Chapter 4: Travelers

An earth week went by and the younglings still haven't heard from the Combaticons. They were still missing but it relieved the younglings. Breakaway spent most of the time figuring out a plan for solving the rivalry problem. Often he wrote down differences between them, similarities, how each treat each other and other things. He kept his notes in a data pad in his room. He laid on his berth in the room next to Warpath's wondering how he could fix this. He was just one seeker, a seeker that not many people accepted in Kaon. What could he, Warpath and Wheeljack possibly do to change the possible war. He assumed the Combaticons were mech-napped by seekers, but what certain seekers? Could it have been the seekers from that painful night? It's possible. After all they seemed to be the only ones that would have a reason. Right now, everyone was asleep but him.

"Man, I'm tired, why can't I recharge?" Breakaway asked himself.

It was quiet, Warpath nor his parents snore. The wind was blowing only softly and the hum of his own chassy was low. He took a quick look through his window and saw the other houses were dark with no lights on at all. However, as he looked across the street from his window, he could've sworn he saw what looked like a mech looking right at him suspiciously. Breakaway ducked and was concerned.

"Who was that?" Breakaway asked.

His processor flashed back to his beating. He could see all the Combaticons lined up to pound him. One looked like the mech he just saw...Vortex. As he went to look up again, the mech suddenly jumped through the window tackling Breakaway into a wall. Breakaway wasted no time and fought him. The mech growled and tried to pin Breakaway down. Warpath's parents were heavy sleepers, but Warpath wasn't. He got up and bolted to the next room to notice the scuffle. Breakaway and the mech kept punching and clawing each other until Warpath leaped onto the mech pinning him instantly.

"GOT YA PUNK! POW!" Warpath snarled. "Breakaway the lights!"

Breakaway turned them on and his thoughts were right, it was Vortex. Once Warpath realized this he growled and shoved the seeker into the wall in rage. But as he raised a fist, he could see that Vortex was critically damaged already, and not from Breakaway. Vortex's visor was cracked and missing a piece, his whole frame was dented, scratched, burned, twisted and soaked in dry energon. The only the not damaged was his wings. Warpath lowered his fist when Vortex held up his hands in defeat.

"WAIT! WAIT! HOLD ON!" Vortex yelled.

Breakaway angrily got in Vortex's face who didn't back down from it. Vortex slightly smirked behind his mouthplate remembering how badly he and his brothers had damaged the seeker.

"What do you want Vortex?" Warpath snarled. "I thought you and your brothers were missing."

"I came here to deliver a message from those seekers who...messed with us a long time ago. They want you, him and that science guy over in Slaughter City." Vortex informed them.

"Why would they send you, they did mech-nap you?" Warpath asked.

"Yeah, they've beaten us, tortured us, burned us, and humiliated us to near death in their hideout. Right now the others are chained up still being tortured. I got off easy since I'm the least troublesome of the group and I didn't complain. The only reason we are being tortured, is because of HIM!" Vortex snapped pointing at Breakaway who rolled his optics.

"Well you deserve it." Warpath snarled.

"Whatever, they want you three there by tomorrow night. They plan on teaching Breakaway how to fly and...do something about this rival thing." Vortex explained. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to get back before I get pummeled for like the 5th time."

Vortex proceeded to leave, but not before getting right in Breakaway's face again and whispering.

"You are very lucky runt. VERY lucky! You better be glad you're online." Vortex sneered before transforming and weakily flying away.

Breakaway clenched his fists so hard his claws could've sunk into his own hand. Warpath rested a hand on his shoulder. He noticed Breakaway had a dent on his left arm and a few claw marks on his chest from the fight.

"You alright?" Warpath asked.

"Yeah, just angry...and confused." Breakaway said unclenching his fists.

"I know you're upset, but you shouldn't be for long, after all, soon we will meet those seekers who saved us." Warpath said. "Of course, Slaughter City sounds like a dangerous place, but apparently it's where all the seekers have relocated."

"How did Vortex and the seeker know where we live?" Breakaway asked as they sat on the berth.

"I guess we are all in some database and they found our location. It's strange." Warpath shrugged.

"Yeah, hey let's talk in the morning I'm tired." Breakaway yawned.

"Alright, goodnight." Warpath said yawning himself and walking out of the room.

Before Breakaway could get some sleep, he decided it was best to shut his window first. The next morning, Warpath called Wheeljack to tell him what happened. Wheeljack was immediately turned into "Repair Mode" as he fixed Breakaway up again. Later they huddled together to discuss their plan.

"So...how are we going to do this?" Breakaway asked.

"I've got it, we should take a bus. It's quicker than walking. And we won't have to worry much over people trying to harass us." Wheeljack suggested. "I believe we will need to bring weapons in case some mechs try to fight us. Even though we are very skilled in hand-to-hand combat, that will not always be the case. Since I'm the oldest here, I will be the leader."

Wheeljack was right, he was the oldest, with him being 10, Warpath 9 and Breakaway 8. He was also by far the most mature so he thought it would be easy.

"Please tell me you got weapons that won't blow up." Warpath hoped.

"Indeed I do, my new Shockblast Cannon is one of them."

"Didn't that blow up last month?"

"Yeah, but I fixed the bugs."

"Sure you did."

"Anyways, come to my house and we will gather everything we need."

Their parents were at work so they usually could do what they wanted. Of course they will have to make an excuse when they got back..if they got back. Jazz and Arcee were informed by Warpath about their plan and they hoped they would come back alive. At Wheeljack's house, Wheeljack gathered his Shockblast Cannon, his small fusion cannon and his energon sword...all invented and tested sucessfully by himself. Warpath took the sword and Breakaway took the fusion cannon. All three weapons were connected to their backs. They were ready and made sure they stored small containers of energon cubes in the chest compartments.

"Now, are you sure we will get there by tonight...what if we don't?" Breakaway asked.

"I don't know, but it's best to leave now while we can. Or else." Warpath said. "Man, my first time away from Kaon, I wonder why they call it Slaughter City?"

"Well, besides the slaughter, I heard a lot of those gladiator games are stationed there besides here." Wheeljack said.

"Hmm, well, let's get to a bus." Breakaway said. "Finally, I will be able to fly."

As they walked outside, there was Jazz and Arcee seemingly worried.

"Take care you two." Jazz said coming up to Warpath smiling and rubbing Breakaway's head.

"Be careful." Arcee said to Wheeljack who blushed.

"I promise I will, uh..." Wheeljack was too busy looking into her optics making him studder.

Arcee planted a quick kiss on one of his earbulbs making them glow brightly.

"He-he, thanks Arcee!" Wheeljack said.

Warpath, Breakaway and Jazz chuckled but was caught by Wheeljack's death glare.

"Well guys, we'll try our best to explain to your parents about everything, and we hope to see Breakaway flying when he comes back." Jazz smirked.

"You know it!" Breakaway said proudly.

At a bus stop, the three waited patiently. Nobody else was around. It was really early and they were about to fall alseep. Just then, a bus came by which excited the younglings. The driver of the bus greeted them as he opened the door.

"Hello younglings, where are you off to?" The driver asked.

"Slaughter City, we're on a mission." Wheeljack said.

"Really? Well, I guess you three are aware of the grounder and flier war...is that your prisoner?" The driver pointed at Breakaway.

"HEY!"

"What? No? This is our friend, we have to meet up with some people!" Warpath corrected the driver.

"Oh alright, get in." The driver said.

Warpath got on first to pay and the younglings went to sit in the back where they began to fall asleep. There was a long couch-like seat in the back where they sat. Warpath immediately curled up on the seat and went to recharge, Wheeljack's optics could barely be kept open but he was able to see Breakaway snuggle up against him. Wheeljack wrapped an arm around him and fell into recharge as well. This was going to be a long bus ride.

"I love you guys." Breakaway whispered.

"We love you too." Wheeljack whispered back and hoped Warpath heard it, and he did.

The driver and the other few riders decided to let them rest despite not knowing what they've been through.

To be continued...