Chapter 2

Sidewinder slotted the large energy shotgun into its holster within his back. The panel closed and the grip was concealed. Quake pushed a few more weapons into his artillery container and closed it. Aftershock was brooding in the corner her weapons hadn't yet been revealed to the two, they were slightly sceptical on the matter. She turned to them and stalked over

"Who're you?" she rapped her knuckles on Quake's chest. He stepped back

"I'm the big artillery" he smiled

"I thought Sidewinder was supposed to be the heavy artillery"

"Oh I'm a little less sophisticated" Quake chuckled.

"Quake here has the biggest guns on the citadel) Sidewinder jabbed his thumb in Quake's direction "But he's limited on the battlefield. He delivers one hell of a fight when he needs to, but unfortunately he can use few weapons apart from his main guns". Aftershock smirked

"So he's not flexible enough in combat" she sneered

"I don't like her" Quake grumbled, he plodded off and Sidewinder tapped his friend's shoulder as he passed. One out of earshot he rounded on Aftershock

"Are you trying to piss him off"

"Yes" she frowned "was that unclear?"

"I'm wasting my time here" Sidewinder walked over to join his friend "you might be trying to prove yourself to Optimus, but I'm doing it for someone else's benefit, not my own."

The group assembled by the front gates. Aftershock said her farewells to her friends in Optimus' personal guard and gestured for them to leave. Ratchet was waiting for them outside, he took Sidewinder aside

"You know the outlook is bleak" he put a comforting hand on Sidewinder's shoulder "I don't even want to think of what might be waiting for you"

"Ratchet I owe Ironhide this much" and with that he walked away from the old bot and joined his team "let's roll out" he jumped into the air and the panels and gears spun and adjusted until he became a black muscle car. Quake crouched and the two cannons on his back rotated and shifted. Aftershock wasted no time and shifted to vehicle mode. The muscle car, tank and motorbike sped off across the ash wastes of the once proud city and into the horizon, unsure what perils awaited them but going forth none the less.

XXX

The golden sun vanished over the horizon. Aftershock adjusted her optics to cope with the shifting light. Decepticon patrols were appearing more frequently. The scans suggested they were making good progress, she thought otherwise. The other two were driven by motives she didn't understand. They weren't incredible soldiers but sufficient. Her respect for Quake had not altered, especially since on the trek they encountered a Decepticon scout band. Quake had 'heroically' charged headlong into them shouting curses and war cries at the top of his lungs before smashing the lot of them. Stealth was not an option. Quake flopped down onto his back

"My servo's are killing me" Sidewinder nodded absently. His bulky friend sat up and nudged his shoulder "You ok?"

"Huh…" he looked up "yeah sure, why not" and then descended back into his trancelike state. Aftershock wasn't sure what to make of him. His qualities seemed to counteract each other, in one sense he was one to want to stay out of trouble yet strode headlong into enemy gunfire with foolhardy courage 'perhaps foolhardy is enough on its own' she thought. She crossed her legs and sat down next to the two. Quake noticed the awkward silence and made it obvious. He released a false yawn but there was no effect on the others, they still didn't take any notice. He sighed and looked into the ravaged nights sky. The swirling constellations and shifting battleships filled his optics. He looked over to Aftershock

"So what are you trained in?"

""Excuse me?" She snapped. Quake shrugged

"You know what we do. You didn't tell us about yourself" he folded his arms

"If you must know" she snorted "I am one of Prime's personal guard"

"We know that" Sidewinder frowned "but what are your skills?"

"Abundant" After shock leaned backwards "Quake, you keep watch first" she rolled over and powered down. Quake lay down and put his hands behind his head. Jets and hoverships glided overhead high up. The carbon shielding in the group's paint hid them from the scans of the Decepticons. Sidewinder didn't power down, leaving him and Quake to talk

"Worried huh?" Quake turned his head to face his friend. Sidewinder nodded "You think the big man's involved?"

"Probably" Sidewinder lay back and powered down his systems.

XXX

The amber light of morning re-activated Sidewinder's optics. He sat up and rubbed his face. Aftershock was poised, her hand had shifted into a machine gun and pointed at something down the ash slope. Sidewinder got up and stumbled blearily over to her

"What is it?" he followed the angle of her weapon and spotted the danger. A group of Decepticon scouts were moving very close. Quake rolled over and snorted. Their eyes snapped onto their position. Sidewinder grinned

"Nothing like a fight to get the oil pumping" he raised his right hand and it transformed into a plasma grenade launcher, without time for protest Sidewinder jumped onto the slope and slid down it, firing charged shots into the small group, they scattered. He transformed into a car and swerved and transformed back. He launched a grenade into the lead scout's face, the head exploded. Sidewinder spun round and caught the head of a scout attempting to sneak up on him. He slammed it into the ground and crushed it in his grip. Oil and liquid energon sprayed across his face. He lifted the gun and blasted the next closest. He whirled round and spied the last one. The small Decepticon paused for a moment before running. Sidewinder took aim and waited for a more challenging shot. He closed one eye and smirked "Too easy" the scout exploded in a gout of green flames. Sidewinder turned and spotted the shooter. Quake lifted his huge tank cannons and yawned. He saluted his friend and superior and Sidewinder climbed back up the hill to the others. Aftershock was furious, she stomped forwards and slapped Sidewinder across the face with a loud clang.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!" she shouted

"A warm up" Sidewinder offered grinning hopefully. Aftershock went to slap him again and he caught her wrist "problem?"

"That was fast, well executed and seemingly flawless"

"Thank you"

"That was all improvised was it?"

"Yes… what's the big deal?"

"You're a rookie, where did you learn to fight like that?" She pulled her wrist free and crossed her arms. Sidewinder scratched his head

"I suppose it was my father who taught me" he shrugged

"Who's your father?" she did a double take "how can you even classify another cybertronian as your father?"

"Because for all intensive purposes… he is. My spark and original shell was modelled on his own". He de-weaponised his hand and started walking. He bumped knuckles with Quake as he passed him.