"Ugh, what is with humans and large outdoor displays that don't hold up against the weather?" Heatwave grumbled under his breath. For the third time this week, they had been dispatched to rescue a 20 foot tall Easter bunny with a propensity for tipping over whenever the wind blew.

"It's a holiday thing. Bigger, brighter, better." Replied Kade.

"You forgot gaudier."

"Eh. To each his own. Just wait til you all see Christmas. You haven't seen gaudy until you see what old Mr. McGurnkle does to his house each year. I'm pretty sure that the whole thing can be seen from the international space station each year."

Heatwave shook his head in resignation before he reverted to vehicle mode, the driver's side door swinging open for his partner. "You almost sound proud to know him. I don't see the appeal. It's just a waste of energy that could go to better uses."

"I guess you have to grow up with these traditions to really understand." Kade shrugged as he climbed into Heatwave's cab. "Hey Code, Heatwave and I are finished down here. Anything come in that's worthier of my skills?"

/Nothing yet Kade. Graham just got back, and Dad and Chase are still at the marina warning everyone about the storm. It's supposed to hit Griffin Rock sometime in the next hour./

"Great. Let's head back before we turn into a couple of drowned rats."

"That's the first thing you've said today that I can agree with."

"Ah... ah... CHOO!"

Chase paused before the hanger lift and turned his optics back to kitchen doorway. "Chief, are you becoming ill again? Will you be requiring more of the tissues made of paper to absorb the excess fluid spillage from your sinus cavities?"

Chief Burns shook his head and hung up his dripping coat before responding. "It's just the cold combined with the damp. Rain just seems to make any day feel a lot colder than it actually is."

"I can assure you that the temperature measurements have been experiencing standard deviations that are within the statistically probable variances for a normal day."

Chief chuckled as he pulled off his boots. "I believe you, partner. There's just nothing quite like trying to convince people to leave their homes by the shore. It doesn't matter how many disasters they see on the news... They all think that it won't happen to them, but expect us to be there instantly when it actually does."

"That is highly illogical. If one is aware of a danger prior to encountering it, then the proper course of action would be the avoid it. This would eliminate all risk of injury or property damage."

"Heh. Yes, that's true. Unfortunately, logic and reason aren't some peoples' strong suits."

"I neglect to see how the donning of formal attire is in any way related to logic or reason. Also, is it even feasible to categorize a garment as being strong?"

"It's... complicated." Chief chuckled and gazed back towards the window. "I used to love these storms when the kids were little. When we all lived back on the mainland, our house had this great wraparound porch. I would walk around the porch with all the lights off, holding one of them in my arms, and we would count the lightning."

"Really Dad? With me too?"

With a smile, Chief took the towel Cody had brought to him and rubbed his hair. "I'm afraid you weren't born yet Cody. You came along after I had taken a job here as deputy. I wish I could have... but you are the only one who was carried around the observatory during a storm. Kade used to spend all his time there dreaming about being an astronaut, and he would take you with him sometimes when you were little."

"Noble... I didn't know that Kade was into outer space..."

Chief chuckled. "That he was... and there was a time when Dani wanted to be a prima ballerina, and Graham wanted to be a fireman. I wasn't quite expecting Kade to pick that one up from him. Kade used to tease him about it that it wasn't a 'cool' job like being an astronaut was. Speaking of the family, where is everyone?"

Cody pulled himself up to sit on the counter before responding. "Heatwave and Boulder are in the hanger, and Graham is in the shower. He kind of came back looking like a mudman. I think Kade is in the TV room."

"Good. Glad their back home safe. How about Dani and Blades?"

"They finished at the shipping docks, but now they're at the airfield helping Tayor. Some sort of big shipment of tech that he was supposed to transport to the mainland before they grounded all non-emergency flights. I guess he needed help to get it all secured."

"Or maybe he just wanted a better view while doing the job." Kade snarked, his broad frame leaning up against the doorframe. "The truth will be all over little sis's face when she gets back in."

"Stop teasing your sister, Kade, and yes... Planning to tease your sister counts just the same. Hopefully there's nothing out there that will get ruined by the rain. None of us were expecting that storm front to make it so far north before making landfall."

"Well, hopefully Blades can avoid getting himself busted up in this storm. If they have to walk home in this rain they'll be swimming before they make it halfway here."

"Cody, why don't you head back up to dispatch and see if you can get her on the line. I want you all safe under this roof as soon as possible in this weather."

"Sure thing, Dad."

"I will check in with Heatwave and Boulder. Perhaps they have received an update from Blades which we have not."

Chief nodded in approval. "Sure thing Chase. Keep me posted."

Downstairs in the hanger, Heatwave smashed a clenched servos into the large nevatear bag that hung from the ceiling beams. "Updates? Not a one."

"Perhaps this is some cause for concern."

"More like relief." Heatwave muttered as he landed another blow into the heavy bag. "You know how Blades carries on when he has to fly in anything other than the most perfect of weather conditions."

"He might be right about that this time. That sky is remarkably dark. I heard Graham warning people to stay away from windows in case they get knocked in by downed trees. In a way, it's strangely beautiful." Boulder never fully turned to face them while he spoke. His optics were mesmerized by dangerous beauty of the storm building up outside the window.

"Blades just needs to bot up. It's not like his paint will wash off or he'll rust in place. Maybe for once he's just getting the job done and focusing like he should. But if it will make you worrybots feel better, I'll see if the main comm will bring him up."

"You know, I think he's just too proud to admit that he's worried too." Boulder remarked after the firebot had left the room and Chase had come over by the window to stare outside at the worsening weather with him.

"I am certain that is the case. However it is neither productive nor beneficial to postulate on potential reasons for lack of contact rather than conduct a proper investigation. For instance, Chief may very well have lost his life when we became trapped in the old mines had no one properly investigated our route and reason for radio silence a few months back."

"That's true, but on the bright side, I don't think even Dani would be able to convince Blades to go into a mine or the like in this weather. I bet it's just interference from the storm, and they will both be walking in any minute now. I know! Why don't we get the dryers ready and put one of his favorite shows on for when he gets back!"

"Agreed. This should help to alleviate his mood over the weather when he returns. I have read that positive thinking holds remarkable powers to improve both emotional status or debilitating illnesses. This appears to be an ideal time to test this proclamation."

When Heatwave stepped off the lift some time later, he found Kade already hovering by the door, wearing his heavy rain coat and boots. For once, he was completely unable to maintain his normally aloof and cool demeanor, and was nervously fidgeting as he paced back and forth in front of the door, anxiously waiting for it to open.

"I take it you haven't heard anything from Bades or Dani either, huh?"

"Not a peep... It's not like Dani to not check in... But Dad wants to wait a bit longer before letting us go out for them."

"So they can be extra drenched?"

"Nah..." The firebot's expression darkened. He could see right through Kade's weak attempt to alleviate his concern. "He just thinks they might have hunkered down with Taylor to wait out the storm, that's all. With the lightning, the comms just aren't as reliable as they normally are, and Taylor is all the way on the other side of the island after all."

Heatwave groaned in exasperation. "So we assume nothing went wrong, even though we all think something's gone wrong?"

"No. We assume they're safe until we know otherwise. I'm not risking all of your lives for an emergency that may not even exist. Dani and Blades are both experienced rescuers. If I can trust Blades to keep my daughter safe, I think you should be able to do the same and trust her to watch out for him as well." Chief Burns' voice was unusually terse. He kept his back towards them the entire time he spoke, as he poured himself another cup of coffee from the pot on the counter.

"Trust has nothing to do with this..." Heatwave growled. "Our comm is stronger than yours, and I still can't raise Blades. Our tech doesn't react to interference the same way yours does. If I can raise Optimus, I should be able to raise Blades."

"C'mon Dad... That's a red flag if ever I heard one!"

Chief Burns sighed again, and this time there was no mistaking the worry in his eyes and voice as he turned to face them. "Alright... but take the high roads through downtown, not the cliff route. Those roads are more likely to flood."

"Gotcha!"

"And be... careful..." The chief's voice trailed off when he realized he was speaking to an empty room. Kade hadn't wasted a second in bolting out the door, Heatwave hot on his heels. The duo was in such a rush, the door hung half open, and the rain was already pooling inside the doorway. It was reassuring to see how much Kade cared for his sister, but at the same time, now he was going to have two children out in a tropical storm and unaccounted for. He hesitated for a moment in the doorway, oblivious to the cold rain that was wetting his face.

For some reason, closing the door now, had an ominously final feeling to it.

"C'mon partner, I'm counting on you to have a lead foot!" Kade shouted over the wind as he scrambled into the cab and fastened his safety belt.

"I don't have any lead components, so you're out of luck."

"It's an expression... It just means to go fast."

"That, I can definitely be counted on for."

With a squeal of tires and a plume of splash back, the fire engine roared down the mountain road towards the airfield. When they arrived, Kade hurried out of the cab to pull the chain link gate open.

"Damn I can't see six inches in front of my face in this rain... How're you?"

"I already adjusted my optic settings to compensate for the darkness. Where were they supposed to be working?" Leaning down, Heatwave scooped Kade up and raised him to his lowered chest plate so he could take shelter in the cab.

"The third bunker on the right side of the first runway before the helipad is his personal bunker. That cargo should have been there."

"Gotcha." Heatwave scanned what to Kade seemed like oppressive darkness, then took off running.

"See anything?"

"Not yet... wait... Blades!" Heatwave's relief faded fast when no there was no reply forthcoming from his team mate. Blades was just kneeling there, his back towards them, one arm draped over a stack of crates.

"Blades! Blades pay attention!" The strangest feeling welled up in the firebot's engines as he reached out and gripped his friend's shoulder. To his horror, instead of turning to face him, the bot slid back like a wireless puppet and crashed to the ground.

Nothing came out of Heatwave's mouth as he stared into the coptorbot's optics. His focal lenses were fully dilated, giving him an eerie appearance as he stared silently back up at Heatwave.

And not a spark of light was visible.