TFP: Shrouded... (Chapter XXVI: Lesson One...)

The first thing Lauren saw when her Optics had flickered back to life was the sight of Blaster scooping her up, and spinning about with her, shouting unfathomable words of joy, but making Lauren feel very-very-very sick. He stopped as her face had begun turning green, and waited, asking questions. However, Lauren had yet to regain full consciousness, and had not heard a word of Blaster's greeting.

"Blaster! You will make her vomit, and this time you, will clean it up!" Perceptor took the girl from Blaster, and scanned her, as she laid in his hand, and closed her optics, "Lauren, what are you feeling?"

"Tired," she croaked, groggily, "I'm just so tired…"

Perceptor nodded, glancing back as Optimus had begun coming to as well. The scientist carefully handed the girl to Blaster, "Be silent, and take her to her quarters… her body and mind have been severely exhausted. Have Ms. Darby put her to bed."

"You got it, science-guy," Blaster nodded, and walked away.

After helping Lauren to bed, Blaster had asked Miss Darby to take him to Lauren's room, and place him on the desk in his alt-mode… she did so, but told him no racket.

Once she had left, Blaster whispered, "Okay, Princess, this one is for you… Starscream called you a flightless bird, so I think this is more than appropriate for a lullaby…" The song began playin, it was called 'Flightless Bird'… As it played, the mech watched over his little Princess, thinking, Sleep well, little Princess… you've certainly earned it.

Within her dreams, Lauren saw Blaster playing the song in her subconscious, and she thought in turn, I love you, Blaster. A smile came to her face as she slept on.


Optimus smiled, thankfully as Rachet began examining him. It could have been Lauren's wishful-thinking rubbing off on him, but for once he felt that everything, between the two-would be as it was, and he decided to take Lauren on has his full 'partner'. Hopefully his continuous presence would keep the shard of the matrix of leadership strong, and Unicron at bay.

"What has you so cheery?" asked Rachet, testing Optimus's optics.

Recent experiences have brought Lauren and I to a greater understanding of one another… I pray that our relationship may remain as it is, and I will be taking her as my partner, Rachet," Optimus explained. "Melissa once recommended keeping Lauren with me at all times possible, and that is what I will do."

"Did she apologize for running off again?" asked Rachet.

"She apologized for disobeying me-not for saving her father..."

Rachet sighed, "What about academics?"

"Assuming Lauren chooses to remain with us-forever-she will have little use for much of the education she would be gaining. My memories have given her so much more, as Melissa, and Marx had stated so clearly," Optimus sighed, "I was trying to give Lauren a normal life… one that she would never be able to have again… and one she did not even want."

Rachet paused, looking Optimus over, "If you say so, Optimus. But if you ask me-what she needs is discipline."

Optimus nodded, "Yes, but a grounding is not the way to discipline her, according to Ryler, the best thing to do is give her a job that she finds distasteful. Keep in mind, it was not her actions that were in disobedience, it was leaving the base without my permission, your permission, or Perceptor's."

Rachet nodded, "I suppose… but Optimus, you need to speak to her about what happened on the Nemesis… she won't talk to anyone about it, not even Blaster… in the brief time she was back, and without you, she was so cold… so emotionless-was that fixed?"

"Perhaps, I know that they were beginning to come back, but it may take more time for her emotions, and Lauren herself to remain as she had been," Optimus whispered. "What scared me the most was her writhing within the Prison… so loud, so painful."

"We were witnessing it first hand here as well," Rachet admitted, "And when the poor girl wasn't shrieking, she was begging Megatron to stop… begging. Optimus, Lauren never begs."

"Apparently Megatron finds pleasure in breaking her down," Optimus frowned, "And that femme released him from the Prison… to wreak havoc on the planet once more."

"What are you-oh! You mean Lauren didn't tell you?" Rachet asked.

"Tell me what?" asked Optimus.

Rachet grinned, "Thanks to our little human Prime… we have captured Megatron."

Optimus froze, optics widening, "What… did you just say?"


Lauren yawned, sitting up, and finding herself in her quarters.

"Good mornin', Princessi!" greeted Blaster from her desk.

Lauren smiled, slightly, "Blaster!" She pulled the covers off of her , and swung off the bed, before running over, picking up the boom box, and hugging him, "I missed you so much!"

"Hah-hah! I missed you too, girlfriend!" Blaster chuckled, "You yourself again? I'd really like my Princess back now."

"I-I… she's getting there, Blaster… Primus, it feels like I haven't smiled in forever," Lauren whispered.

"Well… you haven't… you okay, Princess?" he asked, "Megatron won't hurt you-ever again."

"That's nice of you, Blaster… but Megatron won't be a problem anymore," Lauren smiled, "We captured him, he escaped the Prison of Vector Prime… but he won't be escaping project Titan-it was built to hold him."


After a shower and a change of clothes, Lauren had carried Blaster back out, and threw him upward, for him to transform. He scooped his girl up, and looked at her with a smile, "You're getting there!"

"As I had said," Lauren replied.

That is when her other big brothers flooded together.

"Princess, how are you feeling?" asked Mirage.

"We got scared when you started shoutin' want me to can Megatron for ya?" asked Cliffjumper, with a determined, and protective grin.

Tracks then said, "Perceptor told us that your mind disconnected you from the Prison."

"I said that Megatron, by breaking through the barriers of her mind inadvertently disconnected her, Tracks, there is a difference," explained Perceptor.

"She smiled fellas!" Blaster informed, "I saw her, don't you deny it."

Lauren chuckled, "You guys make me feel so… loved."

"We care about you, was that ever in question?" asked Mirage.

"Er-no… I just… Megatron has a way of making you feel-like… well-scrap. On the Nemesis… while Shockwave was trying to dismantle my conscious and unconscious… Megatron kept saying things to me," Lauren whispered, "And in the Prison-he talked about how Optimus and the autobots are just using me, and scrap… I told him to get fragged."

"Sounds like you've had a hard few weeks," Mirage whispered.

Lauren forced out a smiled, and stood up in Blaster's hand… she still felt horrible, but smiling for the sake of others was the only thing to keep her going, "It could have been worse, I still have my spark, and I'm ready to kick some decepticreep tailpipe! Uh… if I wasn't-human-again…"

Perceptor chuckled, "Oh, I happen to have a solution to that one."

Optimus walked in swiftly, and took Lauren from Blaster without any explanation, and quickly walked towards the exit.

"Optimus, what is—"

"Put your coat on, Lauren," he replied, stepping out into the nippy air.

Lauren pulled her arms through the sleeves, and released a shiver, "Optimus, what is wrong?" she asked, he didn't look angry or sad, just-urgent.

They were alone outside on the cliff edge, and he sat down, looking at Lauren, he stared at her before speaking, "Lauren… what-did you capture Megatron?"

"Not exactly-I just told the bots to grab his body when y'all were all out-I thought that the opportunity was too great to pass up. He's being held in Project Titan, a secure location-another prison-just for him," Lauren explained.

Optimus blinked, the released a sigh of content, "That could mean…"

Lauren smiled, "We're one step closer to ending the war."

Optimus smiled down at her, "Yes, Lauren… we are, thank you, Lauren."

"Told ya I'm not a con, Optimus," Lauren reinforced.

"I know…" he was so impressed… after all the manipulation Megatron may have put into her-against all odds-she went out of her way to have the autobots capture Megatron. He felt so thankful for some reason-so happy-but why? Because his nemesis was imprisoned? Because Megatron could no longer hurt anybot? Because Megatron was who Lauren admired… and now she has put him in incarceration…

"Optimus, what are you thinking?" Lauren asked.

He held her close, "I'm thinking that I am very proud of you… for conquering Megatron, Lauren."

Lauren eyed him, then grinned, and hugged his front plate, "Thanks, Optimus."

The Prime chose not to ask about her time spent in captivity aboard the Nemesis… he didn't want to start anything-not when it was all going so well… Lauren was happy, and that was the greatest gift he could have. Thinking of gifts them made him remember… He lifted his index servo, and from the finger plate, a box was released. He slowly brought it to Lauren's level, and held it before her, "I meant to give this to you… for Christmas… then on your birthday…"

Lauren took the cover off the box, and there was a pendant inside in the shape of the autobot symbol, she took it out, and on the back there was writing engraved saying: "Till all are one, Lauren…" She smiled, and placed the pendant around her neck, "Thank you… Optimus."


Later the same day, Marx had come to assess the base and the autobots' status as a whole. He had been most pleased of the renewed status. When he heard of the beta armor Lauren would be testing, he chose to stick around. Optimus held Lauren and Marx in his hands, as Perceptor displayed a device to Lauren, less than shoulder length in width, as tall at her neck to her rib cage, and no thicker than her hand. It looked similar to the Apex armor, and according to Perceptor-was built with similar principles. Optimus allowed Lauren on to the table, before Perceptor handed her the device.

Lauren looked at it for a moment, waiting.

"Place it on your front, and tap the panel. Once the armor forms, the panel will lock until you release it," Perceptor explained.

Lauren nodded, and place the plat on her front, before tapping the front, and watching the armor form around her. When the metal finally stopped clicking, and locked into place, Lauren smiled, spinning around, and stretching out, "Wow-I can move so smoothly!"

Marx watched attentively.

"Yes, the transformation of the metal went smoother than I could have anticipated," Perceptor chuckled, "There are several new functions to this armor. Chiefly, the armor is built as your full-combat armor, it is the strongest we could make it, and the heaviest."

Lauren waved her arms, "Doesn't feel that heavy."

"That is because the structure is powered by the matrix shard, and follows your movements," Preceptor explained, "That considered, you must be careful with how much power you use, the matrix shard is connected to you, and I anticipate that it will be using yourself as a power source as it does with the matrix. I haven't had very much time to test everything out… but you could run straight into decepticons without fear of being hurt. That armor is completely indestructible, and augments all of your motor functions."

"Using her as a power source... isn't that a tad.... dangerous?" asked Marx.

"If not regulated," answered Perceptor.

Lauren placed her hands on her hips, "Shall we give her a test run then?"

"Yes!"

The four turn to the entrance to Perceptor's lab, and saw Arcee, infuriated. She stomped in, and jabbed her index finger onto Lauren's front, "It all makes since now! Only you'd be stupid enough to trust Starscream, and order us to tolerate him!"

Lauren tilted her head, "What?"

"You used Optimus's authority to make us think Starscream should be trusted! Frag it, kid! You don't deserve to be with the autobots, and you sure as scrap have no right to be displaying that symbol on your metal!" Arcee scolded.

"Arcee—"

"I've had it with you defending her, Optimus! She doesn't belong here!"

"That is completely uncalled for!" retaliated Perceptor.

"Zip it, you weren't there when Cliff died, Perceptor!" Arcee growled.

Lauren sighed, "Arcee, is that what this is all about you--?"

"Don't you even start trying to be all diplomatic, missy-we're past that! You want to make me happy? Lets go a round… lets test that armor of yours," Arcee dared.

Lauren lowered her head, "If that's what you want, Arcee… who am I to refuse?"

"I don't like this idea, Lauren," Optimus intervened, "Are you certain?"

Lauren sighed, "If Arcee trying to beat the hell out of me will make her feel better about this, then let her-you know full well that this is far from the first time I've done this, Optimus."


Lauren shot forward, dodging Arcee's boot, and slipping under her fist, and used her thrusters to give her a boost to somersault away, then looked at the CGAI or Combat Guide AI, which recommended deploying the grapple hook. So she did, catching Arcee's left boot, and yanking Arcee forward, and jumped over, firing at her front, and jumping away before Arcee could retaliate, and grappling to the second level, "I told you this was a bad move, Arcee!"

"Oh please, Lauren! A punk human who has the audacity to think she can bring a decepticon into the autobot ranks, with a suit of armor! Take that away, and what are you?!" Arcee jumped up.

Lauren cartwheeled away, "Human, Prime-wannabe, lunatic." She answered, grappling to the ceiling light, then swung to the other side, "But I don't want to hurt you, Arcee, and that is how this is going to end!"

"You're really that confident, huh?" Arcee asked.

"No-I'm not, but you aren't thinking clearly, so you're not fighting at one-hundred percent, Arcee," Lauren explained, "You want me to put my all into this?"

"Let's see what you have! This is for Cliffjumper-my Cliffjumper!" she screamed.

Lauren jumped from the railing, and charged, "I'm sorry!"

Arcee was a bit slower than usual-her rage was weighing her down. What Lauren didn't understand was-it wasn't like Arcee to get rageful-she usually just shut people out… Lauren hated the thought of having to fight her like this. Minutes turned into an hour… and the entire base was watching by then. Starscream included, but Lauren couldn't really tell what he was thinking… but after she had knocked Arcee down for the last time, Lauren stopped…

Arcee panted, still on the ground, and looking away from Lauren.

"Arcee, come on, lets get over this-lets move on," Lauren smiled at her, as the faceplate lifted, "I don't want to fight you, we're a team."

Arcee glared at the girl, "No… we are-not moving on. I hate you," she whispered, "We are not a team. You are worse than any decepticon because of the way you try to manipulate bots-Starscream is evil-he always will be, and you still support him… but you even have Optimus fooled, but not me-you'll never manipulate me."

Lauren gaped, taking a step back, "A-Arcee?..."

Arcee jumped back up again, facing her, "Come on!"

Lauren looked up at Arcee, "No… forget it, 'Cee, I'm not fighting you anymore… I don't know what happened, but this isn't you, and I'm not going t-AH!"

Arcee fired, sending Lauren hurtling back.

Lauren groaned… standing back up, undamaged, save her heart. She stood strong, "I'm not fighting you, Arcee!"

Blaster took a step to help her, but Mirage pulled him back, "Not our fight…"

"You said that amor is indestructible?" asked Marx.

Optimus sighed, "Yes, and I hate to say this... But Lauren must handle this one alone..."

Arcee charge Lauren again, "I don't care, it's time that I taught you the lesson that Optimus won't!"

Starscream scowled, walking out, he couldn't watch that-autobots were supposed to fight together, not each other… the moment he stepped out the exit, he was stopped by Cliffjumper.

"Okay, bud, I think for the ladies' sake we need to have a chat," he sighed.

"Ugh… I know-Arcee is still upset about my killing you, and instead of taking it out on me, she's taking it out on Firefly," Starscream grumbled.

"Guy, have you considered apologizing?" Cliffjumper asked.

"Hardly! I have no reason to apologize to that whelp!" shouted Starscream.

Cliffjumper sighed, "Oh man, you are gonna need work. Think about Princess-or Firefly-she sticks up for you, don't you think you should stay and support her when she's fighting her own teammate-for you?"

Starscream crossed his arms, "She is a fool."

"She's a fool who sticks up for you, Starscream. Look, I got nothin' against you-if Princess trusts you, and supports you-that's enough for me. She's a smart little kid. Do you like having a little human there to make you smile when you're in the middle of thinking about what a pile of scrap you are?" asked Cliffjumper.

Starscream gasped, "I am not a pile of--!"

"I didn't say you were, but there is a little human taking on a pissed off femme-for you," Cliffjumper muttered.

Starscream grumbled, "You honestly have nothing against me?"

Cliffjumper smiled, "As long as you don't plan on snuffin' me, man."

Starscream smiled back, "Hm-very well then."

Lauren coughed up the blood from her throat, getting to her knees, when Arcee raised her boot, and slammed  it onto the girl's back.

"Stay down, and just give it up."

"B-ullied by an autobot… never saw it comin'," Lauren whispered.

Arcee growled, "I'm not bullying you! Don't you get it? You've bullied us into letting Starscream hang around the base! AGH! You will never listen, will you?!"

No one had seen it coming, but he charged over, and knocked Arcee off of Lauren.

Arcee growled, jumping back up, as Starscream stood protectively over Lauren, "Get out of my way, Starscream!"

"You want to hurt anybody for your pain-hurt me! Firefly has done more for the autobots in the past few days than anyone save Prime has done since the war!" Starscream shouted, "I know-I have been watching! You have the audacity to beat her for trying to show compassion to someone so undeserving as myself?!"

Arcee stood ready to charge, when Cliffjumper stepped in front of Starscream, "'Cee… let it go."

She looked at Cliffjumper, then at Lauren and Starscream, before Arcee shouted in frustration, and roared, storming out of the sparing room.

Lauren stood, "Thanks, Starscream… that was-that was wow…"

Starscream rolled his optics, "Right… are you-intact?"

Lauren's helmet folded away, "Arcee got off some really good punches, but what can I say? I'm not one for fighting a team member. Did you mean what you just said?"

"Well… think about it, you captured Megatron, and helped Optimus escape the prison, I'd say that is a 'win win'," Starscream commented.

Lauren chuckled, before hugging Starscream's right leg, "Thanks, Starscream."

"Ugh… right-right-right," he grumbled. "Get off me."

"Not until you admit you like me!" Lauren laughed.

Starscream pulled her off, and held her in his hands, "What?"

"Admit it, 'Screamy! You like me!" Lauren laughed.

Starscream looked at her, grinning, "Maybe… for a human…"

"Of course!" Lauren nodded.

"Huh… I am most pleased that you are-yourself again as well," Starscream admitted.

Lauren smiled bigger, and touched his hand, "Thanks, Starscream."


Lauren sat on Optimus's right shoulder and Marx was on his left, as he walked into the bridge room, he was quite, and thinking about Arcee's altercation with Lauren. The girl had held her own, until she chose to simply take the beating dealt to her… he would not have previously expected that of his small human friend. Rachet was correct-despite being infected within the Prison, her Prime essence and humanity were now co-dominant within Lauren's mind.

"I'm sorry that Arcee was so-violent," Optimus whispered.

Lauren sighed, sitting back, with a 'clang' from her metal hitting his, "I am too, I feel so awful-but you saw Starscream. He's improved, a lot. I did see his standing up for me coming."

"Neither did I… I will admit, he impressed me," Optimus sighed.

Lauren grinned, leaning back, still exhausted, "Ugh-Perceptor wasn't kidding, this armor is taking it out of me…"

"Do you need rest?" Optimus asked.

Lauren remained leaning back, "I-uh… I'll just lay here, if that's okay with you-I'm just tired, that's all." She shrugged, "But… I might as well just… lean back and close my eyes for a little while I supposed…"

Optimus glanced at her, and smiled, I'm proud of you, Lauren… That is what he had intended to say, before fate waylaid him once more.

"Optimus, I have a Tier-1 message from... A White House?" mumbled Tracks.

"As in the President of the United States?" asked Marx.

"Yes… I-I believe so," Tracks muttered, stepping back as the Prime with the two humans on his shoulders came forward.

Optimus glanced at Lauren, "We have not heard from him since…"

"Since we disabled the groundbridge… jeez-it seems like that was years ago," Lauren whispered, "What does he want? My wrists in handcuffs and you in a lab?"

Optimus shuddered the thoughts away, and answered the secure video line, "Mr. President, how may we help you?"

"Prime, did Miss Courage and yourself piss of the decepticons? Because I don't appreciate scouting parties tearing down buildings," he growled.

Lauren blinked, "Scouts?"

The President nodded, "Yes-care to explain why they might be looking for the lord of the decepticons in Washington DC?"

Lauren gulped, "Y-no… we captured Megatron just recently, but there's no way in oblivion we'd hand him over to the American government to slice and dice him up."

The leader of the United States exhaled, "Then I suppose they will be tearing up my city then my country until they realize—"

Lauren crossed her arms, "Mr. President… I understand that you may think the autobots and I are against you… but hear me out, please."

Optimus looked at his human companion, grateful for her manner.

"We-the autobots are not, nor were we ever against you. Woods lied to you about everything," Lauren stated, "If you need our help in defending the country, we would not hesitate to aid you-in your time of dire need."

The President looked suspiciously at them. He opened a manilla folder, and flipped through the pages, "Courage… you seem to be much more… diplomatic than last we met."

"I like to say I've done some growing up," Lauren stated, "But that is not for me to decide… do you need our help?"

"I'll tell you what, Courage. You and the autobots save this country again and I'll give you a dang medal. After that, we'll see about the autobots' side of the story that is this mess of lies," stated the President, "Good deal?"

"This was not ever about deals, Mr. President, this was about protecting your people-my people, and seeing them through to another day to live, one step at a time," Lauren explained, "No strings attached."

The man stood, "Fine, I'll have my people send you details, coordinates for transport, and times, don't be late-there are lives at stake here."

Lauren nodded, "Yes sir."

The line shut off, leaving the screen at it's usual display.

Marx shook his head, "Pleasant man."

"He just has a lot riding on the next couple of days," Lauren explained, "It'll be fine, it's important that we defend our fellow man in facing the decepticons-united we stand… and divided we will all fall."

Optimus smiled at the wisdom Lauren possessed, it made him proud.

"Where did you learn that?" asked Marx.

Lauren shrugged, "That's lesson one," she explained.