Chapter 4 and we get to see what's being going on in the Dark Axis this time. Just depends of its good or bad. Doesn't it?

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Dark Axis

Magna Musai

Zapper Zaku sighed irritably as he walked down the hallways, looking for Grappler. One of the Zako's that had been monitoring Chaos's signal had informed him that it had gone out shortly after she had arrived in Neotopia. That could mean one of two things. Something got messed up during the travel there or the SDG had captured her. And of course he had to be the one to tell Grappler.

Grappler happened to be just leaving his quarters as Zapper turned down the hall. He had a pad of sorts in one hand as the other pressed the key pad to shut his door, looking at the monitor intently. He didn't even see the other squadron leader come his way…

Zapper sighed and leaned loudly against the wall to get Grappler's attention. He stared straight ahead as he sent a hail though their bond. 'Hey, Gouf. Need to talk to you.' Primus...he was not going to be happy to hear about this. Grappler was oddly protective of Chaos and was the second most unhappy Axian about her 'engagement', minus Chaos herself.

Grappler's head snapped up, his optic darting around briefly before seeing Zapper. "You seem oddly quiet," he commented out loud as he meandered in Zaku's direction. "It'll have to wait, Chaos will be getting back any second now. I need to meet her top side- those gundumbs better not have rattled her cage too much..." He was about to walk right past Zapper, completely unaware that Chaos didn't make it back.

Another sigh escaped from Zapper's vent as he grabbed Grappler forearm, his hand squeezed it slightly. He didn't meet Grappler's optic as he delivered the news. "The Gl-Chaos's signal was lost shortly after she made it to Neotopia. She hasn't contacted us since." There, straight out, no sugar coating or nothing.

The cobalt mech didn't move. "There must be a mistake. You know how temperamental those inboard- signals can be. I'm sure it's just a little kink..." He was in denial.

The older mech's optic finally moved to meet his bondmates, "Afraid not. The zako's told me they tripled checked everything before letting me know." He sent sympathy though the bond, knowing it wouldn't do much. "Look...I really don't know what to say. But the zako's are positive it went out."

"It didn't go out!" Grappler acted like he was furious, but in reality was nervous. It was her first mission and he knew he should've gone, but his superiors insisted that she learn on her own. He listened to them, and now she's disappeared. "She's fine- she just can't disappear-!"

Zapper narrowed his optic at Grappler before suddenly yanking him and pulling him toward his room. Once inside he tossed Grappler slightly and glared at him. "Listen hear, Idiot! I know how much you care for her, but if you don't calm down before we go tell The Commander you'll wind up getting fried by the fannels! And I don't want to have to hear you whine about the burns all night!" He huffed before crossing his arms and sending a pulse of comfort to Grappler. 'I know how much you love her, alright? But freaking out isn't going to do any good. Just calm the frag down.'

"He doesn't know yet?" Grappler grabbed his helm and began pacing, trying to calm his nerves. "We need to get clearance to send a search party for her. She could be hurt or- NOT even going to think about THAT." He paused and looked to Zapper. "Did she even send in a status report?"

"I was just told, so of course he doesn't." Primus...he may be a member of the Dark Axis, but Zapper really couldn't bear to see Grappler this worried. "And no, she didn't. The monitoring team said the moment she entered Neotopia her signal went out. So she either somehow damaged the chip or the gundumbs got her..."

Grappler scrubbed his helm tiredly. Just thinking about her being interrogated by them or worse... it sent chills down his back strut. He tried to calm his fraying nerves and rolled his shoulders. "Slag... we need to tell the Commander ASAP. The sooner he knows the sooner we can have a search party sent out for her."

Zapper nodded, "Got it..." Before he turned to the door the maroon mech did something rather out of character for him. He grabbed Grappler and hugged him. He may not care for the glitch but Grappler did and his mate was already in disarray over the arrangement with that vampire.

Grappler seemed surprised by the gesture and he froze. It didn't take him long to hug Zapper back, exhaling deeply. "... thanks. I know you don't care much for her and- I just worry about her enough as it is. Now that she's missing..."

Zapper pulled back and lightly knocked Grappler in the helm, "I get it. Now come you lugnut. We need to tell The Commander." He went toward the door and opened it. "And...if it helps...I'm...sure she's fine. You made her after all." He frowned and crossed his arms, obviously disgusted with what he said.

"Wow, quite the compliment coming from you~" Grappler teased half heartily as he exited the room. He wasn't even sure how they'd break this to the Commander, but no matter how they went about it their leader was NOT going to be happy…

"WHAT?!" Sazabi's voice echoed about. "How Could This Have Happened?! When Did This Happen?!" Zapper gulped as Sazabi's fannels flew around in circles, just waiting for the signal to fire. "Well...you see Sir...it was about an hour ago we lost the signal. The crew was trying to reconnect to her just in case it was a glitch...That's why we didn't know until now..." He really hated it when they had to deliver bad news.

Destroyer Dom stood to side of where Grappler and Zapper were standing, a forlorn look in his optic. He liked the little femme Grappler had made and felt rather sad about her disappearance.

Grappler grumbled and kept his optic glued to the deck of the ship. He was exceptionally worried about their newest squadron leader. "Commander, we should launch a rescue party. She could just be lost..."

Sazabi glowered down at his idiotic squad leaders before letting out a harsh sigh, "You may have a point there, Gouf." He glanced at the two mech standing on the lower deck, "Go on! Get a damn rescue party together! If she isn't found The General may have our heads!"

Zapper jumped before saluting, "Right away, Sir!" Sazabi then disappeared behind his window screen, the fannels flying back inside the Musai. Zapper sigh in relief, glad they didn't get shot at...yet.

Grappler waited until Sazabi completely disappeared to speak. As the giant red mech vanished he slouched and relaxed. "Slag, that was close..." He looked to the other two. "Perhaps we should send a few Zakos to snoop around first. If she WAS captured then it they could waiting for us..."

Zapper nodded before turning the assembled Zakos. "Alright! I need five of you to go to Neotopia and find Cammerce! Red! Widgit! Cook! Blue! Rocketball! Get going! Everyone else, back to your posts!" Once the zakos had ran off to their respective jobs he crossed his arms. Dom shifted on his pedes before turning to Grappler, "Zakos find Chaos. If don't, Me make Big Boom and find her!"

"Easy Dom, they'll find her. I'm sure she's just fine, just- a little lost. That's it." Grappler seemed unsure of himself, but he put on a fake smile for Dom. He knew how fond the larger mech was of her and wanted him to stay calm. He only hoped that he was right…

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Uh-oh, Looks like things aren't going to well for Grappler. I wonder how Thiesel is going to react? Read on to find out!