Later," he muttered, rubbing his sore forearms. The damage Firefall had done was superficial, but ached even though his pain receptors were turned off. Suddenly the walls of his office seemed too cramped, and he left his office, heading towards medbay to see about getting at least a patch job on his arms.
 'And check on Firefall,' a small voice said in his mind. He didn't bother pushing it away.
 Lost in his thoughts, he nearly tripped over someone leaning against the wall.
 "Kup! Where in Primus have you been?!" The shock of actually seeing the security officer for the first time in nearly a week prevented Rodimus from taking a good look at him.
 Kup looked up wearily. "Thinking."
 "And you couldn't do your thinking somewhere around here? You know, you had a lot of people worried about you..." And Rodimus was off on a lecture about personal safety and security until Kup drew himself upright and rested a hand on his shoulder.
 "Look..." Exhaustion was heavy in his voice. "I know the lecture. I've given it to you on more than one occasion. I'm sorry, kid. It won't happen again. Firefall is throwing Optimus and I for a loop. Now, I need a recharge before I collapse." He reached out again and rested his weight against the wall.
 Rodimus was silent for a moment, studying his friend. Kup was right. He wasn't telling him anything he didn't already know, and Kup -did- need a recharge, badly. Kup's color was dull, and his entire body was covered in fine sand and dust. "I don't want to see you again for three shifts. That's an order. And then get yourself down to medbay and get the sand out of your circuits. Got that?"
 Kup sighed with relief and nodded, then stumbled further down the hall towards his quarters.
 Rodimus watched him until he rounded the corner, worried.

***

 Rikkochet was nervous, and it showed. She'd decided against having a weapon out and was at a loss as to what to do with her hands as she waited for Silhouette to meet them in the little-used conference room the humans had decided to move to. She steepled them in front of her, then laced her fingers together, then crossed them over her chest. Anxiety getting the best of her, she glanced over at her sister and glared.
 Tarakk just raised an eyebrow. She was leaning against the wall, looking almost too relaxed. She had a thin, translucent dagger in one hand and, to the casual observer, was examining it closely for nicks and scratches. To the humanoids, she was exuding what she was--an assassin, prepared to spring into action in the blink of an eye.
 "So...When's Sil going to get here?" Tarakk growled half to herself.
 "She's on her way, relax..." Kayla tried to reassure them.
 "Actually, she's right here," Nick said as he peered around the door. He backed away from the door and nearly tripped over his own feet.
 "All right, I'm here...what'd you guys--" Sil stopped dead, the door wooshing shut behind her as she stared wide-opticked at the two strangers. "Oh, umm...I see."
 

To be continued