The girl looked at herself in the reflective surface off the panel about twice her height. It wasn’t a perfect reflection, but it let her know that nothing had visible changed after Shockwave’s last experiment on her. She wondered what he had done. He had cut her open three days ago. Normally he would have told her by now. So, whatever he was doing to her this time wasn’t done yet. She had to contain a shudder. That meant he was going to cut her open again. Soon, unless she missed her bet. She shuddered but couldn’t stop it this time. Every time her experimented on her it hurt for days afterwards. She wished it would stop. She knew it wouldn’t until he was bored with her. Or she was dead.

“Little Bit.” Her head swiveled in the direction the voice was coming from, “Come here.

She didn’t dare disobey. Shockwave only called her that when he was in a good mood. She didn’t want to put him in a bad mood. She raced across the floor towards the main panel where she could see the Decepticon scientist. With an almost flawless ease she took a hold of part of the console. The outer casing was made of panels. The grooves allowed her to climb up to a level where Shockwave could see her. She stood where he knew he wanted her. He wasn’t looking in her direction, so she snapped her fingers just once. He turned to pierce her with his lone eye.

He hissed at her, “Ah Little Bit, how are you feeling?”

She had no vocal cords. As such she couldn’t speak. She used a code Shockwave developed to communicate. It involved touching her thumb to her other fingertips and required both hands to use. Different combinations equaled different letters in the current language of Cybertron. Every time her right thumb hit her right pinky equaled a new symbol. Twice meant a new word and three times meant a new sentence. She was adept at it. It was almost a quick as being vocal.

Using this method, she told him, <I’m fine Sir. I feel great.>

That was a lie. Her abdomen still hurt from the time three days ago. However, it was the only answer that would keep him from backhanding her across the room. She couldn’t break bones because of the time he infused her bones with living metal as she was just learning to walk but coughing up blood was not her idea of a good time. So, she lied.

He nodded, “That’s good.” He spoke in Cybertronian, “Eat something.” He dropped a collection of fruit in front of her, “Then we begin the next phase.”

She wanted to ask what the next phase was. She didn’t dare. He decided that it was happening today. So, if she did something to put him in a bad mood, he would backhand her, not let her eat, and still do something terrible to her. That was not how she wanted to spend her day. So instead she dropped to the console to sit cross legged. Shockwave waited to see her take the first bite of apple before turning away. He moved to the other side of the room where he kept his table and tools for experimenting on her. It was clean. He always kept it clean. The silver colored tools blinking at her mockingly. She quickly looked away.

Instead she focused on eating the pile of fruit that was in front of her. It wasn’t much, but she wanted more. She was always hungry. She was always tired. She was always hurting. She just wanted to be left alone, or better yet, to get out of Shockwave’s laboratory. There were so many problems with that though. For one thing, she didn’t even know where the laboratory was located. She knew that she came from a planet called Earth, but for all that she knew she wasn’t anywhere near that planet. She didn’t think she was on a spaceship, but she wasn’t sure. She didn’t even know if there was oxygen outside of the lab. It would suck to get outside and then promptly die. At least she would die outside. Then again, she didn’t even know where outside was. She never left this room. Shockwave liked to keep her contained.

She figured she was close to Earth. Decepticon drones would come form Earth to get repairs or bring news. She still didn’t know how far away it was. She didn’t think she could get there on her own, and she doubted any of the Decepticons would help her. So, for all intents she was suck in this terrible place and this terrible life. She almost wished Megatron would visit again. Shockwave would ignore her for days when those visits happened. They were rare though. Besides, she never liked the way the Decepticon leader looked at her. She looked down and the collection of seeds and steams. It seemed she had finished eating. It wouldn’t be long before Shockwave came over. She hoped he drugged her. He probably wouldn’t.

The task seemed a lot easier when she didn’t have Megatron breathing down her neck for the umpteenth time, this cycle. As lon she had been on this very moon, away from the planet that they called ‘Earth’, Raiza wasn’t too sure when it would be the right time for her to send the latest news for Optimus Prime. You may be wondering as to why she would do such a thing. Well, one: Being power-hungry was not really in her best interest, and two: She wanted to be done with, as soon as possible. So, she made a deal with Prime that she would gather any intel from the opposing faction, by doing an inside job, to bring the Autobots an advantage.

That was the idea: Survival, at its fullest; really to get her pesky fellow ‘Cons off her back, with the exception of her twin Knockout and Breakdown. Some would say that it was a crazy idea; it was supposed to be, as is everything else about this war. The plan was to divide and conquer; and the symbol on her chest, was her one way ticket to get there. ‘Don’t leave any evidence of a betrayal’, unless she didn’t have an idea, then she would go against that one little piece of advice, made by the Autobot leader. She couldn’t guarantee the result, but she will use her abilities to the max, if she has to, to make the goal possible.

Here she was, riding down the hallway in her vehicle form, all the way to the lab of one mad scientist in the faction. Her brother might be mad too, but Shockwave was ten-fold. And they thought she was bad as a psychotic. Transforming just in time, at the doorway of the lab, the femme smirked at the scientist before her. Time to put that persona up. “Shockwave! I was wondering where that smell of energon was coming from. More DNA testing, I presume?”, she asked the one-eyed cybertronian, as she walked across the room only to see the human girl, he had decided to keep around, for a few years.

Her vocals were that of English right now, as she considered speaking in her home-tongue, To Be For the higher-ups. She became quite fascinated with Earth’s languages.

The girl looked up as the door opened. It was Raiza, one of the femme Decepticons. She was crazy too, but not as crazy as Shockwave. It was very hard to beat Shockwave when it came to crazy. She was a different type of crazy. She was one of the few Cybertronians that the girl knew that would speak Earth languages. As such the human was always secretly glad when the femme came in. Any chance to get a connection to Earth was well received. The girl hesitantly waved at the Deception. It was safe enough since Shockwave wasn’t paying complete attention.

Shockwave spoke from where he was looking at a screen, “No. Not today at least. Today I am more interested in thy pathetic species reproductive systems.” He gestured at the human without really looking at her, “She is one of the ones that carries human young. She bleeds every so often as a result. I think I may have discovered a way to stop the bleeding.” Shockwave turned to give what the girl knew to be the scientist’s version of a menacing grin, “Won’t that be good Little Bit?”

The girl had to fight off another shudder, <Of course Sir.>

She wasn’t sure if she was lying or not. On one hand it would be good to stop bleeding all over the scientist’s laboratory without being able to stop it. She had never figured out why it had happened. There didn’t seem to be a pattern to it. On the other hand, the girl figured that it would require the taking out parts of her. As of now Shockwave hadn’t taken anything that she needed to stay alive. She could only hope that continued. Who knew? Sooner or latter he would get bored and then just take out her heart. Besides it didn’t really matter. Shockwave wanted the bleeding to stop. As such he was going to do what he had to in order to make it stop. The girl had no real way of stopping it.

Shockwave turned his attention back to his fellow Decepticon, “I start soon. Would you like to stay and watch? The girl cannot scream, but she still makes some delicious faces when she’s caught up in pain and panic.”

The human could not begin to fathom how much she didn’t want that at all. It was bad enough that Shockwave saw her at her weakest, and she knew that the Cybertronians didn’t see her as anything more than insignificant. That didn’t mean she wanted another on in the room to see her struggle with her pain and fear. Then again, like always, it didn’t matter what she wanted. The Decepticons were all so much bigger than her. The only thing she could really control was not getting squished, and even that was something in which her control was limited. If Shockwave or someone else really wanted to step on her she would already be dead.

Shockwave reached out to caress the girl’s check with one clawed finger, “What do you think Little Bit? Should Raiza stay to watch?”

She closed her eyes as her breathing became more erratic the longer Shockwaves finger touched her face, <It’s not my place to make a Decepticon’s decision for them. If she wishes to stay or if she has other things to attend to she must do as is best for her.>

If she’s was completely honest with herself, Raiza didn’t quite find the time to develop a fondness for the human race. Like any Decepticon, who has recently arrived to the planet, they were merely bugs to the eyes of the faction. However, if anybody knew her and her brother better, there was a lingering fascination, in regards to the race’s very culture. First of all, the automobiles were well-crafted, if one wanted to look good, and second, they found cinema to be quite a time-passer. She didn’t understand their style, but in some of the visionaries, she can relate to those on-screen. The way they were able to swerve emotions and drive their attention through the drama, had kept Raiza interested ever since.

The femme didn’t fully acknowledge the human girl, mainly because of Shockwave’s attention being entirely on her. Raiza made a thinking face for a second, as she thought about his offer of witnessing the pain of the specimen nearby. She didn’t leave a sign, considering that the mad scientist had his trained-eye upon her. Raiza looked down at the human, and back at the mad scientist, before making an arrogant smirk upon her face. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough time swatting but one fly?”, she asked, narrowing her optics a little, to look straight into the other’s singular one. “Shocking. Because I’m getting bored, and I’m in dire need for something to do, within the room I’ve been instructed to do my job”, she looked at the ceiling for a moment, while having to lift a finger.

“...and my senses are telling me to examine that one”, the red Decepticon pointed at the human female, with intention in her eyes. She started making her way towards her, passed the scientist, and stopping in front of the console. “Poor thing’s looking worse for wear”, she sang. “I’ll be taking her to the med-bay for a check over, if you won’t mind”, a smile formed.

The girl looked up at the femme in shock. She never left this room. It didn’t matter how much damage Shockwave had done to her. She lived in his laboratory; waiting for the next experiment and wave of pain. When Shockwave left the room, she was locked in a cage that was rapidly becoming too small for her. There was no way the scientist would allow her to leave to room or be in another Cybertronian’s care. That aside, why would the femme want to take her to the med-bay? Most Decepticon were the same. They relished seeing her in pain. She had never been checked over the way Raiza seemed to imply that she wanted to check over the human. Did the femme even know anything about human biology, because the human sure didn’t.

Shockwave countered, “Megatron gave her to me. You can have her when I’m done with her.”

Well that would be never in a million years. Did Cybertronians live that long? She knew they lived longer than humans. She just knew that the only way Shockwave would be done with her would be if she died or if he got bored. That didn’t appear to be happening anytime soon. She couldn’t keep very good track of the days, but he tended to do something to her every third time he fed her. It had been like that for a while now. Suddenly Shockwave backhanded her across the room. She didn’t break bones, but it still hurt as she landed in the corner where he tore her apart only to put her back together again. She stayed where she landed; not even daring to look up.

Shockwave spoke again as he moved to start the procedure, “My invitation to stay is still valid Raiza. Just don’t think you get to take her away.” Shockwave then loamed over her, “Let’s get started Stupid Child.”

Well now the Decepticon scientist was angry. She didn’t have time to ponder why before he was using his knife to cut into her abdomen. He wasn’t using pain killer and the pain cause her to jerk. An order to remain still was followed by a set of restraints locking her into place. She looked up at the mirrors placed in the ceiling to see Shockwave messing around with her insides. Her world had narrowed to the pain and the terrible images she could see above her. She didn’t know if the femme had stayed in the room or left. Just as she saw Shockwave pull something out of her she blacked out. She woke again as she was shoved into her too small cage.

He was still angry, “I’ll be back Stupid Child. Lord Megatron had summoned me. Be a good pet while I’m away.”

With tears running down her face the girl ran a finger over her abdomen. She didn’t know what he had done, but she hated when he took things out of her. She curled into a ball to silently weep. She just wanted it to be over. Why couldn’t it be over? What would happen if she just refused to eat or drink water? If she could do it for long enough, she knew she would die. Would Shockwave let her do that? That was the question she didn’t have an answer to.

Even when Shockwave decided to counter on her offer, the femme’s face remained blank, seemingly unaffected by the time of voice he was able to give off. She didn’t blink, but a tiny smile lingered on her lips. It was moments like these where Raiza appeared to be quite apathetic...even when the other Decepticon decided to fling the human across the room. Only when the mad scientist did turn his back, was where the red femme was able to flinch. It was a small piece of movement, only for it to disappear completely a second afterwards. “Way to be delicate with your toys, Shock-y”, she commented, almost pouting as she crossed her arms upon her chest, and leaning against the wall.

If anybody knew about the femme’s escapades on planet Earth, to the point where she can even take on a human appearance, Megatron would skin her (or in this case, peel her paint), if not, give her to the mad scientist himself, in demand to know this kind of abnormality. It’s because of this ability, was she able to know some of the biology, in regards to a human female. At the same time, there had to be a moment where she would have a “close-up encounter” with such a species. Interaction in any of Earth’s languages was a cinch, making it all-the-more-easier. On that note, it was because of this particular girl running around the cyclops’ lab, which gave her the incentive to grow curious of the planet’s society, as well as try to figure out her human form, correctly. She still wasn’t sure if it was a genetic thing, or a new function, but it was strange, all at once.

Raiza didn’t move from her spot, the whole time she had to watch Shockwave perform the daily procedure. For her own sadistic pleasures, this doesn’t even come close to her own taste. It was a lot more fun when people deserved it, and not out of hearing the agony of something so small and so innocent. Absolutely NOT her style.

After several minutes of constant noise, the cyclops finally decided to stop, and leave upon Lord Megatron’s word. The femme watched his departure, before looking back to the small cage. Revving up one of the buzzsaws attached to one of her pigtails, she sliced off the entire piece, where the door was. It was a careful cut, but quick.

The girl looked up in shock as the cage fell to pieces around her. Shockwave wouldn’t like that one little bit. It looked like the femme, Raiza had stayed to watch. Why she had cut the cage open was beyond her. The girl quickly scrambled as far bac as she could before her back ran into something. Ignoring the pain was not fun, but it was necessary in this case. She blinked the stars out of her eyes as she did her best to keep the Decepticon in view. The only reason the girl could think of for the Cybertronian to cut the cage apart was so that why she could hurt her. That was the last thing the human thought she could take.

She quickly held up a pair of shaky hands to tap out a message, <Please. Please don’t hurt me.> Tears were still falling down her silent face, <I can’t take it. Please. Just leave me alone.>

It didn’t really matter what the femme did next. Shockwave was already going to be livid when he came back and saw the destroyed cage. Even if it didn’t make sense for her destroying it, it wasn’t like she could, the scientist would still find away to blame her for it. That would certainly hurt. Maybe if she stayed in the space of the cage he wouldn’t be as mad. That was certainly a possibility. He was still going to hurt her again, and if Raiza hurt her too, she would be hurting for months.

She tapped out, <What do you want? Please just leave!>

Then a terrible thought crossed her mind. What were the odds that the femme knew what she was saying? Shockwave had taken her vocal cords so long ago that she could barely remember it. the code she used to communicate was something that Shockwave had taught her. Her tears turned to sobs as she realized she couldn’t even beg for mercy. She truly was defensive. At this point she could only hope that Shockwave didn’t hurt her too bad for this infraction. It seemed like a vain hope.

She left off trying to send a message and started to rub away silent tears. Her vison was cloudy with them, and that made it difficult to see what was going on. She wanted some clue as to what was happening next. She didn’t want to be caught off guard for any reason whatsoever; not that there was much she could do. She didn’t even come up to most Cybertronians knees. There was no way she could fight off a Decepticon. She continued to try and get further away. There was a gap between the console her cage was on and the next desk over. If she could get down it Raiza’s fingers wouldn’t be able to get her. She could hide until the femme left or Shockwave came back. How bad was that? She was waiting for Shockwave to rescue her. At least she knew what he was going to do to her. She had no clue what Raiza would do.

Raiza watched as the human tried to back away from her very presence. By far, she remembered that the last time she had visited the planet, a few years after the Decepticons appeared, the femme would remember the faces, full of confusion, shock, and/or terror, among the very same species. Even when she first landed on Earth, Raiza still comprehended their expressions, once she started upon the very terrain in her robot mode. It was the perfect time for her to take on her other form, so she didn't have to witness that same experience again.

Right now, if her gut was right, then the specimen before her, would be showing that very same scenario. She was doing something with her hands, and it came to her that it was a foreign type of communication that the scientist had managed to come up with. It was a code that Raiza was familiar with, but there were a few pieces that were not in any part of the database, back in Kaon.

Actions spoke louder than words with this one, apparently.

Raiza tried her best to make out the words that this one trying to tell her. She could only make out a few words, and by going through the language database, Raiza could translate it, only to the best of her ability. Once she watched the girl try to make a run for it, the red femme extended her pigtails upon her, so the buzzsaws could prevent her from going anywhere -- by blocking the crevice she could potentially escape through.

"Good. Now that I have your attention...", she began to say, having to get on one knee, and lean in towards the human. "...how do you feel on getting out of this hellhole, and go home? Your true home?"

The girl stared in shock as the pigtail blocked her means of escape. With terror in her eyes she turned her attention back to the femme. It seemed like the Decepticon would be getting her way after. Though the human couldn’t believe what the Cybertronian was saying. Home? This was the only home that the human had ever known. Though if she was understanding Raiza correctly the Cybertronian was talking about Earth. That gave the human pause. Could she really go to Earth? That was all she had ever wanted, but everything came with a price. She had no clue what it could be. The question was simple? Would she be willing to pay it?

Slowly the human nodded as her hands tapped out a simple message, <Please.>

The girl moved to collect what few possessions she had. There was the thin blanket that was no good at keeping out the chill. She also had a grapple that she used to get around the lab. She didn’t use it much. She had built it out of spare parts, and while Shockwave knew that she had it she didn’t like to flaunt it in front of the scientist. There was no reason to make him mad unnecessarily. The girl liked to remain mostly unharmed. So, she had tucked the grapple away; as hidden as it was going to be. If she was going to Earth, she would need it.

She scurried to the end of the counter only to stop at the edge. All of the sudden she was unsure. Should she drop to the ground? Should she climb on to the Cybertronian? The human knew that once she made a choice she wouldn’t be going back. If Shockwave got a hold of her after this, it would be the end. So, she had a choice. She could let the torture continue, or she could go with Raiza, and one way or another, it would be over. Wasn’t that all she had wanted?

She asked, <When? Now? How?> She knew the femme couldn’t understand her much, if at all, but she still had to try, <Please take me now.>

Raiza scanned the human before her, with her red and black optics, having to watch her body language suitable to that of her species, even though those very expressions were not that different upon a cybertronian. The red femme could see that she was deep in thought, as soon as she made the offer to make an escape to Earth, and return the girl to where she really belonged. If she remembered her deal with Optimus, it was to end to tension between all three factions, between Autobots, Decepticons, and Man. So, she was currently risking her own neck, in order to make that happen, even if that meant to betray her own faction.

There was a common misconception that Raiza fitted the category of a psychopath. Her level of crazy was reminiscent to that, but the only exception, was her ability to show emotion and feeling...especially for other people, besides herself. She had her fits and episodes, typical arrogance and tendencies, but she was quite tamed (sort-of).

The only benefit she was getting out of this, was the fact that she, Knockout, and Breakdown would be able to go their own way, as soon as the war ends. Of course, they had plenty of opportunities to make an escape, but then, it was Raiza, who insisted that the stability of Planet Earth was at risk, due to the effects of their race's seemingly-endless warfare. This was just another step: Helping this human escape Decepticon captivity. Even if Shockwave found her missing, the femme still had her resources, as she normally did, for her own survival.

She watched as the human started to gather her possessions, before the cybertronian was able to stand back up to her full height. Reaching out her clawed fingers, she took a firm, but careful and gentle, hold upon the girl, before making her way out of the lab. The hall was empty, for now, so she managed to create a bridge, and run her way through, closing behind her.