Chapter One: Race Against Time

It wasn't so much that she was uncomfortable that stirred her from the state of unconciousness but more the strange whirling sound that echoed through the air, that had disturbed her. Eyes flying open,Amber found that in the dark it took less time for her eyes to focus-she was laying on the ground, pain shooting from her wrists, ankles and head. She felt as if she had been used as a cleaning rag-she remembered that she was in the Decepticon possession, and that Kenny had been there, as well as Freeway.Where were they? Amber tried to push herself into a sitting position, but couldn't and yelped in pain. Whatever was causing the whirling sound moved, scurring closer to her-what was that? Growling,Amber rolled onto her back, despite the pain she was in-flinching as she felt a fresh wound reopen as she moved. Slowly creeping into her line of vision was a wicked looking tail-resembling that of a scorpion.

'Oh Shit!'

she yelped threw clenched teeth, she didn't have to see where the tail came from to know it was connected to a Decepticon, probably charged with the duty of guarding her.

'I wouldn't move if I were you'

Came the mocking laughter of a male voice,it sounded robotic and Amber didn't reconize it-slowly turning her head in the direction it had sounded to have come from, she was hit with another wave of pain. Leaning agaisnt the far wall was another Decepticon, he looked similar to the one who attacked her and Freeway and for all Amber knew it was the same one.

'I'd rather die then be used as part of my friends death'

'we cam arrange for that'

The seeker moved foreward, a dark grin on his face as he looked down at the human.

'But don't you want to know what 'deal' we can give you-so that you may try and save your own pathetic life?'

As the seeker approached, Scorponok reluctantly pulled back and scurried into the shadows once more to watch and wait for his chance to shed some more human blood.

'I don't care about making any deals with the lot of you, backstabbingunloyalbunchofstinkingrobots!'

Amber replied in a quick string, a smirk on her face as she sounded too chipper for someone who could be killed for breathing on one of these robots.

'I told you, I'd rather die'

Coming to a stop by the human's head,the seeker raised his foot a little as if he were going to squish her-Amber glared deffiantly up at the bot, not even flinching or cowering when faced with the prospect of death. Slowly, he lowered his foot again and tilted his head to one side, seeming to be amused over the human's stuborness.

'You're either very foolsih or very brave.'

'Funny how those two are so hard to disquinish from the other.'

Amber replied as a different smirk crossed her face-the seeker shook his head and began to move back to the wall he'd been resting against.

'You'd better get your story straight for when Megatron gets here, he won't be as tolerant as I have been.'

'Threats will get none of you anywhere. If I die, then so be it.'

'Heh. Stupid human'

The conversation was obviously over but Amber wanted to tell the bot off, how they were the stupid one's, all of them, after all...none of this would have happened hadn't it been because of them.

'Bah!'

Amber growled, she wasn't worried about her fate, but that the fools she knew would come to try and save her-resulting in more tragedy then needed.

Ameba had tried to convince Curtis that rushing headlong into this without thinking or waiting for Optimus was a bad idea. But he wouldn't listen to reason-Too worried about helping his friend, who may not even be living any longer. But because he was her human, she would follow the boy, despite her better judgement.

Now they sped down the highway heading towards the city, Curtis sa looking intensly out the windshield and gritting his teeth.

'I'm moving as fast as possible'

'I know'

Curtis sighed, he wanted to know how his friend was doing-to save her from the evil Decepticons. True, she'd set herself up for something like this, but he'd not really wanted to think that it was a possiblity of ever happening.

'Curtis, there's a chance that she's...'

'I know!'

'You do realize that by doing this we'll probably end up getting killed'

'Wasn't that the case the moment I was brought into this, high probablity of death and yet I've stayed the whole time.'

Curtis snapped, he was growing irratated by Ameba, he wished to think in silence but she was probably only trying to ease his mind.

'Curtis...'

Ameba began as she turned off the highway onto a city street, she was going to tell him that she would be beside him in his decision,even if it led them to a bad ending. However, the pair was jostled from their thoughts as they were suddenly pummelled by something. Forced from the road and into a ditch,Ameba spun her tires in an attempt to regain control.

'Ameba!'

Curtis clutched the dashboard with one hand and the roof with his other so that he'd not be thrown about the inside-What had him them? Or had they run over something? He'd not really been paying much attention and he didn't know as he tried to keep whatever food he had in his system down while they skidded to a stop. Again they were smacked by several more projectiles. Whatever was hitting them, was getting closer by the force of the attacks.

'Ameba, what is that?'

'I don't know'

Her uncertanty only worried him more, he looked around desperatly hoping to see what was hitting them. Then his eyes caught sight of the brilliant green colours normally associated with Mountain Dew products. Looking again he noticed that it WAS a Mountain Dew machine-sitting on the opposite side of the road from them. Perhaps it had fallen off the back of one of transport trucks and they were running into exploding cans.

'Free pop!'

Curtis went to hop out of the car, but found Ameba wouldnt' allow him to exit, it wasn't just that he was thirsty, the soda in this day of age was corresive enough that it could eat through most metals in minutes...and they were putting that in their bodies...scary...

'Curtis, stay here'

'But maybe we can use-'

'No'

Ameba barely inched foreward when suddenly the pop machine blasted them with cans of soda, but it wasn't normal soda.

'Ameba, lets get out of here!'

'I can't. My tire's stuck in the mud'

'Then I'll getout and you can transform'

'That's dangerous'

'Its better then letting whatever THAT is blow us to bits.'

'Fine'

Ameba didn't like the idea but Curtis had a point and she would be able to get rid of the neusance quickly. One door flew open and Curtis lept out of the car, using it as a sheild while he ran for cover in the neighbouring feild. Hopefully this wasn't a decoy and more robots were waiting to pounce on him-Curtis wanted to get out of there, this was bad. He glanced over his shoulder to see how Ameba was doing but was struck by something sharp in his shin. At first he thought he was being attacked-tumbling face first into some dirt-he waited for a second assault, that never came. Confused, Curtis sat up and looked around to see why he'd fallen-tangled around his ankle was barbwire.

'Dammit!'

He breathed as he felt the sting of cool air bitting his fresh wounds-the wire had cut through his pants and dug deeply into his flesh.

'Fuck!'

Curtis pulled the sleeves of his shirt over his hands so that as he attempted to untangle himself, his hands would have some sort of protectiong,even if it was flimsy at best. Well, at least it appeared that this was nothing more then a string of unfortunate events and a complete random attack-and from the sounds of it Ameba had everything under control with the demonic pop machine. That was good,for soon they could continue onward to rescue Amber and Freeway-and maybe that other man, if they were still alive..He hoped that they were all alright-after all, a senseless death was not something he'd want to have witnessed.

This was insane! They were all going to die, but if it kept the Decepticons from acquiring the code, it was not such a pointless death. Bumblebee sighed as he drove down the highway,weaving around the traffic-he was to met up with Blaster and Ratchet and they would be the last to arrive to the battle-Along with a few others. It didn't help that Jazz was staying at the base, to keep an eye on the humans and to make sure that no one attacked the nearly empty base. But again, that also made a lick of sense-He was worried,all this seemed...like a trap...But Optimus must have known that. Lost in thought,Bumblebee barely noticed the blue Mazda RX-7 pass him until he noticed the white 'hello kitty' sticker on the rear window. Shaking his worry away , Bumblebee picked up his pace, though he knew he'd never be able to keep up to the blue car.

'Scout-What are you doing?'

Bumblebee radioed to the Mazda,though at first he didn't receive an answer.

'Aren't you sappoused to be...'

He was cut off as Scout sped out of sight once again.

'Bumblebee...You never saw me...'

Came Scout's reply, it was dry and dark-the Camaro gave an inward sigh.

'You're going to try and save Amber on your own, aren't you?'

He already knew the answer even before he'd finished his own question-a low growl was his reply from Scout.

'Stay out if it ,Bee'

Scout warned, his voice was now cold and gave the impression that he'd snap at his friend if the mood changed. Sighing, Bumblebee had to fight every instinct to chase after Scout, knowing that what his friend was doing would require some sort of help,for he'd probably end up in deep trouble. But Bumblebee knew Optimus needed him just as much-with another sigh,Bee turned off the road he'd been on and wished that he'd be able to help Scout some how...but what he was doing...was far more important...in away...

'Stay safe,Scout'

Bee said unable to hid his worried undertone,but he ended the link-turning his attention back to his own task,Scout knew what he was doing-worring about him would only add extra stress on him and Bee would risk making a mistake as his whole attention wouldn't be in the fight. For now...he would force himself to ignore all thoughts and do what he was sappoused to...