As he turned to head back to the safe zone when suddenly he heard a noise. It sounded like a fight. He turned and headed towards it. He disliked unnecessary combat but would not let an ally get slagged. As he approached the source of the noise he slowed, not wanting to make his presence known, something made very difficult by his large size. However his black and red coloring compensated for this, making it easier to hide in the shadows. If his assistance was not needed he would not interfere. The Autobots had already lost many today, and he did not feel like adding to their body count. Nighthazard now looked upon a small fight between Starscream and the Autobot Wheeljack. Nighthazard relaxed slightly knowing he would not have to step in.
Starscream could handle himself against a single Autobot, and if he was in danger of injury, was cowardly enough to run away. Nighthazard decided to watch as there was nothing better to do. Starscream was actually doing quite well. He managed to tackle Wheeljack and had him pinned. 'Perhaps he would finally defeat someone' Nighthazard thought. Suddenly he heard a noise and, glancing over, saw another bot hiding in the shadows to the side of the struggling transformers. 'How odd,' he thought, 'that I did not notice it before.'
Apparently, neither had Starscream and as he watched the bot moved around, watching the two, before suddenly leaping out and tackling Starscream, allowing Wheeljack to get loose. Wheeljack immediately began firing at an enraged Starscream who took off shouting about getting revenge. Nighthazard then turned his attention back to the Autobots. Wheeljack was reprimanding the smaller bot.
"I thought I told you to stay hidden!" Wheeljack shouted.
"I was, but you needed help. I wasn't going to sit and watch while that decepticreep slagged you." She responded.
"That doesn't matter! You could have gotten yourself hurt!" He exclaimed.
"Well, I am a solider and that's a risk I'm just going to have to take." She said with a smile.
"Primus, what am I going to do with you! We will have to continue this talk later Skyblaze. It is dangerous here. Lets get back." Wheeljack turned.
"Alright but you will have to thank me eventually!" Skyblaze said cheerfully as she rushed after the mechanic.
Nighthazard waited until he was sure they were gone before leaving his hiding spot.
'Hmmm, Skyblaze was it?' He thought to himself. He had never heard of her before and he knew of all of the Autobots, even if he had not met them all. 'She must be a new recruit.' he thought. Nighthazard was slightly impressed by her bravery. She attacked the Decepticon second in command with out a thought, just to help her friend. How different. Most new Autobots he had ever seen usually just cowered when they encountered a high ranking officer. She was an interesting one, maybe even worth watching for a while. Nighthazard turned and headed back towards the Decepticon base.
*Occurring at the same time as above events*
Skyblaze followed closely behind Wheeljack as they walked quickly and quietly through the ruins of once great Cybertron. Wheeljack had asked her to help him look for some power generator or something in order to get her some 'field experience' as he called it. However this was not the kind of experience the young soldier was looking for. But Skyblaze could hardly complain. She was never allowed to take part in any planned battles as she was still a relatively new recruit and as such was seen as a liability in a battle situation. Whenever Wheeljack went out to do little mechanic things that she didn't really understand he always brought her with him, but as these expeditions were always undertaken at night, she had yet to see any combat time. The closest she got to battles was the craters left from the explosions from long finished fights.
"Wheeljack, how much further to the energy thing you are looking for." Skyblaze complained.
"Shhhh. Not much further." Wheeljack responded, not even bothering to try and correct her on the name of the device. She would just forget it in a moment anyway.
"Wheeljack, why do I never get to take part in any fights? I am a soldier aren't I?" Skyblaze questioned quietly.
"Skyblaze, we have been over this. You are too inexperienced. It just wouldn't be smart." Wheeljack explained in a hushed tone.
"But that's just it!" Skyblaze said loudly.
"Shhhhh!" Wheeljack shot back.
Returning to a whisper, "I'm inexperienced because no one will let me GET experience!" She retorted angrily.
"You are getting experience!" Wheeljack whispered.
"And these little trips don't count! I mean battle experience! I want to fight some Cons! I want to help!" Skyblaze said, her volume rising again.
"Shhhhh! And battle experience will come in time. You can't expect to join and immediately get put on the front lines. Give it some time." Wheeljack responded calmly.
"But I-" Skyblaze began.
"Shhh!" Wheeljack cut her off.
"Wha-" She began.
"SHHHH!" Cutting her off again.
Both fell silent and they could hear the sound of boosters nearby. And they were getting closer. Wheeljack turned grabbed Skyblaze and pushed her into a partially collapsed building.
"Stay here and don't come out unless I tell you to." Wheeljack ordered before running across the clearing beside the building as the sound of the boosters grew louder. When he was almost across a strange mech landed in the middle.
"Well well well, if it isn't Wheeljack. And what would you being doing out here all alone Autobot?" The Con asked, cockily.
"What's it to you Starscream." Wheeljack responded.
Skyblaze's optics widened. 'Starscream!' She thought, 'He's the Decepticon second-in-command! This can't be good.'
"Well I just so happened to be flying by when I caught an awful scent." Starscream began.
"Well it's not my fault you smell like a slag heap." Wheeljack shot back.
"Why you! You will pay for that!" Starscream shouted as he raised his arm mounted Null Ray and began to fire at Wheeljack, who dodged behind some large chunks of building and began to return fire. Starscream began to move around the large rock, trying to get a clear shot at the Bot. Wheeljack moved around the rubble as well, keeping it between him and Starscream. When Wheeljack had his back to the clearing, Starscream managed to land a shot right in front of Wheeljack, throwing him back into the the clearing.
"It is all over Autobot." Starscream said with a grin.
"Come and get it you pathetic excuse for a Con!" Wheeljack shouted at him. With a scream of rage Starscream threw himself at Wheeljack, tackling him. They struggled, both trying to get the upper hand.
Skyblaze had been watching from withing the building Wheeljack had pushed her in. She watched as Starscream tackled Wheeljack. 'I have to do something or Wheeljack could die!' She thought frantically. She slipped out of her hiding place, unnoticed by the struggling mechs. As they fought, she moved around to the side of them. If only she could get Starscream off of Wheeljack, he could take the Con down. She watched and waited until Starscream's grip on Wheeljack loosened, then ran and launched her self at the larger Con, knocking him off of her friend. The two of them rolled across the ground, and as soon as he stopped Starscream leaped to his feet.
"Who are you! No matter, you will pay for that!" He shouted at her, aiming his null ray at the young Bot. But Wheeljack beat him too it.
"Oh no you don't!" He shouted and began firing at the Con.
"Arg!" Starscream shouted. "I will get you for this!" Then, leaping into the air activated his boosters and ran.
"Wheeljack that was amazing! Did you see the look on his face! It was-" Skyblaze began excitedly.
"I thought I told you to stay hidden!" Wheeljack shouted.
"I was, but you needed help. I wasn't going to sit and watch while that decepticreep slagged you." She responded, slightly taken aback.
"That doesn't matter! You could have gotten yourself hurt!" He exclaimed, clearly upset.
"Well, I AM a solider and that's a risk I'm just going to have to take." She said with a smile.
"Primus, what am I going to do with you! We will have to continue this talk later Skyblaze. It is dangerous here. Lets get back." Wheeljack turned.
"Alright but you will have to thank me eventually!" Skyblaze said cheerfully as she rushed after the mechanic. Transforming, they raced off toward Autobot head quarters.
Transformers information and characters (C) Hasbro Nighthazard and Skyblaze are mine