Subi: Yays! New chapter! Muahahahaha... (runs around randomly until Optimus picks her up)

Optimus: You know, I get the sneaky suspicion you've had too much candy recently...

Subi: So what if I have? There's a new chapter! n-n

Optimus: -.-; definitely too much candy...

2. The Alpha System

Further away from the green hue of Plains planet in the Alpha System, near a small asteroid field where Jungle planet used to be during the Cyberkey wars, a green spacebridge opened. Seven transformers "from" Cybertron leapt through, all spreading out and looking around to figure out where they were. Sixshot flew a short distance away towards the Alpha star while Blazestorm, Inferno, First Aid, Smokescreen, Leobreaker and Snarl discussed what they'd been asked to do.

"This is where Jungle planet got attacked by the black hole..." Snarl muttered, trying to suppress the uncomfortable feeling he had. Leobreaker glanced around once before resuming his struggle to get out the spacemap Sixshot had told him to hold onto out of his subspace pocket.

"Right..." Leo grunted, wrestling with holding onto his tail in his hand and the map. Blazestorm shook her head in mock disappointment before going over and offering to hold the gold lion-bot's tail for him. "Thanks," He said handing it over.

"So, remind me why we're out in the middle of space?" Inferno said as mildly as he could after running into a asteroid.

"We're waiting for green-and-white wings over there," First Aid reminded him, giving the 'Con an unseen questioning look. "And who knows what he's waiting for." Sixshot ignored him, trying to pick out the small form of a metal bird he knew had to be there.

"Come on, where are you..." Sixshot breathed...

"Why do you want me to go with them, Optimus? Why not Starscream, or Shiori, or hell, why not send Megatron? Why me?" Sixshot asked.

"Because I highly doubt Starscream would be thrilled to leave Shiori and Alexis behind anywhere, Shiori's very stressed right now, and Megatron is ticked enough at it is at Scourge. Hot Shot's too busy, Override needs help as soon as possible, Scourge has isolated himself, and the last thing Vector Prime wants to do is get involved with another war. Sixshot, you won't be alone out there. You'll be with a team and there's already a... close... friend of mine there doing his best to help them right now."

"But Prime-"

"Slag it all, Sixshot!" Optimus had shouted furiously, slamming his fist on his desk and jumping to his feet at the same time. "You're the only one with a sword that can accomplish this! Take it up with Primus!" His gold optics flashed angrily. Sixshot stared at the Autobot leader, stunned at his sudden outburst. The Prime took a deep breath and began again.

"Sixshot..." He said softly, "I know this is hard for me to ask of you to do this, and just as hard for you to accept; But please do this for Primus. You've seen how tense Shiori and Starscream have been from the dangerous edge that's been growing. You haven't fought this enemy before; You don't know what he can do... I'd rather you see what he can do before you have to fight him head on when he gets to Cybertron. I need someone I can trust to help those planets evacuate to a safer place. Unicron will only attack those planets if there's a large amount of beings on the surface and within to suffer. I know I'm asking you to risk your life in this, and there's the entire possibility you might not survive. Please take the team out there and help Velocitron and Jungle planet."

Sixshot hesitated, and then nodded. "Where am I going to find this friend of yours?"

"There's a small mech who's usually with him, has no robot mode. If you see him, he looks like a black and red bird. Follow him. He'll lead you to my... friend."

Laserbeak-like, Sixshot remembered thinking as he looked out across the faint Alpha Star's light before noting to himself that something didn't feel right. He snapped his head towards the star, wondering why it was suddenly so dim. The star! He realized in horror and pushing off the asteroid he'd been 'leaning' against, floated to a better position to see the Alpha Star.

"Hey, where are you going Sixshot?" He heard Leobreaker growl curiously, and vaguely noted they were following him. Sixshot stopped when he could see the star well, and stifled a gasp. He watched in hidden fear as a huge transformer seemed to step out of the star, and the light faded even more, seeming to evaporate before their very optics.

"It killed it instantly..." a soft, feminine voice said quietly. There were faint gasps and moans behind him.

"This is just great..."

"That'll kill jungle planet!"

"That's okay, it's used to dying."

"Leobreaker!" the whole group chorused. The gold and black bot blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "Well its true..."

"So much for positive thinking!" Smokescreen scolded.

"Ah what would you know about positive thinking?"

"Leo, you're asking for a aft-kicking," Snarl growled. Something flashed in Sixshot's vision, and he started to turn towards it when he felt a faint weight land on his right shoulder. He froze for a moment before turning his head to look at it. Sixshot blinked in surprise as he saw the black, birdlike head watching him, hints of red on its wings and chest.

"Chirp," The bird said simply.

"Eh?" Someone in the group said, and they turned to find what'd made the noise. Leobreaker froze.

"But that's-"

"Eeee!" The bird said sharply, pushing off Sixshot's shoulder and launching past them and to the left through the asteroids.

"Follow him! No one shoot it!" Sixshot barked, transforming into his jet mode and racing after it. He hesitated long enough to make sure they were following him before chasing after the small black and red bird-mech. After nearly running into an asteroid, he swore to himself that Primus just simply loved to torture him...

Subi: -.-; you can untie me, you know, Optimus...

Optimus: No, I think we'd better leave you like this for awhile.

Subi: >O Slag you! Karahrr! Shiori! Someone come untie me and help me beat his aft! (howling)

Optimus: I dont think that's going to work, Subi... these walls are soundproof because you made them that way.

Subi: Slag you... ;-;