Disclaimer- I'm only going to say this once, so listen up. I'm not making any money off of this, nor did I ever intend to. So tell your lawyers to leave me alone.

Nightshade and Philaemos sprang from my mind. If you need them specifically, I'm willing to share, so long as I'm informed.

­-Old Friends-

"Come on, come on!"

Rhinox's hands flew over the console. The long-range scanner had picked up an object falling from orbit, but Energon interference was preventing Rhinox from identifying it.

"You've found something, Rhinox?"

Rhinox turned and saw Optimus Primal approaching for a better view of the computer screen.

"'Stumbled across' would be a more accurate term, but yeah." Rhinox turned back to the console and made another attempt at breaking through. "And if I can get a fix on it, maybe we can figure out what it is."

The screen beeped, indicating a lock on the object. The Maximals looked at the profiling readout.

"Too smooth for a meteor," Rhinox thought aloud. "It doesn't have the same energy signature as the alien structures. And all of the stasis pods were knocked out of orbit when the alien beam was activated. So what is it?"

"It looks familiar, but I'm not sure." Optimus frowned. "Where's it headed?"

"Give me a cycle to calculate the trajectory... It's aimed right for the cliffs where the Axalon was."

"Hmmm... I'm sending Cheetor to take a look."

"Alone? Are you sure that's safe?"

"If that's what I think it is, then he'll be fine. Keep an eye on it, and inform me at once if there's a significant change in its flight pattern."

Cheetor was becoming frustrated. Normally, he'd feel right at home in the middle of a jungle like this, but it was really foggy, and he preferred it when he could see any potential threats approaching.

Besides, he hadn't come all the way out here to look at scenery. He'd been sent by Optimus to scout for... something, back at the cliffs, but there was nothing there. And then Optimus sends him to this misty place, where there's still nothing. Might as well--

"Freeze, Freckles!"

Cheetor stopped. This was just great. While he'd been ranting to himself about not seeing anything coming, someone was taking the time to come after him, and now had a hand on his back. Even with the speed of his Transmetal 2 body, Cheetor had no delusions. He knew that this guy could pull the trigger before Cheetor took another step. And judging from the seriousness in that voice, he would, too.

Wait. Was it his imagination, or was that voice familiar? "Say that again?" Cheetor asked cautiously.

"Freeze, Freckles," the voice said again, and Cheetor realized there was something familiar in that voice. Something that sounded suspiciously like...

"Nightshade!" Cheetor yelled happily, turning around.

"Hiya, Speedy," Nightshade replied. "Miss me?"

"Yeah, Franken-bot! What you been up to?"

"Me? What about you?" Nightshade looked up and down Cheetor's new body. "This is not the Cheetor that I left behind. What in slag happened?"

Cheetor shuddered. "That's a long and very ugly story. And not one that I feel like reliving right now."

"Well, I would like to hear it sometime."

"Sometime, maybe. But not today. Where's your scouter this time?"

"Not far from here. I was waiting for you to get close enough to approach."

"Why not just call?"

"I didn't know what channel you were on, and I couldn't risk an open transmission. Any number of Preds could pick up on it."

"Right. Was that you in the cliffs, too?"

"Yeah. I though I'd come and find the old team, but there was no traceable sign of the Axalon. I'll need you to take me and Alpha Seven to the new Maximal base."

Nightshade flew off, with Cheetor in hot pursuit. A few cycles later, the Alpha Seven materialized from the mists.

"Computer," Nightshade said, stepping up to the hatch on the side of the craft. "Process voice recognition command."

"Nightshade: Confirmed."

"Open outer hatch."

The small ship complied, and Nightshade climbed in, pushing up on the release lever to close the door.

The craft left the ground, hovering a few feet in the air, and Cheetor heard Nightshade's voice come from a speaker in the front.

"Lead the way, Little Cat. I'll follow you. Just don't try any of those 'golden rocket' tricks I know you for."

"You ain't seen nothin' yet, Nightshade," Cheetor replied. "And one of these days, I'll show you what you've been missing." He ran off.

Nightshade quickly piloted Alpha Seven above the trees, keeping a lock on Cheetor's energy signature to follow.

-End Chapter One-