"My Ladyship, Autobots have attacked our mines!"

The drone was frantic as he approached me, an interesting view as I sat on the throne.

"Which one?" I asked calmly.

"Pardon?"

"Which, one?" I repeated, slowly, understanding why he was taken aback by my response.

"Th-the closest to the equator... most had already been transferred..."

"What percentage," I sighed, "I've said it one, I've said it a hundred times give me numbers not mere words."

So many smart drones, vehicons miners and seekers alike, so much stupidity.

"M-more than 90%..."

"Let them have it, and call back the troops along with the mining tools. We lost enough during the last incident." I waved it off, looking past the vehicon as Soundwave came through the automatic doors.

"B-but the energon! A-and the Autobots are prone to any attack! Optimus Prime himself is leading the attack at this moment!" he argued, and I stared at him with bored optics as he ranted. By now Shockwave would have silenced him, Megatron would have shot him before he finished his first sentence. But me? I take pleasure in listening to their arguments, knowing that I have a method to my madness, and that of they opposed to strongly for my liking, Predaking would make easy work of them. Said Predacon stood at the side of the throne, and glared down at the vehicon, about to tear him apart, but I held up a servo, and sat forward in the giant throne.

"The Prime himself you say? Then they have no chance what-so-ever," I deadpanned, "Soundwave, sine he won't do it, please call a retreat to the attacked mine," I looked back to the vehicon, "You will go and make sure every bit of equipment is brought back." Waving him off, the vehicon bowed hurriedly before leaving through a groundridge, courtesy of Soundwave.

"~Beautifully handled~" Soundwave complimented with a recording of Shockwave, my scientist had said it once before, and it basically became the silent mech's thing.

"It's not done without an amount of hesitation," I admitted, knowing Soundwave can keep a secret, "For every moment I'm in command their hate for me grows."

"You fear mutiny?" Predaking asked, and I had to sit back in order to see him properly.

"I can bet even Megatron had feared mutiny once, but that kind of dilemma is easily handled. No, I fear I may lose who I sit in this throne for."

"~Why the drones, Lord Megatron?~"

It was a recording of a very old conversation between Starscream and Megatron, way before Cybertron had gone dark.

"~They are loyal,~" came Megatron's explanation, "~And will follow a single entity for as long as that leader's goal is upheld, even in their absence.~"

To those who wouldn't understand, this would have sounded like a warning, but it wasn't even close. This was a compliment from the silent mech, one that made me smile, and nod in thanks. He had complimented me on my loyalty to Shockwave, and how my first thought were not of myself when it came to losing the allegiance of my fellow drones, but of them going after Shockwave. I couldn't bare losing him, not now, not ever, and I will go to any length to ensure his safety.

It wasn't a few moment later when the same vehicon came bursting through the door. How could I tell? Same as all vehicon drones can. Whether we like it or not, we're connected, much like the Seeker's are. It's a natural intellect.

"All machinery and som- I mean 10% of what was left of the energon has been extracted!"

"Well done," I praised the mech as he dropped his salute, "You are dismissed."

He left with a bow and I sighed as the silence settled.

The tranquility was nice compared to the always busy, always running, always overwhelming pace of Megatron's rule. Though this pace wouldn't last long, I knew, because soon we would put a rather risky plan into action.

"Everything is in order?" I asked the silent mech as I stood, my destination being past the door to where my scientist is guaranteed to be.

"~Everything's in working order~" Came the recording of Knockout.

I nodded, walking briskly past drones, vehicons, miners and seekers alike. I had learned that no amount of friendly gestures, or kind comments will win their favor, not even the fair treatment I offer will sway them. Allowing the Autobots to know of the femme ranks will forever mark me as untrustworthy, a failure, someone to be weeded out and discharged as a long term punishment. I don't know what else they would do, but I shiver at the thought.

"(Y/D), your core temperature is dropping," Predaking interrupted my thoughts, and I was glad he did.

"Thank you," I nodded, and allowed my core to warm itself back up before I entered the lab, finding Shockwave trying to further the Synth-En project, but I knew we had already hit a dead end.

"How was commanding the ship?" he asked, and I sighed, the door behind me shutting so that the two mechs who followed were no longer able to see or hear us. Of course, Soundwave could if he wanted to, but I doubt he would.

"The others are still having trouble adjusting to the leadership style, as well as the expectations."

"That is to be expected."

"Perhaps but I know they're capable of acting and doing so much better than they are!"

Shockwave merely nodded as he focused mainly on the Synth-En formula on the screen.

"If only I hadn't let the Autobots know about us femmes," I sighed once more, sitting on the medical berth, "I might be able to properly lead them."

There was a long pause as Shockwave tapped a digit to the metal counter, a habit rather unlike him, but who knows what goes on in that processor of his. Not even I do.

"You make it sound as if it is your fault you were captured."

"Well, I was the one who fell unconscious." I noted.

"Perhaps, but you did not leave yourself behind, or force yourself to work over your physical limit," I knew his argument was firm, but I still felt guilty, "Those are Starscream's own mistakes."

"But if I was stronger that wouldn't have happened."

"If you were stronger, you wouldn't be unique," the cyclops finally turned around to look at me, and I saw his optic flare with an amount of frustration toward me, most likely tired of me always trying to defend those who would never do the same for me, "You would not have the strength unique to you."

He came close enough to caress my cheekplate, and I leaned into his always gentle touch, closing my optics to further focus on the sensation, feeling a pang of sadness as his servo left my cheekplate, but it fell to hold my own, and I looked to him oddly as he brought it up to cover my spark,the both of us feeling it's unsteady, hesitant rhythm go a bit faster as he looked back to my confused faceplate.

"Your spark may not be physically strong, but it has gone through terror, uncertainty, worry, longing and even the disconnection of a bond."

At this I looked down, not wanting to remember the blackened, cold and empty part of me that always seems to loom, but he wouldn't let me ignore the topic he himself brought up as he made me look back to him.

"Even through the fear of backlash from your fellow vehicons, you still lead them, though they hate you for it."

He placed his canon on the berth by my side so I could not escape, as was my plan, and I noticed to late of the close proximity of his bright glowing optic.

"You don't often show your fear," he stated, as if he were analyzing one of his experiments, calculating and blunt, "Yet the nightmares shake you awake. You're terrified."

I felt my breath hitch as he inched closer. Was this fear as well, or something else?

"And still you press on. That is the kind of strength you have, unique only to you, like no one else I have ever come to analyze."

"Analyze?" I felt my breath come back, though it was shaky, and my raging cooling fans only made me even more flustered, "That makes me sound like some experiment."

He backed away and I found that I missed his closeness, however flustered or cornered I may have been.

"My apologies," Shockwave muttered, and began to take his servo from mine, which had stayed near my now slowing spark, though it's pulse was still rapid, and in slight pain as it demanded a bond we were both uncertain of.

"No," I locked my hold n his servo, which resulted in a few scratches on my armor, but I didn't care, "Don't apologize... for once... I don't quite mind it."