Sideswipe was always reluctant to do any kind of chores that had to do with maintenance, monitor duty and writing reports. However, he was always willing to make all the arrangements for a celebration to be remembered, and this time wasn't an exception. In fact, everything was ready the very next night after the battle. And so, after an uneventful, Decepticon-free day, almost all the Autobots were gathered in the common room, enjoying the music and their energon. Even the Autobots who had gotten injured were there after finally getting discharged from Ratchet's care, laughing and having a good time along with their friends.

Faera, on the other hand, looked very much like a fish out of water. She sat upright on her seat, her eyes wide-open and looking every which way in an attempt to grasp everything that was going on around her.

"You okay?" Bumblebee asked. He was sitting across from her and he had noticed her restlessness.

Faera faced him, blinking. "What?" she said loudly, trying to be heard over the music.

Understanding what the problem was, Bumblebee tried again, making sure she read his lip components. "I asked if you're okay."

"Oh," she mouthed, and she cast a brief glance around. "Yes, I think so."

"It's the music, isn't it?" Gears said, and he looked in Blaster's direction. The boombox was sitting on a small pedestal and doing what he liked best: blasting his music. "I told you it was too loud!"

Blaster tilted his head, pointed at his audios and shrugged, something that made Gears huff.

"My point exactly," he muttered.

"I'll live, Gears; it's fine," Faera said, smiling a bit. "This is nothing compared to the Eckoans."

"Eckoans?" Perceptor asked; he couldn't help but feel intrigued at the mention of the name.

Sunstreaker groaned, realising that Perceptor was about to let his curiosity run away with him. "Here we go…"

"They were nasty, I can tell you that," Faera answered, wincing at the memory. "Take Blaster's music, multiply it by ten, and you might get an idea on what their shrieks were like."

"That explains why you weren't stunned when I activated my woofers back in Santorini," Jazz said at that moment, a tray with energon cubes in his hands. "Here are your drinks, folks!" he added, and he started handing out the cubes to everyone around.

"Thanks, Jazz. You're a lifesaver," Tracks said, taking a cube.

Jazz just grinned and sat next to Faera, handing her a cube as well. Faera raised an eyebrow and regarded the saboteur in a perplexed manner.

"I figured you might want to try some," Jazz explained. "Bottoms up."

"Okay… Sure." Faera picked up the cube, yet she still kept looking at it confused.

"Just do it like this," Bumblebee said, wishing to help out. He held up his own cube, placed his lip components on the rim and tilted it just enough to have a sip.

Faera watched Bumblebee in fascination, then mirrored the minibot's actions to a tee. However, instead of having a small sip, she managed to down the whole content in a single gulp. All the Autobots at the table stared at her agape, something that made Faera quite self-conscious.

"Did I do it wrong?" she asked.

"Nah," Sideswipe said, grinning once more. "Just don't do that in front of Ironhide."

She frowned. "Why?"

"He'll marry you," Sunstreaker replied, his lips tugging to a smirk.

"If Chromia lets him live that long," Tracks added with a snigger.

Everyone laughed at that. Faera, however, leaned close to Bumblebee and Jazz in a confidential manner.

"So I suppose Chromia is…?" Her voice trailed off, trying to find the appropriate term.

"You got it. Ironhide's bondmate," Bumblebee answered.

"Ah." Faera shook her head. "I'll have to start keeping track on who's who," she commented.

"No sweat, girl; I'll fill you in in no time," Jazz said with a reassuring grin, patting her shoulder. "Speakin' of which, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Oh?"

Jazz sipped some of his energon. "Have you considered changin' lodgings? You don't have to stay in the crater forever, you know."

"Jazz is right. You're officially an Autobot now," Bumblebee said. "You don't have to separate yourself from the rest of us."

"I see your point," Faera said in a musing tone. "Nevertheless, I think I should stay in the crater. I heard that Red Alert is worried about spies coming through there."

"You thinkin' of standin' guard?" Jazz asked, raising an optic ridge.

"I'm comfortable there, and I'm a light sleeper," she replied. "I might as well help out."

Jazz smiled, accepting her reasoning. "Okay, I hear you. But if we ever install cameras there, you move to a dorm. Understood?" he said in his best commanding voice, even though his tease was still audible.

Faera's eyes shone in mirth. "Yes, Sir."

With that, it seemed like the matter was settled. Jazz held up his energon cube in a cheers motion and he drank some more of the luminescent liquid. Just then, however, another song started, and Jazz sat up at once.

"Blaster, you know my tastes," he said to no one in particular, and he looked at Bumblebee. "Shall we hit the dance floor, buddy?"

"Right behind you!" the minibot declared, following Jazz to the centre of the room. Faera watched them curiously, and she even caught sight of more Autobot gathering to the centre of the room.

"What's happening?" she asked Perceptor; she wasn't sure what to make of things.

"They're dancing," Perceptor replied. "Have you ever tried it?"

"Well, I know how... sort of," Faera said. "I'm not familiar with that kind of dance though," she added, pointing at the Autobots who were dancing to the rhythm of the latest Earthen hit.

"I see." After considering matters for a moment, Perceptor stood up and extended his hand to her. "I'm not proficient in it myself, admittedly. Nevertheless, would you care to join me?"

Faera looked at Perceptor's hand for a few moments, uncertain. In the end, however, she stood up.

The Autobots that were still at the table clapped at the sight.

"Whoo hoo! Way to go, Perceptor!" Sideswipe declared.

"Show her what you're made of!" Tracks added.

"And try not to step on each other!" Sunstreaker deadpanned.

Perceptor just chuckled in an embarrassed manner, then guided the Sadjen amid the dancing Autobots.

It was late at night when Starscream slipped out of his dorm and headed for Hook's workshop. As second-in-command, he had access to all the rooms inside the Nemesis, something that proved very handy at the moment. The last thing he wished was to explain himself to the Constructicon. What he wanted to do was his concern alone.

The workshop was empty, just as Starscream had suspected. More importantly, the raw materials he had been looking for were in plain sight, making things almost too easy for him. He would replace his missing electrum blade in no time at all, and Ebon would be once more under his absolute control and mercy.

His plan to overthrow Megatron was salvaged. After all those times that his plans had failed, this was certainly a welcome change.

"Report, Teletraan-I," Optimus said, standing in front of the main monitor in the control room. "Were there any Decepticons in sight??"

"Negative, Optimus Prime. No Decepticon activity detected."

"Very well. Remain on standby and set off the alarm at 08:00 hours. Cosmos, Powerglide, Hoist, Skids and Huffer will be on the first shift."

"Order acknowledged. Set on standby," With that, Teletraan-I's lights dimmed.

That, Optimus supposed, was his cue to retire to his dorm. He would have a long day tomorrow, and he needed all the rest he could get.

He was still on his way there when he noticed that the light in the common room was on. Optimus had to admit that he hadn't expected that; the celebration was over a while ago, and the Autobot leader was sure that all his subordinates had already gone to recharge. Apparently, there was still someone awake.

Sure enough, Faera was still inside, sitting quietly on the couch. Her head was bowed, and she was looking thoughtfully at an electrum knife in her hands.

"Faera?"

She looked up, hardly surprised; she had probably heard Optimus's footsteps. "Starscream had this," she said, answering the Autobot leader's questioning look. "He was ready to use it on me, but Ebon objected."

Optimus frowned, concerned. "Can that knife kill you?"

"If my teeth and claws don't deal with its wielder first, sure," she replied, shrugging a bit. "Life is a constant battle with death, Optimus. Sadjens just learned to put up damn good fights. At least… they should." She paused for a moment, feeling the golden-coloured blade with light fingers. "The energy magnet works."

"Yes, I know," Optimus said, sitting next to her. "Jazz also told me about the nitroglycerine. It looks like Starscream made sure Ebon would be untouchable."

Faera's lips tugged to a small, sad smile. "Not quite."

Optimus faced her, perplexed, but she continued on.

"When a Sadjen dies, their body turns to ash and crumbles, never to be seen again. In a way… they cease to exist."

It was then that things became clear to Optimus. The nitroglycerine-filled spikes would become harmless if the very object they were latched onto vanished. But, that also meant that Ebon would have to…

"I see," he said softly. "You now have a reason to kill him."

"And I despise the Decepticons all the more for it," she said, hands clenching the blade tightly.

The Autobot leader couldn't help but feel guilty. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Her features softened, the spark of anger extinguished just as quickly as it had ignited. "I know. But something tells me it would have happened anyway." In the next moment, she clasped her hand in Optimus's, locking her eyes on his optics. "That's why I want to ask a favour of you."

"Tell me," Optimus said.

She offered him the electrum blade. "If anything happens to me while Ebon is still alive… use it."

Optimus felt his optics widening in shock. "Don't think like that!"

"Someone will have to do it if I don't succeed, and you'll be merciful enough to make it quick," Faera retorted. She shut her eyes, still offering the blade. "Don't force me to beg you."

Optimus didn't want that, of course. If anything, it made him realise how important this was to Faera. So, finally relenting, he took the knife and placed it into subspace.

"As you wish."

She sighed, clearly relieved. "Thank you."

He didn't answer. He just squeezed her hand gently and stayed with her, the silence of the room surrounding them both.

THE END.

A/n: Yup, that's it for now. As some readers have probably guessed by now, I intend to make this an ongoing series. I've already made a draft for the second sequel, although it will be a while before I start really working on it. So many plot bunnies, so little time… *sigh*