TFP: Shrouded... (Chapter XXIII: Wear and Tear...)

The mech waited a good while before approaching Lauren as she was constructing a number of possible simulations for project Titan. She was entrenched in her work, as he approached her from behind, and he had been forewarned that she had somehow changed, but he wanted to see just what this 'change' was. "Firefly?"

"Stasrcream?" she replied, plainly, without turning from her work.

"Uhm… may I speak to you?" he asked.

Lauren finished typing in the last of the code for the scenario she was on, then turned in the chair where she sat, waiting for him to speak.

Starscream was taken aback… her optics were the color of darkened rubies, and she had no emotion in her expression. He had always seen his Firefly smiling, he was distraught to realize this was no longer the Firefly he knew… and had begun to care about-somewhat, "I-uhm…"

"Speak, Starscream," she ordered, coldly.

Starscream blinked, "Uh… how are you?"

"Status report? It is not due for an hour, and I was under the impression that I was to turn it into Rachet," Lauren replied.

"No, Firefly-I mean how are you… like feeling?" asked Starscream.

Lauren remained plain, "I am functioning at optimal capacities."

"Oh please, Firefly, this is not like you, at all!" Starscream shouted, becoming frustrated.

She eyed him, "Did Rachet not explain my current condition?"

"He said the matrix of leadership took away your… humanity-I had not believed him until now, this is ridiculous… snap out of it, Firefly!" he scolded her.

"No need to raise your voice, Starscream, and there is no reason for your outburst. This was done for the good. I am far more productive without emotions than with," Lauren explained.

"But it isn't you!" Starscream shouted, jabbing his right index talon straight into her chest plate. "You know what, Firefly, I was starting to like you, even for a human! Now you are a cold little fleshy with no life! I saw life in your eyes before-but no longer!"

"You are overreacting, Starscream," Lauren stated coldly.

Starscream gaped, "Fine, Firefly-fine," he said in an icy voice. The mech turned away, and started towards the left hall, where he found that Cliffjumper was watching his rant, leaning against the wall. "What?"

Cliffjumper smiled, "She didn't mean to upset you, Starscream."

"What business of it is yours?!" he growled.

Cliffjumper shrugged, "Hey, I'm just saying you should understand that that isn't the Princess we all know and love. Give her time, bud."

"I don't love humans, least of all her!"

Cliff eyed him, with a slanted grin, "You wouldn't be so upset if you didn't 'Scream. She'll go back to normal, you could put energon on that fact."

Starscream grumbled, "This from an autobot fool."

Cliffjumper chuckled, "The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes."

"Where did that come from?" asked Starscream.

"A really, really smart guy from the human's world war II era," Cliffjumper said, "Just give her time, Starscream… and keep reminding her you care."

Starscream stomped on, "I don't!"

"Sure, pal… sure," Cliffjumper laughed.


A few days later, Lauren had reported with Tracks to the designated base where she met Marx to examine the security systems of project Titan… but Marx too found Lauren's change to be most disturbing.

"Courage, are you feeling well?" asked Marx. "Why have your optics altered in color?"

"In regards to my Optics, I had nothing to do with the change in hue. Now that Megatron has been properly detained, yes, why do you ask, Marx?" she replied, plainly.

"You don't seem like-you," he mumbled.

Lauren stopped, meeting his eyes with her optics, "I understand why you ask the question, Marx. What you were not informed of, is that for more than a week I was imprisoned by the decepticons, Shockwave, the decepticon's chief scientist was experimenting on human sanity, I was the test subject. The matrix of leadership, this," Lauren pointed to her shard, "brought the Prime part of my mind to dominance, that is why I am so… collected. My emotions have been suppressed."

"Is it temporary?" asked Marx.

"I know not, nor is it of any significance, Marx," Lauren responded, before resuming her walk towards the parking lot.

Marx then said, "That is disturbing, Courage… very disturbing how it can just-change you."

"Not as disturbing as the animal you would be facing had it not changed me," Lauren shrugged. Once in the parking lot, Tracks pulled up. Lauren took the driver's seat, and Marx took the passenger seat, "May I take the wheel?"

"By all mean, Princess," confirmed Tracks.

Lauren buckled up, and took the wheel, switching gears, and rolling, "Storing Megatron beneath a library was my idea, but Rachet was the one who designed all the specifics."

"They were followed to the letter," replied Marx, "Why a library?"

"It will be the last place the decepticons think to look," Lauren assured. After exiting base, Lauren glanced at the mirror, then looked back at the rode before her.

"I take it that Rachet and Perceptor made your armor?" Marx asked.

"Yes, I haven't removed it since I returned to base."

"Why not?"

Lauren looked at him, "I wish to be prepared for anything."

"I hope that heavy metal doesn't damage my leather," Tracks sighed. "And Princess, do you see--?"

"I see them, they started following us the second we exited the base," Lauren replied, "Marx, cancel our trip to Megatron's cell… we're going to the autobot base… I hope you don't mind me breaking the law."

"What do you—"

Lauren changed gears, and slammed on the gas, increasing speed.

"Courage, you are going to kill someone!" gasped Marx, grabbing his seat.

"That is an incorrect statement, Marx," Lauren replied, "I am calculating for all variables, around this corner, there is a 49% chance that there will be a pedestrian, any chance is not worth the risk, so instead I will change course, and resume full speed, while Tracks radios base for an emergency ground bridge at the coordinates I just placed on Track's GPS systems."

"Er-I—on it!" Tracks replied, "But allow me to say at this moment, Princess, I am not liking you-GAH-watch out for the-no-no-no-, you're about to drive through--!... dirty water."

"Did you contact base?" asked Lauren, remaining without alarm nor concern.

"Y-yes, I did," whined Tracks, before whimpering on about his paint.

Even the seasoned Marx was hanging on to his seat, with an alarmed expression, be it from the chase itself, Lauren's reckless driving, or the fact Lauren herself was the one driving so recklessly, Tracks could not tell.

The ground bridge opened before them, and Lauren shot through, and slammed on Track's breaks as soon as they made it through, leaving tire streaks from the start of the bridge, all the way to the place they ended up coming to a stop beside the launch terminal.

Lauren then opened Track's driver side door, stepped out, and shut the door back, "Well done, Tracks."

After Marx wearily stepped out of Tracks, the autobot transformed, and groaned, looking himself over. "Sure, Princess… next time can we avoid the dirty water, and not go so hard on the breaks?"

Lauren looked up at the distraught autobot, "No promises. Perceptor, may I have a report on Optimus's condition."

Perceptor nodded, "Certainly, Princess. Optimus is physically recovering well, but his mind is still trapped within the Prison, as you explained. Same with Blaster, have you remembered a way to release them yet?"

Lauren shook her head, "I'm afraid I have had little time to muse on the subject. At the time, my first priority was securing Megatron's custody… but now I—"

Perceptor turned to Cliffjumper at the communication's terminal, as a message came in, then remembering the sender, Perceptor asked, "Have you spoken to your mother? To tell her you are safe once again?"

Lauren paused, as Marx came to her side, "I have not… perhaps I should visit when I have some spare time."

Marx eyed her more closely, "Don't you think you should go now?"

Lauren turned her head to him, "I think not, I need to examine the security systems at—"

"Courage," Marx said, placing his right hand on her left shoulder, "They should know you are alright."

Lauren sighed, "Very well, would you mind attending this visit, so I can explain my urgency, and need to leave shortly?"

Marx paused, considering her request, "I do not have my passport, Courage."

"We bridge straight to my mother's house… then bridge right back here," Lauren replied.

"V-very well then," he sighed, "I will come."

Lauren dipped her head, "Thank you."

Rachet then walked in with a data-pad, "Lauren, I need to talk to you about your-oh, hello Marx. What brings you to our base?"

"Lauren, Tracks and I were about to investigate the security systems of Megatron's prison, when decepticons began chasing us," Marx explained, "Now, Lauren is about to visit her family, and I will be going with her."

Rachet eyed Lauren, "Uhm… for some reason I have a bad feeling about you going to see your mother in this… condition."

"I'll take care of her, Rachet," Marx assured.

Rachet sighed, "Fine-fine, I suppose we can discuss these results later. But I really need a solution to Optimus's and Blaster's conditions, Lauren."

"You will have your solutions as soon as time allows, Rachet."

Upon arrival to Texas, and her mother's house, it was night time where they had come from, but merely the afternoon in the United States, and on a Sunday, it was Lauren's hope that her family would be home. Coming to the red door, Lauren promptly knock, using her family's special knock, so that they would know it was someone they knew.

Luke shouted, "I'll get it!" from inside, and the door flung open, but upon seeing this armored, red-eyed being, he squealed, "DECEPTICON!" And slammed the door shut again.

Marx blinked, then looked at Lauren, "Was that what you were expecting to happen?"

Lauren looked at him, "I had not anticipated that reaction-no."

Melissa then slowly opened the door, and peeked out, "Oh-it's you, Lauren," she sighed, "What a relief." She then opened the door, and asked, "What are you wearing? Who is your friend, and why are your optics red?"

"I am wearing my APC, armor, my friend here is Marx, from the UK, and the source of my change in hue of the optics continues to elude Rachet and myself… may we enter?" Lauren asked.

"Oh-yes," Melissa said, welcoming them both in.

"Ma'am," Marx acknowledged, stepping in the door.

Inside Lauren asked that the kids be sent to her room, so she could speak to Christopher and Melissa about her experiences, "Optimus said he told you about my capture, did he not?"

Melissa nodded, "He even visited."

"Are you alright?" Christopher asked, looking at her, sternly.

"Quite, in fact it was the matrix that protected me in my time of need-before you ask, yes-I have changed, because the matrix chose to hide my humanity to protect it from the… experiments that Shockwave was performing," Lauren explained.

"The decepticon's chief scientist? The one you're scared of?" Melissa clarified.

Lauren nodded, "I merely came to inform you that I am with the autobots once more, and safe. But recent events require that I return swiftly. We captured Megatron, but at a cost. Optimus Prime and Blaster's minds are trapped within an ancient device that I used to trap the deceticon's minds in as well."

"Whoa-wait-you captured the leader of the decepticons?" Christopher asked.

"His body-yes, and if he manages to escape the device his mind is trapped in, he will find himself in quite the predicament," Lauren replied.

"Nice," Christopher grinned.

"I believe it is time that we depart. Marx, your thoughts?" Lauren asked.

Marx nodded, "Yes, but do you mind if I speak to your mother for a moment? In private?"

"Make it quick, our time is short," she responded, before exiting the house.

"I'll go check on the kids," Christopher said, before leaving as well.

Melissa looked at Marx, "Yes?"

"Ma'am… I wanted you to know, from someone who has spent a great deal of time serving with your daughter, that she is truly a remarkable individual," Marx began, "She reminds me of my child, and I understand that it must be difficult for her to be away, and often in danger… but she is looked-out for."

Melissa smiled, "Thank you, Marx… it is hard, knowing that her status can change with the drop of a hat, but I'm glad to know she has people looking out for her." Lauren's mother extended her hand, "Thank you, again."

Marx shook her hand, and exited the house.

By the time Melissa had looked out the window, she could only see the portal closing… Christopher walked back in to join her, "Mom?"

Melissa looked over to him, "She was… so different."

"Rachet said she'd be," Christopher reminded her. "I mean, think about it, Rach said she went through some pretty hard crap-he said without the matrix she'd be acting like a crazed lunatic… an animal."

"I know, but Christopher, she looked so cold, she didn't hug me, she didn't tell me 'I love you', she didn't smile, she didn't even say-goodbye…"