The ground exploded at his feet. Dirt, rocks, and plants went flying as did the black SUV the shot was aimed at. Trailbreaker hit the ground hard and rolled quickly out of the line of fire nearly squishing Bluestreak who was curled up in a ball protecting a damaged and leaking arm.

"Blue? Mech, that looks painful," he said, getting to his knees and examining the gunner.

Another explosion and more dirt and rocks rained down on them. Trailbreaker threw himself over Bluestreak until things calmed down again. He looked around and said, "I think you're out of this battle. C'mon, we need cover."

Bluestreak looked up and nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I can't move my arm and that makes it really hard to shoot and well, that means I can't help much."

"Okay, kid," Trailbreaker said. Taking Bluestreak's good arm, the SUV crawled towards a large, shady bush that was big enough to give them some cover.

He lowered the Datsun to the ground and settled himself on his abdomen so he could keep watch.

It wasn't the best cover in the world but it would have to do. Trailbreaker took the time to check himself for damage, but found only minor dings and dents. He finally settled down to wait for the battle to end.

Long minutes passed as the battle waged further and further from their hiding place, but every so often a Seeker would pass overhead. The pair of mechs couldn't move a cable for fear of discovery.

Suddenly, Trailbreaker twitched. "Uh, what?" he whispered. Something was crawling up his foot. Something invisible. He held perfectly still as something else crawled up his other foot and then into the joints at his knees and hips. More and more things were entering his joints and he couldn't move even though the urge was almost overwhelming.

"Blue, Blue, something's crawling up my aft," he whispered though his voice went up an octave towards the end.

"I don't see anything, 'Breaker. Are you sure," Bluestreak whispered back.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure," he groaned.

"Don't move," Bluestreak whispered back as footsteps could be heard thumping on the ground, coming towards them.

"I know, I know." Trailbreaker grimaced and held very still.

"'Breaker? You around here," Hound's voice broke the silence. "I can smell 'em, Jazz but I'm not sure…"

Trailbreaker yipped in a most unmechly manner and leaped from their hiding place, his hands frantically batting at his armor. Jazz and Hound jumped back out of the way and watched the performance with wide-opticked wonder.

"Gididoff, gididoff," Trailbreaker shouted as he jumped and gyrated, spinning around as he tried to see his back.

Bluestreak peeked out from the bush trying not to laugh. "Ants," he mouthed at the two mechs, pointing at the swarm of insects Trailbreaker had been laying on.