Note: A short story I wrote a while back, just now getting around to publishing it. Set in post-Armada and comes after my story Simple Misperceptions. But you don't have to go read that story to understand, follow and enjoy this one...

Lost in the Mist

Chapter 1

Explosion

A second oil tanker caught fire as the flames exploded through the central port. Desperately, 5 other full tankers threw their massive turbines into full reverse, not able to wait for the tugs to help get them out of the dock. Their crews frantically trying to get the huge ships clear, pushing through other ships as they went, praying that they could get out!

Several gigantic container ships couldn't be saved, even with the up river tugs having sped down river to assist the big dock tugs – there were just too many large ships, too narrow a channel, and not enough time to hook up and push/pull many of them to open water! Their exhausted crews kept working endlessly, the roar of the flames mixed with the sound of the fire crews.

Every fire unit within a five county area had come, the port authority's water boats were pushing their diesel water pumps to the limits, the Navy fleet stationed just off shore had all of their choppers in the air, the Coast Guard had sent every available vessel and chopper, even the forestry service had sent all their aerial fire fighting units to the scene, and still the flames spread. The wicked inferno was slowly making its way throughout the port, working its way around the bay, the nearby petroleum refineries now at risk.

Four full squadrons of combat fighters appeared in the sky, their alien insignias showing their identities. Along with them, more unmanned alien rescue choppers filled the air – the stranded humans knowing they now had a chance for rescue! Ever watchful, and in full communications with the EMS crews, the Transformers threw in their assistance, jumping and darting amongst human rescue crews. Able to go into the very heart of the flames to bring humans out, transforming to pull out trapped victims, retransforming to airlift them out. Soon their airframes were black with soot.

The combat jets with thrust vectoring capabilities, lent their assistance as well, doing hazardous vertical descents, having rope ladders extending from their modified side weapon bays. Many humans crawled in those bays, escaping death as the Seekers teleported with them to safety.

The crew on that second oil tanker frantically waved to them, the flames getting even higher, creating mini-tornados of flames. The human rescue crews could not hope to get to them, it was far too dangerous! 'I'm goin' for it!' Jaguar radioed her twin, the green Seeker fighting through the inferno-generated updrafts to reach the tanker.

'No Jaguar! It's too dangerous! Disengage!' Matron Raptor radioed, just as the human EMS command center was saying the same thing.

Jaguar just couldn't let those men die! She ignored the direct order and banked around the burning ship, trying to get in close enough, fighting through the turbulence. The thick smoke cleared enough for her to see a spot on deck, using all of her skill, she got there, opening her side bays and dropping the rope ladders as the crewmembers ran towards her.

A loud roaring sound filled her audios, the sensation of the very air being sucked from around her, and then a searing heat roared over her. In panic, she went into teleport just as the oil tanker exploded into an enormous ball of flames.

"Jaguar! No!"Tigress cried, seeing her twin disappear in the inferno.

Turmoil

The mech force had not been able to stop to grieve. They worked tirelessly for two days, trying desperately to help the human fire crews to keep the incredible inferno contained. The port was lost, as were two oil tankers and five container ships – thankfully, they managed to keep the flames from reaching the refineries.

This was small comfort to the mechs, for Jaguar was missing.

As they lay exhausted on the opposite side of the bay, the mechs silently watched as the port continued to smolder, their thoughts on the deep green femme that had been lost.

Jetfire sat with his arm around Tigress, both of them unrecognizable for the black soot covering their plating. The femme was cradled in the shuttle's arms, finally knocked out in her defragmentation processes. She had continued to fight the blaze, rescue whom she could, but after EMS called them off the fire, she had been inconsolable over the loss of her twin.

The shuttle heard the sound of heavy metallic footsteps coming towards them; he turned his helm towards the approaching pair, only recognizing the soot-covered mechs by their cleaned-off optics. "She's finally out. Been real hard on 'er." he told Raptor.

The Matron sat down, resting her hand lovingly on her grieving daughter's blackened wing. Her optics filled with the same deep sorrow. Optimus sat down heavily next to them, his amber optics staring sadly at the smoking ruins across the bay.

"Do not repeat what I'm about to tell you two.." Raptor began her voice so low that the two Autobots had to strain to hear her words. "I don't think Jaguar is dead, I think she's lost."

Jetfire jerked himself out of his sorrow. "Lost?"

She nodded. "I can still sense her; I just can't lock on to her enough to teleport to her." She sighed, lowering her head. "I think she teleported without coordinates, nor an image in her mind. I think she's lost on the other side."

"Can you find her? Bring her back?" Jetfire gasped.

Raptor shook her head sadly. "I'd most likely get lost as well, even if I found her, both of us may not be able to find our way back here."

"So she has to find her way on her own." Optimus reasoned. Sighing, he felt the crush of sorrow, for if Raptor herself was uncertain on finding her own way back, then how could his daughter have a chance?

Together, they looked at the remains of the port, knowing that they most likely would never see the deep green femme again.

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