Spider Striker soared through the swirling mists. "Where am I?" he asked himself. He landed. "Oh! This is a dream! Everything's black-and-white. I wonder what's gonna happen."

Suddenly, the mist cleared to reveal a girl with short hair wearing a white dress. She was also black-and-white except for her eyes which shone bright green. "Hi, Nate!" she said.

"Erica?!" Spider Striker asked in shock. Why'd she have to be here? he asked mentally.

"It's just a dream, Nate," Erica said. "Enjoy it! Take off that stupid suit. I realize you like that spider-guy, but that's a little obsessive."

"Wha?" Spider Striker said touching his face. It was fabric! He pulled off the mask that used to be his face. A mirror appeared in front of him. It was the face of Nathan Alex!

Suddenly, mist fell on top of Spider Striker/Nathan Alex. When it cleared, he was completely human, wearing a tux and holding a bouquet of flowers. His long hair was tied back in a pony tail. "I like this dream!" he said looking at himself.

Erica snapped her fingers and the black-and-white scene became a full color ball room. She walked up to Nathan and asked "May I have this dance?" Music started to play and he two started dancing. "Having fun?" Erica asked.

"The most I can remember," Nathan answered. They started to move in for a kiss. Just before their lips touched, Erica was ripped from Nathan's arms by a huge creature.

The creature dropped Erica. Nathan heard her neck snap as she hit the floor. Nathan looked at the creature at first with anger, then with fear.

The creature looked at Nathan and licked its beak. It dove at him.

Spider Striker jumped out of his bed screaming. He stuck to the ceiling and gasped for air. Man! he thought. That was the worst one yet. Why can't I have normal dreams? I mean I know this is probably supposed to prepare me for whatever, but give me a break!

Spider Striker jumped down from the ceiling. After he stood up right for two seconds, the floor disappeared. He fell. He tried to scream, but nothing came out. Actually, the scream was coming out. He just couldn't hear it. There was no sound but deafening silence.

After what seemed like an eon, Spider Striker stopped falling. He shook his head and looked around. Blackness. Nothing but silent blackness. It looked like he was floating in the middle of it.

There was a bright flash. A bright figure stood in front of Spider Striker. Spider Striker had to shield his optics. A globe formed in the figure's hand. A picture formed in the globe. It was one of Nathan Alex's parents. It changed into a picture of an old man begging in the streets. To an alien race planting crops. To an alien family teaching their child to fly. To two figures looking at globe similar to the one Spider Striker was looking at. And finally, it changed to a picture of a galaxy and shattered.

Spider Striker bolted up. He slapped himself in the face. "OW!" he shouted. "I'm awake!" He looked at his ring. "I'm really starting to hate you," he told it. It gave a flash of light that seemed to say "I didn't do it."

Spider Striker walked out of his quarters and started to walk to the training room. On the way he saw Siege in the corridor, talking to one of his guns. "How's daddy's little baby?" he asked it in a cute voice. He then looked up and saw Spider Striker staring at him. "You didn't see nothin'!" he said pointing the gun at Spider Striker's head.

"See what?" Spider Striker asked, putting his hands in the air.

"Good boy," Siege said. He turned around and went into his quarters.

Blackbird went to the training room first thing in the morning to work out. Unless she was on an assignment, Nightfox was there to watch.

Before he started, Blackbird walked up to the practice droid. He took out a laser pen and drew Spider Striker's face on it. "Okay," he said and the droid activated. It fired a laser pulse. Blackbird took out his energon saber and the blast bounced off it and hit the droid.

The droid recovered and charged at Blackbird. Blackbird impaled the droid with his saber. The droid went down and deactivated. Blackbird walked over to the droid, found the spot where he drew the face, and stabbed the face repeatedly. He continued until he heard a voice say " 'I love you too, Venom.' " Blackbird looked up and saw Spider Striker watching him.

"Heh," Blackbird said with a guilty smile. "It's not what you think...."

"What I think is that you're an incredibly sore loser and you take out your anger by pretending to kill me."

"Ok. Maybe it is what you think." The two of them heard Nightfox laughing. "And what was that about calling me 'Venom'?"

"It was from a comic book. 'Venom: Nights of Vengeance.' I was going to leave Venom out, but then it just wouldn't be right."

" 'I see.' "

"Nice job," Catsclaw said coming into the room and looking at what was left of the droid. "You do that?" she asked Blackbird.

"Yeah," Blackbird answered proudly.

"Want to fight?" she asked. Behind her, Spider Striker started to signal "No" in every way possible without actually saying it.

"Uh, sure," Blackbird answered.

The two entered the practice area. Catsclaw drew her collapsible staff and extended it to its full length. Blackbird reactivated his Energon saber and than charged. Catsclaw quickly went to the side and hit Blackbird hard with her staff as he flew by.

Blackbird rolled on the floor. He got back up just as Catsclaw came at him in beast mode. Blackbird gave a shout of surprise, but got back on the ground and kicked the panther away with both feet. The panther landed gracefully. It started pacing back and forth staring at Blackbird, growling. Blackbird held his saber ready, waiting for the attack.

The panther leaped into the air and transformed. Catsclaw came down and hit Blackbird in the head. Blackbird recovered and kicked her in the gut and sliced the staff in two. Catsclaw growled and punched Blackbird in the chest. Blackbird sailed across the ring and didn't stop until he hit the wall.

"What's going on?" Catspaw asked as she walked in the training room.

"Blackbird vs. Catsclaw!" Spider Striker answered without looking up.

"He didn't destroy any of her weapons, did he?" she asked seeing the punch to the chest.

"He sliced the staff I gave he......OW! He's dead."

" 'Look at all the tweedy birds,' " Blackbird muttered as he tried to get up. He snapped out of it when he heard Catsclaw roaring as she came at him. He activated his jets and tried to fly out of the way. It didn't work. Catsclaw grabbed his legs and tried to pull him down but couldn't so she clawed at his face. "Damn," Blackbird said. He did an aerial maneuver so when he landed, he landed on top of her back.

Catsclaw flipped Blackbird off her. He landed smoothly in front of her, but was punched repeatedly in the head like a punching bag. Catsclaw gave one final punch and Blackbird went down. I can't lose again! he thought as Catsclaw stood over him. Think, think...GOT IT! " 'F^u#ked your sister!' "

"Oh no," Catspaw said.

"He's very dead!" said Spider Striker

"W-what did you say?" Catsclaw asked in surprise.

Blackbird used the distraction to kick Catsclaw away. When she stood up Blackbird punched her in the gut and again in the face. He continued this pattern for about a minute. Gut. Face. Gut. Face.

Catsclaw went down. "You win," she said, forcing the words out.

"YES!!" Blackbird shouted. He started dancing around. " 'We came. We saw. We kicked its @$$!' 'Who's the man?' "

Blackbird was totally caught off guard when Catsclaw rammed him in the back and held him against the wall. "I'll repeat myself. What did you say?" she demanded.

"What?" Blackbird asked.

Catsclaw pushed him harder. "What did you do to my sister?"

"That?! OW! It was a joke! That's how I fight! I distract my opponent with 'physic outs'!"

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"Because if he did, he'd be dead," Nightfox and Catspaw said in unison. Catspaw glared at her sister. Catsclaw growled and reluctantly let Blackbird go. She transformed into beast mode and stalked out of the training room.

"When was the last time she took her head in for a tune up?" Blackbird asked. "Or Maximals don't do that anymore either?"

"I'm sorry," Catspaw insisted. "I've tried to make her stop this behavior, but it's in her brain module that I can't take care of myself."

"What would make her think that?" he asked.

"Not meaning to be rude, but that's none of your concern." Catspaw walked out of the room.

"Are you hurt?" Nightfox asked.

" 'Just my pride,' " Blackbird answered.

"Want me to make it better?" she asked in seductive voice.

" 'Yeah, baby!' "

As the two love birds headed to Nightfox's quarters, Spider Striker jumped down from the ceiling. They both gave a shout of surprise. "Sorry," he said, "but I've always wanted to do that." He then smacked Blackbird in the head. " 'Just as I thought. It's hallow.' "

"OW! What was that?" Blackbird asked with some anger.

"I was trying to warn you not to fight her! 'Heaven forbid you listen to me!' "

"If you're going to insult me, could you please use better dialogue. And 'you're only gonna get more wraith.' "

"Uh, guys..." Nightfox tried to interject, but they ignored her.

" 'Oh I'm so scared!' Please! Even if you came at me with me at your best it would be nothing! 'Bring it on!' "

"Alright. But remember: you asked for it. 'I'm gonna come down on you with the hammer of God.' "

"Come on, Rat Trap," Blackbird demanded. "Pay up!"

"Yeah, yeah," Rat Trap muttered. "I still don't see how you won. My plan was fool proof."

"Please. My plan was genius! I've never seen Dinobot so pissed off. And he didn't even know it was me! Besides, all you did was sneak metal spikes into his energon stew. He liked it, for Primus sake!"

Rat Trap sighed. "Pullin' slag on Chopperface ain't been the same since you got here 'cause you always beat me to the punch."

"I know. 'Doesn't it kick @$$?' Now pay up!"

Rat Trap cursed under his breathe and handed a small box to Blackbird. Blackbird gave an evil grin and walked off.

"YAAAAAAAA-HOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"

Spider Striker leaped out of his chair and bounced around. He eventually bounced his way into the command room, where everyone followed and stared at the scarlet blur. "Celebrate good times!" he sang, not caring who heard. He eventually stopped in front of Cheetor and planted a big kiss on his forehead. Spider Striker then snapped out of it and realized everyone was staring at him. "Crap," he muttered.

"Mind telling us what that was about?" Optimus asked.

"I just finished a poem I've been working on since I got here," he answered.

"A poem!?" Rat Trap exclaimed. "I forgot kid, are you male or female?" He was then smacked in the head by Rhinox.

"Well, why don't you share it with us?" Optimus suggested.

"How 'bout I don't?" Spider Striker replied.

"I'm afraid I insist," Optimus said.

Spider Striker grumbled and walked to his quarters. He then came back with a cyber pad. He stood in the center of the room, cleared his throat, and read:

"Now I Can Swing"
By Nathan Alex

I no longer wonder what it's like to swing.
Like my favorite hero, like a bird on a wing.
I no longer wonder because now I do.
I can now swing through the sky that's blue.
I can flip! I can soar! I can almost fly!
I can kiss the laws of physics good bye!
I fight evil and crack jokes, too!
Which I must admit is fun to do.
Of course, this comes with a cost.
My family, my friends. They're all lost.
But I have to look past that and accept my fate.
I wish I could say that it's easy, but it's far from great.
At least to swing I no longer have to dream,
But what I had to lose to get there proves life is just as mean!"

Spider Striker looked up from the pad and the Maximals applauded. "You liked it?" he asked with surprise.

" 'Beautiful, man!' " Blackbird replied.

"It's nice," said Airazor

"Who's 'Nathan Alex'?" asked Wolfang.

"That's my name," Spider Striker answered.

"I thought your name was 'Something Striker,' " Siege said.

"Nathan Alex is my human name," Spider Striker replied. "And if you have to call me by some part of it, make it 'Alex.' "

"Why not 'Nate'?" asked Blackbird.

" 'Alex' is my nickname. I don't know how it got to be that, but it did. And only one person is allowed to call me 'Nate' and she's not here."

"Fair enough," Optimus said. "Now lets all turn in for the night."

The door to Optimus's quarters opened and the cookie thief sneaked in. The thief removed the picture and suddenly all the lights in the quarters came on. "I didn't expect it would be you," Optimus said, turning around in his chair.

Siege faced Optimus and smiled. "Gee. You caught me. I guess I have to walk the plank. I mean what can you do? Call the cops?"

Optimus stood up and walked over to Siege. "Give me your 'baby,' " he ordered.

"Uh, what ya talking about?"

"You were talking to that gun in front of a security camera. Hand it over."

"NO! You can't take my baby!"

"Just like you can't steal my cookies," Optimus said as he spun Siege around. He reached into Siege's subspace pocket and pulled out the gun. He looked at it. It had the words "Baby Boomer" inscribed on it. "Now please leave."

"B-but *sniff* my baby!"

"You'll get it back. Maybe."

Siege started to cry as he left. Optimus yawned as he put the gun on his desk. He then went back to bed.

Catspaw ran. She was tired, but she had to keep going. He was still stalking her. She finally collapsed in exhaustion. The second she did, her stalker caught up with her.

"Listen, you ugly b*tch," the huge Predacon said, "I made you! You have to work for me! If you don't, I kill everyone you love."

"No," Catspaw said. She got up and drew her sword. She drove it through the Predacon's chest.

The Predacon smiled as he held his wound and the mec fluid ran down his chest. "I win."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Catspaw screamed as she bolted out of bed. "You didn't win!" she yelled punching the wall. "You didn't! You didn't! You didn't! You didn't! You didn't!" she yelled punching the wall with each saying of the phrase. She stopped. "Primus forgive me," she whispered, "for I've killed a man in cold blood." She walked out of her quarters.

"Huh? Wha?" Spider Striker asked with confusion when his door chime woke him up. When he didn't answer, there was a pounding on the door. "Alright! Come in!"

Catspaw walked into the quarters. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" she asked.

"Yes, you did and for once I was having a good dream!" Spider Striker saw the expression on Catspaw's face. "Sorry. Just a little grouchy. What's wrong?"

Spider Striker sat up as Catspaw sat next to him. "I had a nightmare," she told him. "I was being chased by the Predacon who kidnapped me. He threatened my family and I killed him, but when he was dying, he said 'I win.' Then I woke up screaming. I-I'm a murderer, just like he wanted!"

"Tell me," Spider Striker said, "have you killed anyone else?"

"No."

"Then you're not a murderer."

"But I killed him."

"Self defense."

"What?"

"In the story you told me in the cave, it was obvious he wanted to kill you when he attacked you, so you were just defending yourself and your family."

Catspaw smiled. "Thank you. You've inherited your mother's way with words."

"Huh?"

"Celeste Alex. She's your mother, correct?"

"Yeah. How...?"

"I looked up your family. You don't have a sister."

"So Mom's a famous poet?"

"Yes."

"I guess that means I had a shot."

"Probably." Catspaw gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Thank you again," she said and walked out of the quarters. Spider Striker smiled beneath his plate and went back to sleep.

The next morning, Spider Striker woke up and stretched. He got some "coffee" and sat down in his chair. The second he did, his computer turned on. On the screen was an image of Blackbird. "Huh?" Spider Striker asked.

"Welcome to my Ultimate Revenge!" the screen Blackbird said with a grin. "You'll find that you're stuck to your chair. The bet with Rat Trap was to see who could piss off Dinobot the most. The winner would get any one thing from the loser's quarters. Your 'gum bomb' helped me win. I had to pick some super-mega adhesive from Rat Trap's quarters to make this work, but it'll be sooo worth it!"

"Get on with it!" Spider Striker demanded.

"Anyway," Blackbird continued, "you're stuck to your chair. What are you going to do for the two hours you're stuck? You're going to listen to two full hours of nothing but............. The Backstreet Boys! BAW-HA-HA!!!"

"NOOOO!!!" Spider Striker yelled. He tried to pull free as the music started to play. The glue would not break. He was trapped.

Two hours later ==>

Spider Striker crawled out of his quarters. He wobbled to his feet and found Blackbird leaning against corridor. He had grin wider than Mantor's on his face. Spider Striker fell back down and grabbed Blackbird's foot. "I surrender!" he sobbed. "Please no more! Please! Mercy! MERCY!!"

"Who's the master?" Blackbird asked.

"Blackbird! All hail the mighty Blackbird!"

"You're pathetic, y'know that?"

"Yep," Spider Striker replied as he stood up.

"Well, at least you admit it."

"Why didn't you tell me that you were going to plant a bomb in Dinobot's quarters?"

Blackbird was about to answer when something landed at their feet. They looked down and saw the target practice simulator. It was burned, the wires were ripped and it was smashed flat. "What happened to it?" Blackbird asked.

"So," a voice said, "you planted the bomb in my quarters." The two looked up and saw a very angry Dinobot in front of them. "I shall extract sweet vengeance on both of you!"

" 'eep,' " Blackbird and Spider Striker said at the same time. Then they took off, with Dinobot right behind them.