"I will not treat you like an experiment," Shockwave wouldn't budge on this one topic, but without this singular detail, Ratchet may suspect things.

The first time I met the Autobots, I was tortured, and called out the only designation I could come up with at the time, revealing my connection with Shockwave, as well as my identity as a femme. If he realizes this single contradiction, all may be lost.

"I realize how hard this will be, but both you and Knockout need to help him with the Synth-En project."

"How come we cannot act as if you are being forced to help?" He questioned, "The Autobot medic has mentioned more than once of your intelligence to try and insure your possible safety."

I knew of this little fact and was somewhat flattered, but give it time and he'll figure things out. Ratchet might be older than most I know, but his processor never dulled.

"Perhaps that will help for a time," I began to pace, a digit to my derma in thought. It'd be risky.

My pacing was interrupted by the gentle hold of Shockwave as he looked to me. His optic showed nothing, but I knew he was worried. This plan was risky, far more than the first part now that an Autobot is within the Nemesis walls. If he managed to call out to the Autobots, we may lose all our hard work to bring back Cybertron.

"The Synth-En project can wait for a time," he told me, making a frown appear on my faceplate. I was about to protest, but he silenced me with a digit, making me rather cross, "I have something to show you."

"An experiment?" my slight frustration was masked over by pure curiosity.

"Of sorts," he admitted.

Guiding me to the berthroom we now shared, Shockwave instructed me to lay down, to which I complied, my curiosity the only thing that distracted me from my racing spark. The scientist acquired something from a high shelf, bringing it near my neck cables. I flinched away from the device, unsure.

"I have already tested it," he assured, "It will do no harm."

Slowly, I nodded, relaxing as Shockwave added the device to my systems. There was a click, and a short sting near the sensitive wiring, causing me to flinch away once more, but the device was already adhered to my circuits. I started to sit up, but Shockwave gently pushed me back down.

"Focus on the device as you shut down." He ordered.

I was nervous, I will admit, especially not knowing what this device does. Finding that my anxieties were to much for me to be able to fall into recharge, I looked to the one opticced mech, about to say it was useless, only to watch him lie down beside me. He placed his canon by his side, gently placing his digits under my helm to cushion it. I always recharge better when he's around. Nodding my helm in thanks, Shockwave made no move as he watched me slowly fall into what I thought would be a regular recharge, focusing on the addition to my systems. Imagine my confusion when I opened my optics to see... myself...

Trying to get up, my optics began to wander, but I found that sitting up was a chore in and of itself. Looking to my servos, I found them to be flesh, just artificial. A holoform... but it's so... grey. I can see the bones in the digits and arms... What human would look so sickly? Looking down to the rest of this new form I saw a loose dress, purple like my armor, but I practically swam in it. The hem was just above the bones of my knee joints, exposing the grey flesh of my legs. My fleshy pedes were hidden by loose fitting coverings. I left them on. Was this the human equivalent of my condition?

Small steps startled me, and I looked behind, or tried to, every movement an almost impossible task. A stranger came near, his chassis wide, adorned with a purple button up shirt with red lines going down, slightly covered by a black lab coat. His black pants and shoes completed the ensemble. Looking to his faceplate, well, face, I saw his two red, human optics, set in a handsome look of worry and surprise. This stranger swiped back his black hair, dark purple streaks nearly hidden, away from his optics with one of his two fleshy servos. I tried to scoot away, but my lack of muscle mass made my efforts for nothing as he easily caught up with me, short, decent hair falling into his face once more.

"Careful," he advised, "The device adapted to your condition."

It took me a minute or two to recognize his voice.

"Sh-Shockwave?" My voice was almost non-existent.

"Of course," he answered, expression now blank.

I shook my helm... no my head.

"You're not Shockwave," it hurt to even breathe.

"Don't speak," he shook his head, "Give me a moment and I will fix this dilemma."

I didn't even nod, to tired already, and laid back down on the seemingly painful metal berth. The bones of the holoform clicked, creaked and ground against the usually comfortable berth. I don't like this. I'm weaker, stuck, a true invalid. I hate this.

A sudden tingling reverberated through the holoform, and I was able to sit up. Looking at my fleshy servos, I saw that the skin was no longer as grey and sickly, or as deathly thin. The odd human version of Shockwave came back with a seemingly worried, yet relieved expression. Before he made it to me I stood up and backed away.

"You're not Shockwave," I insisted.

"You're being illogical," he deadpanned, newfound expressions showing a mixture of exasperation and fear.

I shook my head again.

"Then why do you have two servos and two optics?" I questioned, since this was my main reason not to trust him.

"Humans naturally have them," he seemed more frustrated now than anything, "They do not vary, as they can with our kind."

Taking hesitant steps I neared him, close enough for him to take my now fleshy servo. He held it in his, and I knew it was him by his soft, gentle touch. Pulling me flush to his chassis, Shockwave enveloped me in a hug, making me smile as I buried my face into the warmth of his being. Breathing in, he smelled of chemicals and sterilizing fluids, something most would find appalling, but I couldn't get enough of his sent as I sighed. Knowing that my expression would only be of dreamy contentment, I looked up to the mech my spark had chosen. He was so tall. I think Shockwave would be the only reason I would be sad if the human race were destroyed... But -

"Why?" the question came as my brow furrowed. Neither of us were fond of the human race. They're primitive, short lived, and frankly rather gross... Also, some are sickly beyond repair, as my holoform has shown.

"I..." his human face contorted to many different expressions, soon one of anger as he tried to take control of this ability that he was not used to. Bringing my servos to caress each side of his face, his skin twitched, the feeling as unnatural as his two human optics and added servo that now hung loosely at his side, "I thought you would want to know what it... what it felt like to be properly held..."

Shaking my head, I giggled a bit as he quickly remembered that he now had two servos, and brought it to caress my side, my own loosely set on his shoulders.

"Shockwave, you're something else."

He grunted, confused, probably frustrated as well.

"I don't need to be held like any normal femme," I looked back up at him, a smile on my face, "If that were the case, I would have let Knockout have his way with me," this little fact made his face flush with the red of rage, and his gaze was threatening as his hold tightened around my waist, "Now look who's being illogical."

Feeling his grip loosen, I took hold of his human servos, palms together as I rubbed my cheek atop the smooth surface of one, the one he shouldn't have.

"Besides," my smile never left, "I think this is selfishness."

"Selfishness?" he questioned, watching as I set his servos back around my waist.

"You wanted to know what it was like to properly hold me."

Propping my arms so that my servo now played with the ends of his hair, we began to sway to the silent music that only played in our heads.

Two beings, untrue to their forms, swayed softly between two giants at peace. I, a fragile little thing. Him, a strong protector who would do anything to ensure my safety. Every femme's dream, minus one fact, but I am not like the others, I could care less about it, while it may bring butterflies to the pits of my tanks, I'm already as happy as can be.

Who needs a kiss?

Especially when they can mean so many things. Hello, I love you, be careful. Goodbye. Who would want that risk? Yes, it's still there, that singular possibility, but I don't want it said by a kiss... then why did I accept his?

It was only a brush to my cheek, then a soft breath that went against my own as we stared into each others contradictory colored optics. His a dull, yet sparky red, mine a mellow, pained blue, each holding a world all their own. At some point, I became lost in his world, and he mine, yet we were somehow able to meet in the middle as my pale, thin derma met his strong ones. A gentle caress, a soft touch, and a breathless release of each others derma that left us both in a hazy dream we didn't want to end. There was a new kind of sparkle to the red of Shockwave's optics. He brushed my cheek with the servo he shouldn't have, and I leaned into his touch.

"I can see the logic in your assumption."