TFP:Shrouded...(ChapterXXV:Primes Best Friend)

Chapter Twenty-Five: A Prime's Best Friend…

And so you finally come, my little human counterpart… The shadow drew closer, then stopped when the girl's optics looked to the place where the shadow loomed. She glared with such intensity, as if know of the shadow's presence… but she then looked away, and proceeded to her companions. The shadow grinned, you, child, know I am here…


Knockout jumped back up, "You-will-pay for that!"

Lauren jumped in between them, "Enough of your pointless argumentation, we have a mission to complete that I guarantee will end with a combat scenario between autobots and decepticons. Save it for the on coming fight."

"Oh-ho-ho, I will," Knockout hissed.

"Like I said, KO, there is no 'we'," Ryler added.

Lauren was well-aware of the growing tension between them as they proceeded to the second level, which had proven to be some sort of a maze. Lauren stepped forward, when Knockout walked over to her, "How do you even know what you are doing, child! You are just a human-how do you know so much?"

Lauren was not surprised by his inquiry, and simply replied, "I have studied a number of cybertronian artifacts during my time with the autobots. I recall this one."

"Sure, so what's the real reason, little-girl?"

As Lauren was about to reply, a wall formed between Ryler and the other two.

"Lauren!" shouted Ryler, "Can you hear me?!"

"Do not be alarmed, Ryler, it is the prison's prerogative to create conflict, simply attempt to get to the end of the maze as fast as possible, while Knockout and I do the same," Lauren replied. She then turned to Knockout, "We must be swift." Lauren transformed, and rolled onward.

Knockout rolled up beside her, "So… you certainly have changed."

"Clarify," Lauren ordered, "Many have been repeating those same words."

Knockout chuckled, "When I first saw you, so long ago in that parking lot where Breakdown and I fought Optimus Prime, you were just a scared little girl!" He recalled, "I remember you scrambling away, wide-eyes and all."

Lauren ignored his attempts to rile her up, she couldn't care less…

"And now here you are, a fully-trained, and completely loyal pet," Knockout snickered, "… a Prime's best friend."

"Be silent," Lauren commanded.

A groundbridge appeared before them. Lauren stopped, transforming once more, and staring at the portal.

Knockout transformed as well, "What is this?"

"It appears to be a groundbridge, but from where, I did not know of such a device within the prison," Lauren whispered. "Warden, can you confirm?"

The Warden appeared, "A prisoner has made it to the Transport Hub on level eleven, this portal leads to the transport hub on the opposite side."

Lauren thought a moment, "Optimus…"

"Whoa-ho, I am not stepping through that, what if the Big-O decides to attack me?" Knockout growled.

Lauren turned to him, "I will not allow that to happen, Knockout. Trust me." She looked behind the decepticon, then around, unable to shake the feeling that they were being watch oh so closely.

The time has come to strike… my escape is eminent, the Warden shall be mine.

"Well, I suppose there isn't much to lose," muttered the scientist.

Lauren jumped through the portal, and on the opposite side found the transport hub to be a darkened room… she walked over to what seemed to be a restraint table, but something had broken free. A substance resembling dark energon was splattered around the area. On the opposite side of the room there were a number of screens. One on each level, one on each prisoner, and the rest were black, save one that displayed purple static. Lauren saw Optimus fighting terrocons on level nine with Blaster helping, and Breakdown was stuck on level three, clearly having trouble with the hallucinations, and Ryler was quickly coming up to the same area, while Lauren and Knockout were clearly in the transport hub… but that is when Lauren realized that it had not been Optimus to open the portal, by the time Lauren had looked to Megatron's screen, he had been upon her, and pinned her to the adjacent wall with ease.

"Nice of you to finally make progress, Knockout," Megatron hissed.

"Uh, my lord! Well-the girl vowed to help us escape. The 'Warden' believes she is a Prime, you see…"

Megatron glared at him, "I have been monitoring everyone, doctor. Save Prisoner 0, whose screen reveals nothing but static." The leader of the decepticons then looked at Lauren, with a demonized grin, "Oh-how you truly are Prime's human double… it's so-repulsive."

Lauren struggled, but couldn't get a single word out; Megatron was crushing her vocals.

"At least now I may lure the autobots to this location… I will see to it that Prime hears your screams," Megatron declared.

The lord of the decepticons could not have anticipated her strength, and her resolve. At last, she rivaled him-she shoved her boots into his chest, ripping free, before managing to get off several more punches, but Megatron caught her boot upon her last kick, and sent her flying back.

Lauren sprang back up, in combative stance, "Megatron, hear me, no one is pleased with this predicament. That is why we need to—"

Megatron drew his blade, "I have no interest in debating with a human child who simply desires to be what she is not!"

With a plain expression as they fought, Lauren dodged Megatron's blows, with such fluid motion. She had always been brains more than brawl, so she moved as water, only making moves when the opportunity allowed, then finally slipped behind him, and stayed there. With every turn he made, so did she… "There is nothing wrong with seeking to be more like those you look to-be it cybertronian or human."

Megatron stopped, then turning his head to see her, "Of course not… what is admirable about you-"

Lauren gasped, Megatron move like lightning… the force had been enough to send red energon spilling from her dentals. She looked down, to see that his blade had pierce straight through her middle, and out her back. Lauren grimaced, placing a hand against Megatron to keep herself on her boots.

Megatron smiled, as their optics met again, "You… a human-almost succeed in being cybertronian. Hm-hm…" He then lowered his head for her to hear his next whisper, "I told you that I'd make you scream, little-human." He twisted his blade, as he ripped it back out.

And Lauren's shriek was heard in both worlds.


Rachet gasped, as Lauren began screaming, and a surge traveled through her body, before tossing the girl away, like a rag doll. "Lauren? Lauren!"

He picked up her body, with wide optics, and a lifeless expression, smoke traveled from her scorched hand, "No… no-no-no!" He scanned, her quickly-she was still alive, but there was no brain activity. Rachet turned back to the orb, "She's trapped…"

Starscream was the first to see what had made the noise, "What was--?"

Rachet handed Lauren to Starscream, "Take her to Optimus and Blaster, I'm ending Ryler's 'mission'."


Ryler, inside the prison, had found himself walking in what looked suspiciously like Equestria… "Okay-did this place give me robot drugs or something?"

Pinkie Pie pranced by, "HI!"

"Uhm… hello?"

"You're a really big robot! That is SO cool, lets be best friends! What's you're name?" she asked.

"Ryler."

"Hi, Ryler! I'm Pinkie Pie!" she squealed.

Ryler felt like blushing, but robots, of course didn't blush, "This is a bit cooler in my head… in reality-it's kinda awkward."

"Oh I just met a big robot, I wonder if he likes cupcakes or not! I don't know where he came from, but I know candy is yum!" Pinkie Pie sang.

Ryler chuckled, "Oh Pinkie…"

"What the scrap?! Get it off! Get it off!"

Ryler turned, to see Breakdown running from a pegasus with a storm cloud, raining on Breakdown.

"That's for shooting at me, you jerk!"

Ryler began laughing, "You made Rainbow Dash angry? Ha!" He paused, "Wait a second… He SHOT at Rainbow Dash?! You dumb jerk!" Ryler charged, and tackled Breakdown.

"What-gah-now and autobot?!" Breakdown punched Ryler back. "Get off of me!"

"Then don't shoot at ponies!" Ryler growled.

"What is a PONY?!"

"That--!" Ryler pointed to Rainbow Dash, "-is a pony!"

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash called, jabbing her left hoof at Breakdown, "And don't you forget it, buddy!" She then flew down to Ryler, "Nice one, pal!"

Ryler high-hoofed her, "Are you kidding? That storm cloud thing was genius!"

"Thank you, thank you," Rainbow Dash bowed, with a cocky grin.

Breakdown leaned up, cloud still raining on him, "This is ridiculous, and impossible! I've been running around this level for hours, tell me how to get out!"

Ryler smiled, as Rainbow Dash stood on his right shoulder, sticking her tongue out at Breakdown, "This is sort of… a-a distraction level, I think, heh-heh, I lost Lauren and Knockout on the last level."

"Knockout?" Breakdown rolled his optic, "Ugh-it took an autobots and a human to get Knockout to move?"

Ryler rolled his own optics, "I suppose, besides, I—"

Equestria and the ponies vanished, as the prison shook with a blood-curdling scream.

Ryler froze, "What-was-"

"-that," Breakdown finished.

"Oh no, no-no-no, that had to be--!"


"-Lauren!" Ryler gasped, as Rachet pulled him away from the orb, "What?! Rachet! HEY! Set me down, Lauren is in trouble!"

"I know, and that is why I pulled you out, Ryler!" Rachet growled… "It looks like Lauren is on her own."


Optimus and Blaster heard the scream as well…

Blaster trembled, "Optimus, I think that was--"

"I know… I know who that was-but how is she even here?" Optimus fell to one knee, "What-happened to her though?..."


"Knock-knock… wakey-wakey… Rise and shine, human!"

Lauren slowly opened her optics, and found Knockout to be tapping on her forehead. She then sighed, looking around, and found herself to be energy-cuffed to the restraint table. Lauren looked around, and when her optics found Megatron to her right, and grabbed her chin, roughly, forcing her to keep her optics on him.

"You played your part quite nicely, little-human." He scraped her faceplate.

Lauren tried to rip her head away from him, with a glare, then the thoughts came, No! No-no-NOOO! Stay away, I can't handle the emotions coming back! I don't need emotions, Primus, please keep them away from me!

Megatron chuckled again, then released her, before walking back to the screens with Knockout. There Lauren was left alone with her growing alarm, and fear of what might happen. This was not the time for her emotions to return, at least not in full-force. She yanked at the restraints, and pulled as hard as she could, but they would not give-way.

The lord of the decepticons had left his scientist at the terminals, and returned to Lauren to… have fun. From he position, leaning against the wall he watched her, simply stared at her pointless efforts.

Lauren paused her efforts to recover some stamina…

"Oh, don't stop on my account."

She looked away from his sinister, and manipulative gaze, then closed her optics to try to think harder of a means to escape.

Megatron walked around to the other side, "You should stop thinking of escape while you are ahead, little-human," he stepped closer, "Or I may gladly give you something else to think about!"

Lauren reopened her optics, and stared at him.

"Who is helpless now, little-human?!" He wrapped his fingers around her neck, and tightened his grip, "You, pet, have fallen! You are now the one in fear."

"Fear… I know what you are afraid of… as of this moment, Megatron, you are finally realizing that we are not equal… I am stronger than you here, as I am in the true world-you fear my rise," Lauren managed to say.

Megatron growled, and back-handed her, "I will always be stronger than you, human! ALWAYS! What do you think makes you so strong?"

Lauren replied, "Optimus, the autobots, my family… all their support, true loyalty, and love… that is what makes me stand above you. Not an army-nor brutality."

Megatron laughed, "Love?! Did you say love?! Do you honestly believe that Prime loves a tiny human insect? You are forcing your beliefs into what you wish to be," he drew closer once more, "The only thing Optimus loves is your blind loyalty as his pet; he uses you, just as I did the past times we have met!"

"You are a good liar, Megatron… but not this time," Lauren said, before turning her head away again.

Megatron looked at her, with a growing rage, "Knockout, I want to investigate my previous theory, go to the screens. Monitor Prime's status."

Lauren's optics widened, she had an idea of what Megatron's theory was… She pulled at the restraints, becoming more alarmed.

"Ready, lord Megatron," Knockout informed.

Megatron redrew his blade, "This is going to hurt, human."


Rachet stood looking over Lauren, with Perceptor.

"This makes no sense!" shouted Rachet, "We need to fix this-NOW!"

"What can we possibly do, Rachet, that is a device of the ancients!" Perceptor retaliated, "Princess went into the prison to fix the problem that you have been ranting to her about since she was recovered from the decepticons! Do you have the audacity to believe we could have stopped her?!"


Starscream, with Tracks, Cliffjumper, Mirage, Bumblebee, and Arcee stood, looking into the infirmary, alarmed…

"Look at her optics, what is that? Why are they shifting from blue, to red, to purple?!" Rachet growled.

"Why don't we wait, and see if she is somehow still connected to her body, she must have been knocked unconscious within the prison, but she still could be connected to—"

"AH!"

The scientists looked at the girl, as she tensed.

"Get fragged, Megatron!" she screamed, beginning to sweat, "STOP!"

Rachet sighed, "That explains it-Megatron has her."

Perceptor frowned, "Primus save her…"


Optimus shouted, feeling something stab through his middle, and collapsed.

Blaster stopped running, "Optimus!" He ran back to the Prime, "Optimus, what is it?"

Optimus shook his head, gripping his middle, "I-I do not know-Lauren is in so much pain! We must find her now! Warden, where is… the prisoner known as Lauren?"

"No prisoner is registered under that designation."

"Th-then is there another-P-Prime?" Optimus asked.

"There is, designation Terra Prime entered the Prison several hours ago."

"Terra… that means Earth in a language called Latin, that must be Lauren, Optimus," Blaster said.

"Warden, where is Terra Prime?" Optimus asked.

"In the Transport Hub on level eleven, with two other prisoners, designation Megatron and Knockout."

Optimus gazed, "Megatron… yagh!"


"Lord Megatron, you were right, they must be connected some how!" Knockout gasped, "Prime is on the ground, holding the places you continue to inflict pain…"

Megatron grinned, then reinserted his blade into the mix of red energon and shredded metal of Lauren's middle.

She grimaced, with more crimson energon spilling from her parted dentals, but she was to tired to scream anymore… all of the pain was beginning to blend into a long line of chaos, tormenting her inside and out…

Megatron leaned closer, "I'll make you a deal, human… if you tell me how Optimus and yourself are connected, I will graciously stop hurting you." He twisted his blade in the gush of energon, and metal, waiting for a response.

Lauren stared at him, with a near-lifeless expression, barely able to even operate her vocals, but she whimpered, as Megatron continued to twist his blade. "W-we are connected th-through…"

"Yes?" Megatron waited, ceasing the twist of his blade.

"Uh-lord Megatron! Prime and the other autobot are moving much swifter than before, as in they just breached the eleven gates, and headed our way!"

Megatron turned to look at Knockout, "What?!"

"Prime is heading straight for us, and he does not look happy, lord Megatron!"

Megatron removed his blade from the fray of the girl's half-scrapped form, and walked over to the screens, and growled, "Optimus must be fuel by his motivation to save his pet now… he may be nearly impossible to stop, unless we can find someway to make use of a hostage."

"Maybe not-what is that forming before them?" Knockout asked, as a dark aura stopped the autobots.


Optimus glared, as a femme, almost as tall as him, but slender in form with jagged armor, and devilish purple optics. For some reason the femme sent fear through Optimus's spark-it was like he had seen her before, and he took a step back, "Who are you?"

She grinned, then phased into a black aura again, which dissipated all too quickly.


"Who is the pits was that?" asked Blaster, "Looked like a decepticon chick… but one I've never seen before."

"I do not know who that was, but I have the ominous feeling… that we will find out before this ends," Optimus replied.


Megatron and Knockout, were taken aback as the femme appeared in the transport hub, and appeared at the main terminal, and drove her hand into it, like a knife. Instantly, the systems began wailing, and all of the lights became purple, somehow being filled with an essence that Megatron recognized… "She is filling the systems with dark energon."

She then stepped away, smiling to Megatron, and appeared directly before him.

"Who are you?" Megatron demanded.

She touched his front, and for some reason he found himself to not feel threatened by her, "Soon, my lord… soon." The femme then stepped back, with a low bow, and vanished again.

"What-was that?" Knockout asked.

Megatron smiled, "An ally."

The femme appeared over Lauren, "Hello," she purred.

Lauren's optics reopened, and widened, seeing whom she face. Fear filled Lauren, the nightmare was much larger in life, "Y-you… Killer."

"Yes," she smiled, "Me." Her talons drew back, then shot into Lauren's head.

Lauren shouted, feeling her body ignite, and the sensation of being melted alive spread, "Get out of my head!"

'Killer' withdrew her hand, and hissed, before whispering, "You're lucky Primus guards you so well this time, girl… but that will not stop your fate from bringing the end." The femme then vanished again.

Lauren blinked, as the restraints retracted.

Megatron ran over to his hostage, and looked her over. Her wound had been healing well, even in the short time she had been left to recover, but something was different… the energon from her wound had become purple, and her optics flared the pale amethyst hue as well. Megatron smiled, "Most interesting… little human, what did the femme say to you?"

Lauren looked at him, "Nothing of significance to you, Megatron."

Megatron growled, raising his fist.

"My liege!" gasped Knockout.

The door exploded, and Optimus with and Blaster jumped through, cannons ready.

Knockout readied his staff, and Megatron grabbed the girl, charged his own cannon, before aiming it at the girl's head, "I wouldn't do anything too hasty, Optimus Prime."

Lauren pulled at Megatron's arm, which was holding her tightly.

"Let her go, Megsy!" Blaster growled.

Optimus took another step forward.

Lauren yelped, as Megatron's strength in holding her increased drastically.

"Megatron, I have a proposal," Optimus stated.

Megatron looked from side to side, the sighed, "State your proposition, Optimus."

"Release Lauren, and I will assist you…" Optimus sighed, It is the only way. "in escaping from this prison."

Megatron smiled, "Really, Optimus Prime? You would condone my release from this potentially endless prison… simply to save this little scraplet?"

Optimus growled, "So we have a deal? A temporary truce?"

Megatron held Lauren tighter, drawing his blade, and bringing it to her neck, "What assurance do I have, Prime?"

"My honor."

"Not good enough, Prime!"

"Never have I lied to you, Megatron-as you may recall," Optimus stated.

Thinking about that fact from a moment, Megatron chuckled, "Very well, Prime." He released his hold on the girl, and shoved her towards Optimus.

Lauren whipped back around, with a cold look of rage, then walked over to Optimus and Blaster. She looked at Blaster, "Hello, Blast-hegh!"

Blaster's weapons vanished, and he threw his arms around his beloved human friend, "I thought you were going to die, Princess… I-I thought I was gonna lose my girlfriend…"

Lauren sighed, Blaster still did not fully understand what 'girlfriend' meant on earth, and she knew what he meant, but he started telling other humans Lauren was his girlfriend, Blaster would get some very odd looks. Lauren was did not know what to do, other than to embrace him back, "It's really hard to die in this place, Blaster… it would have taken a lot more for Megatron to actually kill me."

"I-when I heard you screaming… its been a long time since I got that scared, Princess," Blaster said, then released her, "Hey, metal suits you well, Princess… you remind me of our other Princess."

"Other Princess?" Lauren asked.

"Never mind, girlfriend… just wish you'd smile," Blaster chuckled.

Lauren stared at him a moment, then sighed, "I don't have that in me, right now, Blaster… why does that matter so much?"

Blaster smiled, pulling her forehead to his, and he looked at here eye to eye,  "Because I love you, Princess."

Lauren blinked… and without a second thought she replied, "I love you too, Blaster."

"I will keep my word, Megatron," Optimus assured, "But first I need a word with Lauren in private."

"Then do so with haste, Optimus," Megatron sheathed his blade, "I am not patient."

"I am aware of that fact," the Prime replied, before turning to Lauren. "What are you doing here, it is far too dangerous!" Optimus took note of her purple optics, and the dark energon left from her wound… the Prime became slightly alarmed within himself.

"I am no fool, Optimus Prime, you would have committed the same act without hesitation," Lauren replied.


There is an edge in her voice-thank Primus some emotion has come back to her. Optimus sighed, "Nonetheless, you—"

Blaster stepped back.

"There is nothing more to it, I am here now, and that is all that matters. I have tried to disconnect myself as Ryler once did, but I cannot. When Megatron first drove his blade into my spark chamber, I believe it caused my body to be disconnected, I am stuck her with the rest of you," she interrupted him.

Optimus placed his right hand on her left shoulder, "V-very well… I am simply glad that you are safe now… your-pain frightened me."

"It should not have. Megatron would have had to do a lot more to actually kill me and—"

"You don't understand, do you, Lauren?" Optimus asked.

She then replied, "Understand what?"

Optimus contemplated his next action, but any way he looked at it, there was only one thing to do… the Prime pulled his friend… the one he thought of as a daughter into an embrace, and held her, "We, Lauren, care about you… we never wish to see you hurt, or in danger, and lately that is all that has happened, and now you feel nothing for yourself nor the scenarios of which you are constantly plagued with." Optimus clenched his optics shut, "I only wish you could understand."

She pondered his words, before asking the question that had been nipping at her heels, "Then I must ask you… for some reason it has been haunting me, Optimus. You realize that you are the closest being I have to a father, correct?"

Optimus released her, and met her optics, "I do…"

"Then do you love me as well?" she asked, "Do you love me, as I love you so dearly?"

Optimus blinked, Why would she ask such a question? Is the answer not the most obvious?

"Optimus Prime!" barked Megatron, "You have been graced with time enough!" The subject changed, and the autobots proceeded over to the decepticons, "It would seem that there is now a problem with the prison's systems."

"How?" Optimus asked.

"It is directly attacking prisoners," Megatron answered, "It just 'deleted' Breakdown."

Lauren shoved Knockout aside, and took over the terminal.

"Hey! Watch the paint!"

Lauren growled, "What do you mean he was deleted? And where is Ryler?"

"Your friend is of no consequence."

Optimus saw it coming, and caught Lauren before she could actually deck Megatron.

Megatron laughed, "I recommended a shorter leash, Optimus Prime."

Lauren bared her dentals at the decepticon, still struggling against Optimus's might.

Typical for rage to be the first of her emotions to manifest. Optimus sighed in his mind, and turned Lauren around to face her, as steam shot out of her exhaust pipes, "Lauren, calm yourself. This prison is unlikely to—"

"I care not what this place intends, but if the Warden is deleting prisoners, and it knows where we are, then I fear the impending—BLASTER!" Lauren leapt forward, and roared, tackling the Warden.

"Terra Prime! Interfere not with my programming!" It through her off of itself, but the determined girl jumped onto his back.

"Knockout!" Lauren shouted, "Open a groundbridge as far towards the end you can get! QUICKLY! Gagh!"

Optimus jumped forward, "Cease action, Warden! What is the meaning of this?!"

"Unicron detected in systems! All prisoners must be deleted, save Primes, to ensure that the lord of Chaos does not escape!"

Megatron charged his cannon, and fired.

Lauren shouted, being on the receiving end of that blast, and falling off of the Warden.

Knockout chuckled, "Ooh-hoo-hoo, I bet that hurt."

Blaster spun around, and hit the decepticon, "And how'd that one feel?"

Knockout growled, drawing his saw, "Allow me to demonstrate!"

Optimus jumped over to Lauren, disoriented, and picked her up, as the bridge opened, "Lauren, can you hear me?"

"Tell… Megatron-to stop… helping next time," Lauren whispered.

The Warden appeared behind Knockout, "Deletion commencing!"

Blaster gasped, "Watch out, Blowout!" he shoved the decepticon out of the way, before the Warden grabbed Blaster, and in a flash of light… the autobots was gone.

"Blaster!" shouted Optimus. "Megatron, through the bridge, now!"

"I do not take orders from you, Optimus Prime!" Megatron growled.

Knockout was then deleted.

Megatron blinked, then quickly made through the portal, and Optimus followed, carrying his companion.

Upon making it to the other side, Optimus found that they were outside the twelfth. Taking a moment, he walked over to the gate, and propped Lauren against the gate, before examining her status.

"Leave the human, she is of no consequence either," Megatron growled.

"Had you simply refrained from attacking, you would not have hit her," Optimus replied with hostility, "She is recovering quickly enough though."

"Agh-fine," Megatron growled, with a huff.

"Speaking of recovery, Megatron." Optimus stood, and glared, "What-were you-doing to her?" he demanded.

Megatron chuckled, "Oh-you mean my little tests? Hm-hm… afraid I discovered a new aspect between the girl and yourself?"

"I am aware you know that Lauren and I are connected now, but do you know how-or why?" Optimus questioned.

Megatron shrugged, "That-I will leave for Shockwave to discover."

"You remain set on her capture?" Optimus asked.

"Optimus, please… never have you been this-vulnerable. I have seen how you react to any trouble that befalls your beloved 'Lauren'; your favorite human, and it brings me the greatest satisfaction to realize not only does your pet have the potential to harness Unicron's power, but also that you, a noble Prime, are connected to that weak little insect," Megatron laughed, "Meaning you, Optimus, are more vulnerable than ever."

Optimus glared at his nemesis, huffing to control his own stirring emotions.

"As long as she lives, I will control-you," Megatron concluded, optics flaring.


Blaster gasped, coming to with a start, and sat up.

Rachet turned, "Blaster? What happened?"

Blaster felt himself, to make sure he was still alive, and still gasping of fright, he looked to the autobots medic, "Agh… m'head… I made the mistake of tryin' to help a decepticon punk." He looked past Rachet, "How is Princess from out here?"

"Let us worry about her," Perceptor ordered from his right, and laid him back down, "My scans are showing intense stress on your neuro-processor, and motherboard functions, not to mention you blew a fuse."

"What? But I feel fine," Blaster stated.

"That is because I repaired your fuse," Perceptor explained, "Just lay back, and stay."

"No way, not when my girlfriend is stuck with that monster," Blaster stated.

Perceptor rolled his optics, "Optimus is with her, just stay down, and recover."

"Frag that!" growled Blaster, rolling off the table, and was surprise when he hit the ground, "OOF!" But he jumped right back up, and stood beside the table where Rachet had Lauren, "How is she, doc?"


Lauren opened her optics, and in moments was on her boots, and walked over to the rising altercation between Optimus and Megatron, "Let's keep our heads… as you previously advised, Optimus…"

"Listen to your pet, Prime," Megatron dared.

Optimus exhaled, and turned from the lord of the decepticons.

"As I said, Optimus. You are most vulnerable," Megatron added.

"Let us attempt to get along, and not shoot one another in the back anymore, shall we, lord Megatron?" Lauren asked.

Megatron smiled, Lord Megatron now is it, little-human?

Optimus looked back to  Lauren, concerned, and fearing her words, 'Lord Megatron', Lauren? What are you saying?

Lauren opened the gates, and stepped through, when everything became dark. Her cybertronian form reverted into her humanized self, and she looked herself over, with disappointment. Lauren thought to transform… but it was no use-she was only human. Even her eyes were organic again.

The dark was piercing into her once more as it had done so many times before… when Optimus had driven into the ocean, when Megatron had kidnapped her after she saved Optimus… she had forgotten the loneliness of the dark.

Optimus proceeded in, followed by Megatron… and then there were three.

"You fear the darkness?" Megatron snickered, "So childish, even for you, little-human."

Lauren shrugged, "And so I do. We all have small fears, for example, you were slightly startled by the fact that here-even in this form, I rival you, and am the size of a cybertronian." She walked over to him, "All of our fears will be revealed, my dear lord Megatron."

Megatron bent down closer, and brought his right hand to her left cheek, "I can't wait to get started."

Optimus shoved Megatron away, "Don't you touch her… ever again."

Megatron chuckled, walking forward, "As you wish."

"I mean it, Megatro--!"

Lauren gasped, after Optimus vanished, "Optimus!" She ran to where he had vanished.

"Ah-ha… another fear… losing your precious master," Megatron chuckled, walking back over to her from behind.

Lauren was in shock… she could not even sense Optimus's presence.

Megatron placed a hand on her head, and patted the girl, "Do not fear, little-human… I am certain he would never leave you."

Lauren shivered, "Get away from me—"

Megatron pulled her around to face him, and smiled, "Why should I… you are my pet, remember? I was your master, and I will be again; I assure you." He held her by her shoulders, firmly.

"Let-me-go," Lauren whispered.

Megatron lifted her off of her feet, and closer to his face, "You are mine."

Optimus, try as he might, could only watch, as Megatron held his human… daughter. This was a great fear that continued to plague him… not being able to help her. Optimus turned away from the sight, and chose to walk on, then he found himself facing the decepticon femme. "Who are you?" Optimus asked.

"You do not yet know this, but I, Optimus Prime, am your greatest fear," she replied.

"And what is your name?" he asked.

She chuckled, "Oh, all in good time, Optimus. Time and time again you waited for me, only now do I realize the true nature of the connection we share."

"What are you talking about?" asked Optimus.

She appeared right before him, "My dear, dear friend, Optimus. You will soon realize the nature of eternity."

"You speak as if you know me," Optimus stated.

"Oh, I know you, I know all of you, some say that the third time is a charm. This will truly test that statement, of humanity."

Lauren walked further into the void, Megatron in two. He had been growing more and more weak for some reason. She looked back at him, over and over again, until his collapsed, shaking. Lauren stopped, and walked back over to him, before pulling him up, putting his right arm over her shoulders, and dragged him.

"Heh-heh-heh—see? You are my pet… my loyal little human," Megatron chuckled.

Lauren ignored his attempts to provoke her.

"You do not deny it either," he then stated.

Purple flames flared around them, and dark purple eyes formed.

Megatron gaped, "Unicron…"

Lauren too froze, "Dear Primus… he's a lot scarier than I thought." She hook her head, "We must press on," she said, clenching her eyes shut, "It is an illusion… just an illusion."


Upon exiting the gate, Megatron had instantly recovered, while Lauren was the one to then collapse. The lord of the decepticons stood, to see scars covering her human body, purple in color, and emanating with the essence of the lord of Chaos. Megatron took a step back, hearing the snarl with every breath she took.

She laughed devilishly, and deeply, "Ha-ha-HAAA!" Lauren stood, eyes the color of dark energon, with black fang protruding from her lips as she smiled, "We will see who falls… onward, lord Megatron?"

Megatron glared at the human, "You do not wish to wait for Optimus Prime?"

Lauren appeared before him, "I did not mean go on to the final level… I meant onward to your destruction!"

Megatron dodged her blade-like hand, and jumped away, when she appeared behind him, and with a single curve of her hand, he fell. "H-how are you doing this?! We are no longer in the realm of fears!"

Lauren stepped over her, "No… but we seem to share something you and I, lord Megatron. We share one another's greatest fear."

Megatron gaped, optics narrowing, before there was a purple flash, and nothing more.


Optimus stumbled through the gate, and upon the other side, he found Lauren and Megatron… both passed out for some reason. He rushed over to Lauren, and took her into his arms, "Lauren? Lauren, can you hear me?"

She looked normal, save the fact that she was a human the size of a cybertronian by his perspective… then her eyes opened, revealing bright purple eyes.

Optimus paused, fear returning.

"What is wrong?" Lauren asked.

"N-nothing," Optimus whispered.

Megatron came to, and upon the return of his senses, he jumped up, scrambling away from Optimus and Lauren, "Keep that thing away from me, Prime!"

Optimus blinked,  "What do you mean?"

"That thing, you tread an oh so dangerous path, harboring that demon!"

Optimus was stunned… he had never seen Megatron so hysterical. The Prime helped Lauren to her feet.

"What is he talking about?" Lauren asked, looking to Optimus. The girl stepped towards Megatron.

Megatron aimed his cannon at her, "Stay-BACK!"

Lauren turned to Optimus, "Few things frighten Megatron… what is wrong now? Why does he fear me?"

"I do not fear you, little-human! But there is something very-very wrong with you!"

Optimus stepped before Lauren, "That is enough, Megatron… let us end this."

Megatron growled, "Just keep that thing away from me!" The lord of the decepticons entered the final gate.

Optimus faced Lauren once more, "Pay no heed to Megatron's words, we both know that his actions have twisted his own mind… are you alright?"

"I'm fine, save the fact I don't even remember escaping the last level. It's like a nightmare running ragged in the delicate of my mind… I've felt like something is missing inside of me for a long time, Optimus… now-I feel like the culmination of that absence is upon me," Lauren whispered, looking at him.

Optimus exhaled, with a weary expression, "Ignore it, Lauren, it isn't what you think."

"Then tell me, Optimus… why should I believe you, or even trust you-when you refuse to trust that what I do, I do it for a purpose, for the benefit of others?" Lauren questioned.

Optimus paused, and looked down, unable to answer.

Lauren sighed, then walked through the final gate. On the other side there was a vast room, with a single light glowing purple. Upon stepping into the light, Lauren gasped, falling to her knees, and holding her head, "Agh-KILLER! Where are you?!"

She appeared at the opposite end of the light, and chuckled, "You called?"

"What have you done to me?!" Lauren shouted.

Killer raised her hand, lifting the human girl from the ground, and suspending her in the air close before her, "Enhanced your change, my human. You will form so much more quickly now that his might's essence, his very presence has been dramatically increased!" she declared.

Lauren looked up at her, grimacing, "What change are you talking about?!"

Killer paused, "You mean Prime has not disclosed to you your—?"

Optimus slammed into the femme, and stood protectively over Lauren after she had dropped, "I do not know who you are, but you may not harm my… friend! Warden, the source of Unicron's infection has been found!"

The Warden appeared, and scanned.

"That femme is the catalyst!" he shouted.

"Hello, my dear old friend, Warden," Killer grinned, "Go ahead-scan me… I do not bear what you seek."

The Warden looked at Megatron, the Optimus, then fell to Lauren, and his form became red, "Virus detected! Anomaly designate: human will be deleted!"

Lauren shoved herself up, "Anomally? I am Terra Prime!"

"Statements incorrect. Terra Prime is a Prime, you are an extraterrestrial form of life. You will be deleted!"

Lauren swallowed hard… she still didn't know what being deleted entailed.

"You won't be deleting anyone, Warden," purred Killer, Prisoner 0. "I, Prisoner Zero, shall delete you!"

The Warden turned to her, becoming blue again, "Your destruction will be the result of the collision of our powers."

"Unlikely," she replied, sending a beam of purple from her right hand, aimed at the Warden. The Warden sent a beam of bright blue in turn… and despite the ancient program's experience with his tenants. This was the day he fell prey to the power of chaos.

After the fall, Killer walked over to the pile of electronic code, and kicked the glowing particles.

Optimus and Lauren glanced at one another, neither of them knew exactly who this new decepticon was to the playing field… but they knew that she was going to be trouble. "I have a bad feeling about this."

She appeared before Megatron, and took his left hand, "Shall I release you, my lord?"

Megatron eyed her, "Who are you, servant?"

Prisoner Zero smiled, "As you have just stated, I am a servant… and I shall release you. I have that power, and it is yours to wield through me."

"Then do so," commanded Megatron.

"Megatron," called Optimus, preparing to depart with Lauren as well, "Our conflict is far from over."

"Well said, Optimus… and I will be seeing your human-sooner than you can believe," Megatron warned, before the decepticons vanished.

Optimus sighed, then looked over to Lauren kneeling beside the fragments of code.

"I don't know who she is, but she somehow tricked the systems into believing she is a Prime… that is the only way for her to have been able to escape as she did with Megatron," Lauren murmured, combing through the data.

Optimus said nothing.

"That Prisoner 0… she is someone very-very powerful, Optimus. I know not who she is, nor her motives, but I've seen her before," Lauren whispered, examining the remains.

"Seen her before? When?" Optimus asked, walking over to Lauren.

"You should know… it was in my nightmares, she killed you and Megatron both, she is very powerful, and I fear for our future," Lauren then stood, "Weren't you investigating my nightmares?"

"I-was," Optimus muttered, "But this I had not seen."

Lauren shrugged, "It matters not then." She was about to turn, when Optimus stopped her, and turned the girl to him.

He kept his hands on her shoulders, "Lauren, look at me," Optimus whispered. "I know that looking in on your dreams was wrong… I know that… and I-I wish I could tell you the reason-I have been looking…"

Lauren looked at the Prime, startled… his hands trembled on her shoulders, What is this? Why is Optimus so… emotional? I am feeling anger, fear, and sorrow from him…

He stared at her with such intense concern, "I-I wish so much that I could tell you… Lauren, you-have to understand-and I only-I… I meant to answer your question earlier…"

"Question?" Lauren asked.

"Lauren, I do love you, you are like my very own… child, my daughter. I would never try to harm you, nor purposefully hurt your feelings," Optimus explained.

Lauren remained staring at him, emotionless, but began thinking…

"Lauren-at the moment I can not read your mind? What are you--?"

Lauren sniffed, gulping, "I-uhm… love you too, Optimus… I just don't know what to-I don't know how to…"

Optimus waited…

Lauren's tears flooded from their ducts, and she covered her eyes, "I don't want to feel the hurt! I love you so much, Optimus, but it feels like no matter what I do, we are always going to be in conflict, and I don't know why!"

Optimus placed his arms around Lauren, and held her close, "I'm so sorry, Lauren… I don't care if we will always be in conflict, because there is no force in this world or the other that can stop us from becoming… from being one."

"But why does it have to hurt like this?!" Lauren cried.

"Because that is the nature of love, Lauren… it is not only humans… even we cybertronians hurt those we love most. It is because in our sparks, we know that the other will always love us in turn, no matter what happens. That is true love, Lauren… and no matter what befalls us, I will always love you," Optimus explained. This would most likely be the last time their sizes would be almost the same, and it was strange, but Optimus chose to take this moment to hold her in his arms, his only progeny.

As she sobbed, she hugged Optimus back, Lauren was filled with so much, it hurt her to think-it was so scary, after experiencing the control of a Prime… now the emotions had rushed in with a vengeance… she leaned her head into his chest plate, and he touched her head, gently. Lauren knew that even though the Prime was attempting to leash his emotions, they were ravaging through her… anger-but at what, fear-what was there to fear, sorrow-why was Optimus so sad? These emotions were well beyond what she had previously felt through Optimus in regards to emotions from the war… this was so much deeper, and Lauren then promised within her heart, that she would do the best she could to understand, and trust him. There was so much more going on than she could see, and the awareness became painful, as Lauren realized there truly was more here, than meets the eye. She held Optimus tighter, "I wish you were my dad, Optimus… I wish there were more like you in the world. No matter what happens… I'll do my best to-to trust you better… I love you too, Optimus… until all are one."

"Until we are one, Lauren…" he replied.