Chapter 8: "Fallen Comrades"

Caitlin exhaled a long stream of air, thankful she was effectively 'back to normal', as it were. She had probably scarred Cheetor for life, but with his optimism and upbeat attitude, it wasn't long until he was back into the swing of things – and annoying her with his run-away mouth. Sighing, she stood to her feet and as she had done for every afternoon for the past week, she checked her ribs. The bruising was gone and even better: they didn't hurt anymore, for which she was thankful. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be healing so quickly, but figured it was probably for the better. In fact, she was finding that she could do a lot of things that a mere human couldn't normally do.

…And all because she'd been abducted by the Vok and had her DNA changed.

"Hey Caitlin, you dressed yet?" Cheetor's voice travelled through the doorway, slightly muffled.

She pulled on a shirt and buttoned her pants. "You can enter now!" she yelled, reaching to grab her bag.

She was unaware that her shirt slid up, revealing slightly toned muscles – and a few past scars.

Cheetor paused at the sight of them and frowned, cringing a little at their number. Some, he knew, were gained from her training with Dinobot but, he thought he'd better not start an argument about it. She was older than him, after all, in regards to human age. He had no say in what she did; even if he thought it would be better for her not to train with the former Predacon. While he waited for her to check her things, he checked his gun, inspected it and placed it back in it's usually position. He glanced at Caitlin, who was adjusting the straps to her backpack. "So, what are you doing now?" he asked.

"I just have a feeling that today is going to be quite active," she replied and shrugged; and together they walked to the Control Room.

When they entered the room, they found something was happening. The others were all gathered around. Rhinox was looking at something that was probably important, if the intense expression on his face was any indicator. Caitlin cocked a brow at the cat who shrugged his shoulders. He didn't know what was going on either. But then: "Incoming stasis pod," the rhino said, pointing at the screen, tone serious. "Orbit has decayed over the northern sector."

"Heads up bots! Get ready to move!" Optimus called out in warning.

Caitlin latched on and leant against the CR Chamber as she watched with baited breath, wondering what would happen. "Impact in five seconds… four… three… two… one… IMPACT!"

"I'm flying over there," Optimus said once he had learnt the coordinates.

Boss Monkey had that expression on his face. She frowned, a bad feeling running down her spine. She wasn't the only one either, because Cheetor stepped forward. "Gotta tell ya, Big-bot. It doesn't sound like such a swift move… Splitting up."

Caitlin hummed in agreement. Her thoughts raced wildly as she thought up scenario after scenario of how Megatron would react to the oncoming pod. There was no doubt he'd want it. What was the easiest way to win a race? You exterminated, annihilated and destroyed the competition. It was cheating, yes, but Megatron hadn't come across as the type to care about fairness. It was probably a concept that had never crossed his mind. Besides: all's fair in love and war. She couldn't deny she wanted to run the race to the pod, but... splitting up? That made her feel... uneasy. There was a reason a war's were fought in groups and assassinations were solo.

"Wouldn't that be… rash?" she risked voicing her opinion on the matter as worry niggled at her. It was a feeling that had been growing for a while and today it seemed to hit her straight in the face. She knew from this point on, there'd be no going back with the knowledge she truly did care about them: to the point that if she did lose them, her heart would be crippled. "If you get hurt, Optimus, we'll be put at a significant disadvantage. More so because you're our leader. If you're injured while you're at the pod – or on your way too it – we may be too late to help you if wind up seriously injured."

"We've got no choice!" Optimus replied stubbornly. "We're talking 100 clicks over rough territory. Megatron's sure to launch his own fliers. I have to get there first!"

'True, true', she thought. 'On many accounts. But there are many risks. I am not a gambler by nature. I may be impulsive, but even I think before I act.'

Sighing, Caitlin recognised the look in the ape's eyes. It was one that could not, and would not, be dissuaded. She had seen it in herself and inside many of her family member's eyes. However, what he was suggesting was foolishly irrational. She wasn't the only one to think that either. It was a thought everyone was sharing.

Besides, it was Dinobot who stood behind Optimus, to stop him from doing something foolish. "I am not normally an advocate of caution," he admitted, using a rather calm tone of voice, which surprise Caitlin, considering how growly he was. "But, in this case, I must… register, my concern. Megatron does not always behave as one might… expect."

'That's an understatement if I ever heard one!' Caitlin snorted to herself.

Optimus shook his head. "He'll want to reach the pod first, same as us. Right now, it's a race, pure and simple. Optimus Primal… MAXIMISE!"

"Nonetheless," Dinobot insisted strongly. A tone that would not be dissuaded either. "You will do me the honour of permitting the honour to exit first. I have… suspicions."

'And rightly so!' she thought.

"Alright, but hurry!" Optimus urged.

"Dinobot…. MAXIMISE!" the raptor transformed and went down the lift to check the area.

Caitlin sighed, feeling a headache the size and China coming on. She turned to Optimus, her expression concerned. "Optimus… While I… commend you, on your care for the other Maximals in those stasis pods," she said gently. She had to at least try to persuade him to think over the matter calmly. It was the least she could do. "Dashing into something, without thinking over everything, carefully—especially in this sort of situation, will do more harm than good."

Optimus pinned her with an angry look. "And how would you know?"

She didn't know, but she wasn't about to let them know that. Cocking her brow, she kept her voice dry and even: "Call it… intuition. I'll even accept: female intuition."

Optimus was about to reply, but Dinobot returned. "My scanners detect no hostiles. Yet something feels… amiss. Permit me to lead a scouting patrol."

That did it for the ape. "There isn't time! One of my comrades is other there somewhere, and every second counts!"

"And so does the seconds of your time!" Caitlin finally snapped, suddenly angry. Flames flickered to life in her hands she raised them angrily, stabbing a finger in his direction. Part of her recognised the slip, but her temper had narrowed down to one thing. "If you get badly damaged, the others are gonna hafta find ya comrade the harder way!"

"I… agree with the girl," Dinobot said, glancing her at her with subdued impressed look in his face. Then, he turned back to Optimus, his gaze hard, yet somewhat conciliatory. He remained firm in his opinion. After all, he knew Megatron best. "Your emotion-chips are overriding your caution circuits. I insist on a scouting patrol!"

"I am in command here, now stand aside!" Optimus yelled. Charging forward, he slammed into Dinobot and pushed him back into the lift, to go down.

A flicker of indecision ran through her mind. 'I'm so going to die!' She sighed and leapt down, landing on the ape's head. "Will you at least allow me to go with you, just in case?"

She might not be able to do much, but even a little help could go a long way.

Optimus pulled her off him and practically threw her into Dinobot's chest—who instinctively caught her. "You're too likely to get hurt!" was the ape's reply and she growled inaudibly about being treated like an unwanted package, that he was too paranoid for his own good: and reminded Dinobot that he could put her down now. He did just as the lift was down far enough for: "Primal jets on!" Optimus flew into the air and turned to face the two. Caitlin and Dinobot stared at him with very intense stares. "Have a ground-unit follow me as quickly as possible. We have to…"

Caitlin blinked as a missile suddenly exploded on his arm. 'How does one miss that coming?'

Turning towards its origination point, she found Waspinator and Terrorsaur. With little regard to her safety, she started to move forward, but a heavy arm around her waist, stopped her. "Optimus…" she gasped, wanting to move towards him. She wanted to make sure he was alright, but the raptor's arm kept her in place as the two Predacons opened fire.

"Ambush! As I expected!" Dinobot growled. He readied his weapons and pushed Caitlin behind him. Before he could charge however, his tail-sword was shot down. Then, Terrorsaur shot at Optimus—hitting him seriously and knocking him to the ground. His optics seemed to shut down for good. As if noticing this, Caitlin was kindly released from Dinobot's 'protection'. Immediately she hurried over, hovering over the ape protectively.

Behind her, she heard Dinobot growl. A beat later: and he fired his laser-beam above the two firing Predacons, which caused a large boulder to fall… Right on top of Waspinator, squashing him like the bug he was. "Ye-ess!" the raptor exclaimed; making the 'score!' motion with his fists. He smiled and Caitlin blinked. She'd never seen him with such a smile. It was usually snarls and growls. She thought it suited him. She frowned at her thoughts, shaking them off and turned her concentration onto the unconscious ape-headed ape. She dug her heels into the dirt as dragged Optimus closer to the lift. Her eyes widened at her own strength as she moved him closer to the ship, one step at a time.

"COWARDS!" Dinobot growled as Terrorsaur helped Waspinator off the ground, begging to fly off in retreat. "Face me!"

"Uh, DINOBOT! A littl' help 'ere! I can' get this elephan'-weighin' ape on this lif' withou' help, ya know!" Caitlin yelled. Her usually hidden accent (or just plain butchering of the English language, if she were to be honest) appeared as it usually did when she was panicking or extremely angered, or even embarrassed. However, she was promptly ignored by the battle-lusting raptor who, she might add, was paying more attention to his enemies: shooting at their retreating backs…

"MAXIMISE!" Cheetor yelled. Caitlin watched with awe as he leapt into the air, landing neatly in his robot form. "Optimus! Oh man… can you hear me, Big-Bot?"

Caitlin growled at the stupid question. She figured that the unconscious ape was unable to compose a positive or negative reply. Gripping him on the arm, she tried to move him again when Dinobot appeared. "Fear not, Optimus! I shall ensure that you're funeral has a glorious one as befits a warrior who died in battle!"

"You got your wires crossed or something?" Caitlin exclaimed, dropping Optimus' arm as she stood between him and Optimus…

When she heard Optimus groan. "Afraid I'll have to miss it, Dinobot," he said, placing his hand over his chest-plate. "I'm not… scrap yet!"

Dinobot tapped his claws against his jaw. "Are you certain?" he asked, making sure. "It would be a… triumphant passage."

Caitlin bit back a snigger at that. So, the Predacon-turned-Maximal Warrior held a secret hidden ambition, to die honourable as a warrior on the battlefield—in his heart of hearts. Strange… but she couldn't seem to find it in her own mind – to see him die any other way. However, Cheetor didn't seem to find it at all amusing. "Will you knock it off!" he snapped, and then turned back to Optimus. "We gotta get you in the CR Chamber, Big-bot."

"No!" Optimus yelled, panicked. "The stasis pod!'

"We'll get it," the cat assured him. "But right now, let's worry about you." He turned to Dinobot, "Gimme a hand here!"

Dinobot looked reluctant. "Alright," he finally said and reached down, grabbed Optimus by the chest-plate as easily as picking up a daisy. (Though, the mere idea of him picking up a daisy was amusing enough to cause her to snigger, even in circumstance such as these.) He brought Optimus eye-level to him and gave him an intense, meaningful stare before dropping him on his feet. Caitlin snorted to herself as she stepped back to allow Cheetor to give Optimus aid. Then, she looked around and began collecting Dinobot's sword-thing. Because, apparently, they didn't seem to need her help with that. "I am able to do this without aid, human!" Dinobot growled, realising what she was doing.

"Regardless of whether or not you can or cannot," she snorted, rolling her eyes and shooting him a sneer, which she made sure he saw. "Two hands are better than one. I'll even bet the team will be split up, since Optimus is now effectively outta commission for a while. You'll be staying behind, most likely, since your weapons got trashed." She held up a few pieces of his sword as if to point out the truth of that fact. She handed them to him, which he wordlessly took, a frown marring his lips. "Which'll leave the other three to race to the pod," she sighed, eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Leaving me behind with you to take care of Optimus and the base."

Dinobot didn't say anything to that. He found no fault in her logic.

….He just wished that didn't mean he'd be playing baby-sitter again.

As she had concluded earlier, she and Dinobot had been left behind to guard Optimus while the other three headed for the pod. The fact she was proven right just put her in a sulky mood. Quite honestly, she felt like a child forced to stay in her room with a baby sitter she did not particularly like. Except, pranking the sneaky cunning Predacon was not going to be as easy. Sighing, Caitlin leant back into the chair, suddenly uncomfortable in the silence. Then, she decided to speak her complaints. After all, this time she had an audience. "I'm always left behind," she muttered.

"Quit your complaining!" Dinobot snarled, apathetic to her complaints, "Or I'll double your training!"

Demeanour changing, she whistled a tuneless ditty and folded her arms behind her head. With half-closed eyes, she asked:" Me? Complain? You sure you talkin' 'bout me?"

Dinobot glowered his raptor eyes at her, but she remained frustratingly immune to his ire as she stared idly at the screen before her. He stood to his feet, approaching her. She heard him transform and then, she felt his form lean over her. He planted his hands on either side of her, blocking her escapes, and then leant towards her ear. "That training will be tripled," he growled.

Caitlin froze for a moment, then, swivelling until she faced him (though she had to tilt her head up) she fixed him with an unimpressed, blank stare. "Then I shall make sure to keep you out on patrol, triple to your current hours," she replied and upon noticing his 'are you kidding me, I'd enjoy that' look, she then added with a smirk: "All of them with a certain Rat you love so much." The raptor glared fiercely, but she seemed unfazed. She leant forwards then slid out from underneath his arms. She stalked to the computer said rat sat at and opened a game he'd been playing. All the while, she effectively ignored the confusing raptor as she cursed herself within the privacy of her own damned mind.

'What the heck am I doing?' she hissed in her head, irritated by her playful behaviour. 'Are you trying to get yourself blasted girl?'
'Admit it!' another part of her mind chuckled darkly. 'You like the irritable raptor. Just like you like Rattrap.'
'Do not!' she argued.
'You do so!'
'How can I like two guys, who aren't even my own species?' Caitlin snarled at the voice, kicking the table in frustration. 'It's bloody well impossible!'
'How can you not?' the voice asked in that knowing tone.

Caitlin didn't have a reply, but the level of her irritation caused her to slam her fist down. She made it seem like it was because of the game, so Dinobot wouldn't think any of it.

She took to trying to push those treacherous thoughts to the back of her mind. She kept telling herself that she wasn't thinking about it.

Yeah, that's right. She wasn't. Don't argue with her!

About an hour later, the silence had prevailed in the base when Rattrap's voice appeared. "Maximal base, this is Rattrap!" Caitlin looked up from the game she was winning, saved and exited it but, she was halted from answering it by Dinobot (who was back in his raptor form). "Hello-you reading me, Chopperface! We got problems!"

Dinobot took his time to press the button to allow them to communicate with each other. "Speak vermin!"

"The Preds' scrapped the bridge. No way across. Now we gotta take the scenic route. Not a snowball's chance of beatin' them now," the rat groaned pessimistically.

"Well, aren't you a shiny ray of optimism, Rattrap," Caitlin sneered the same time Dinobot growled with annoyance: "No excuses, you pathetic rodent! Keep moving! Dinobot out."

"HEY!" Rattrap yelled, having not received the pity he had wanted, "You can kiss my pink hairy…!"

Dinobot slammed his claws down to cut the transmission with a smirk. Caitlin giggled to the side, before a thought caught her. "Maybe we should ask Optimus if he has thoughts on this…"

Dinobot got a thoughtful expression then turned to the computer. "Computer! Access and activate Optimus Primal's core consciousness."

"Acknowledged," the computer replied. Caitlin watched, intrigued, as images appeared until a grid-like representation of Optimus appeared. She blinked. That was weird. It would be like someone fallen asleep under hypnotisim and having that person speak whilst they slept. Granted, she had never actually seen in happen, but she had heard enough stories to be a little concerned someone could play with her subconscious mind like that. There were too many things that could go wrong if it worked, and who knows what someone could whisper in your ear? "Core consciousness activated."

"On screen," Dinobot said.

The image of Optimus' head appeared, opening his eyes blearily. "Don't tell me… Let me guess. Problems already?"

"Indeed," Caitlin mused, leaning forward against the control system. Now this was awesome in its freakiness. Who'd have thought they actually could talk to Optimus whilst he was 'asleep'. She had figured about waking him, but apparently that had not been an option. She quietened when Dinobot shot her a warning glance… She must have read his mind again.

Scary. Scary. Scary. SCARY thought that.

"The others have been forcibly delayed," Dinobot continued. "The Predacons will reach the pod first. Have you any… thoughts?"

"Is there any way that we can contact the pod?"

"The Energon fields are too strong. Our comlinks will not reach."

"How about… laser-pulse?"

"Impossible," Caitlin said this time, shaking her head. "We'd need line-of-sight transmission…" she blinked, realising something (and half because she couldn't believe she'd remembered this shit!) But, seeing as she was on a roll, she continued the thought: "Unless there's something that we can bounce it off of… The question is, however: is there anything that we could use to do so?"

Dinobot growled thoughtfully and then he blinked as something came to mind. "Perhaps there is," he said and turned to Caitlin. "Follow me outside, girl." She couldn't resist. She folded her arms, glared at him and tapped her foot against the floor. Cocking an eyebrow, she waited. Dinobot knew what she wanted, but he would not say it! He glared at her eyes. They held each other's gaze for a moment, neither one willing to back down. The raptor looked away first and sighed heavily. "…Please."

She cupped a hand over her ear as if she hadn't heard him. "What was that?"

He growled, but closed his eyes. "Follow… Outside… Please," he bit out grouchily between clenched teeth; then marched to the lift.

"Of course I'll help you!" she smiled, clapping her hands together against her cheek, fluttering her eyelashes before following after him, making sure there was a skip in her step.

After all, it was one of the ways to keep up a healthy dose of insanity! Not that she really needed it, but one must keep up appearances…

She should have thought harder about this… Caitlin stared down at the implement of her… confusion. It was a dish that she'd been ordered to set up. She blinked up at Dinobot—back at the dish that Dinobot had ordered her to aim at the large moon again then back at Dinobot. She folded her arms, kicking a platform on the roof of the Axalon, and growled. "I ain't doing that!" she snapped, shaking her head furiously. "I'd probably break the darn thing—or myself. You do it! You know what you're doing, at least!"

Dinobot growled, but complied. "Keep a look out!" he snarled as he took over.

Caitlin picked up her gun and… kept a look out. It was a few moments later, when she thought she saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned around, but saw nothing. Frowning thoughtfully, she turned to Dinobot. "Um, Dinobot," she said hesitantly, her eyes flicking nervously from side to side.

"What?" the raptor snapped, almost dropping something before he caught it, just before it hit the ground. 'Nice reflexes!'

"I think we're being watched…"

"Ah, Dinobot… yes," Megatron's suave voice spoke up. Dinobot froze before he and Caitlin turned in unison to face the purple dinosaur. She stepped behind him the same time he stepped in front of her, blocking her from Megatron's line-of-sight. Although, it was obvious he already knew that she was there, by the look on the megalomaniac's grin…

"Dinobot… MAXIMISE!"

Caitlin was forced to dodge the transforming robot parts as the raptor switched to his impressive robot form. He growled, almost on the verge of a berserker-rage.

"Oh no-no-no-no, calmness, calmness, please," Megatron said in a placating tone. "I came only to talk, yes… After all, you are alone and command of the Maximal base. An excellent opportunity, is it not? You were a Predacon once. Become one again," he sweet-talked Dinobot. Caitlin's eyes narrowed at his intention. Then, those pinkish-purple optics turned on her. "And what about you Caitlin? If you both turn the base over to me—the Beast Wars will be over. We Predacons will rule the galaxy—and you shall be my second-in-command. What do you say?" he asked, stepping forwards.

Caitlin snorted (because, like hell he'd let her be second-in-command) and smirked as Dinobot laughed deep in his throat. "Eat slag!" he snarled, and shot his laser-beams at the t-rex's feet.

Suddenly-Caitlin felt herself being lifted off the ground. She growled up at Tarantulas, who'd gotten a hold of her. 'Get. It. Off. Of. Me!' the corner of her mind that was afraid of spiders screamed, but in her new position, she could only watch as Megatron roared: "Vaporise him!" And then the raptor was shot in the back by both Predacons… and fell to the ground below.

Pure. Uncontrollable. Fury.

She saw red for the fifth time in her life. "Lemme go you bucket of useless hinges!" she roared and slammed her fist against Tarantulas' face. She didn't feel the pain as she hit the metal armour of the mech's head. But, she did hiss as he dropped her. She hugged her chest where she'd hit his foot, before she rolled away before they could grab her… and fell off the ship.

"Finish him!" she heard Megatron yell.

Caitlin opened her eyes, having landed on Dinobot's chest. His pained-and-annoyed face looked up at her. Then, they both looked back up—where Scorponok and Tarantulas were aiming their guns at them. They fired their shots at the same time. Dinobot wrapped an arm around her midsection and rolled them both under the ship to avoid being blasted. They stopped against the lift. This time their heads were spinning slightly. "Auto-weapons, on!" Caitlin barked at the computer as the lift began to rise.

"Acknowledged," the computer replied.

She felt more than heard the auto-guns fire. She watched with detached amusement as Tarantulas was fired backwards. A few seconds later, Scorponok was sent flying straight into the arachnid. The auto-guns fired without mercy at all three; and they retreated. Then, the raptor and the girl appeared back in the command centre. "Fire the laser!" she yelled at Optimus. Turning away, she fluttered over Dinobot, uncertain as to how to help him. Optimus was the one in the CR Chamber at the moment. So, Dinobot would have to wait before he could go in.

"Computer! Uploading instructions… NOW!" Optimus yelled.

Caitlin felt the laser shoots its message outwards from where she stood. She turned her attention back to Dinobot. "Will you…." She paused. She realised mid-question that Dinobot would probably take her concern the wrong way. After all, he wasn't the sentimental type. So, she smoothed out her features until she could say something without too much emotion in her voice. But, she knew her eyes still held that concern. "Will you still be functional by the time Optimus is finished in the CR Chamber?" she asked, managing a less concerned tone only when she looked away from the raptor.

Dinobot glanced at her. "I will… survive." His eyes narrowed in confusion upon her, but she only nodded in reply. She attempted to help him get closer to the CR Chamber, but otherwise said nothing. She sat with him while they waited for the chamber to open. After a moment, she fell asleep at his side. Her head fell on his forearm as she lost her battle of wills to her exhaustion.

When Optimus was finally free of the CR Chamber, healed and ready to go: he found the amusing sight of Dinobot staring down at Caitlin. She was sleeping peacefully as if it was the most comfortable place the world. She appeared unaware of her surroundings, but she would frown whenever the raptor attempted to move. She even followed his arm, her 'pillow' – and leaving Dinobot at his wits end. Deciding to show mercy, Optimus knelt down.

"Need some help?" he asked, trying to keep his amusement to the side. However, he got the hint that he hadn't quite succeeded—when burning-red optics flashed angrily at him.

"It would be… appreciated," Dinobot replied.

Chuckling, Optimus gently, but firmly, plucked Caitlin from Dinobot's side. He eased her down to the side of the CR Chamber for the moment. He turned to give Dinobot a hand into the chamber and gently placed him inside it as the raptor twitched uncontrollably. "Hang on, Dinobot. We'll have you restored before you know it. But, in the meantime, I've gotta fly! Optimus Primal… MAXIMISE!" he yelled and rose into the air. "Computer—Deactivate and reactivate auto-weapons in 30 seconds."

"Acknowledged," the computer replied. Caitlin shivered as a cool breeze interrupted her slumber as the flying ape flew off. Her eyes glimpsed and took note of him. Then, her eyes closed as she resettled down, reassured in the knowledge that Dinobot would be okay. She returned to darkness wondering if the others were alright…


When early morning came, Caitlin woke to find the others had returned and by judging the good mood feel about them, she'd say last night's endeavours had been successful. She yawned, stretching where she'd fallen asleep—Just as Dinobot was exiting the CR Chamber. He obviously still didn't like the 'accursed appliance' as he stormed out. Sitting up, she winced as she felt her muscles twinge in discomfort. "Ugh! I feel like I was dropped by Tarantulas after punching him in the head, and rolled offa ship before landing on some hard scaly hide!" she groaned.

And yes, that was what had happened and it had felt like it too. Dinobot was by no means soft. Inside or out.

Dinobot revealed his thoughts about his 'hard scaly hide' by whacking her over the head. This action abused her headache further. She gripped her head and glared up at him. "I gotta headache! So don't punch me, you pre-evolved, fly-bitten raptor!" she growled, pointing her finger at him and poking him as hard as she dared in his chest.

"You—" Dinobot growled in reply, leaning over her in a show of height. "Should have been paying attention to what was happening around you, you over-emotional wench!"

She was unfazed. "Excuse me for worrying about your unemotional earth-vexing scaly hide!" she snarled, having not taken a single breath.

Dinobot growled, stepping closer, but Optimus approached before anything else could happen.

Rattrap was clearly amused and bewildered that Caitlin had gone off on Chopperface like that. Groaning, Caitlin held her head in one hand and glared at the wall. Glancing between the two, confident they wouldn't start arguing, he smiled a smile that said: 'I've got good news. And good news.' "In case you wanted to know… We were able to contact the pod. We have a new addition to the Maximals. His name is Tigatron."

Dinobot didn't say anything, but removed himself from Caitlin's presence and leant against the wall, waiting for the report. Caitlin thought over the new Maximal's name. "Tigatron?" she cocked a brow. "You robots really come up with the most uninteresting and typical names for yourselves," she muttered under her breath. Then, she smiled. "So, what's the new guy like?"

"Why, you interested?" Rattrap asked, cocking his own eyebrow saucily.

She frowned at him. "I'm interested. But not in the way you're implying, you perverted clack-dish. Besides," she added as she turned away from him. "A tiger is my favourite animal."

It was Rattrap's turn to frown. "I thought dragons were?"

"Real animal," she clarified. "Forgive me. Real. A dragon ain't real. It's nothing but a myth and legend that I only wish were truth."

"I will tell you more about Tigatron," Optimus said. "But, first I think everyone should take the rest of the morning off."

Caitlin sighed in relief. "Good!" she clapped her hands excitedly. "I'm going to go sleep outside on the grass and soak up some sun-rays!" she declared. Then winced and rubbed at her neck. "Those beds are damaging my body more than all of my other injuries," she groaned, wincing in discomfort.

"What happened to your hand?!" Cheetor exclaimed suddenly.

Curious, she looked down at her hands; then found what Cheetor had been so shocked about. The hand she'd punched Tarantulas with was darkly bruised. The skin was darkest where she'd impacted, obviously. "I um… kinda punched Tarantulas in the head," she muttered, turning away as she tried to hide her hand in her sleeves.

Rhinox was having none of that. He moved over and forcibly grabbed and opened her hand for inspection. Seeing the damage, he sighed and pinned her with a look she'd seen far too many times. "Do you always wind up getting hurt?" the rhino asked, tutting.

She looked away, face blank and impassive. "More or less."

Rhinox glanced up and saw her closed-off expression. Everyone saw it, but no one asked about it. Keeping a hold of her wrist, where she wasn't bruised, he lead her to the rebuild room to take a closer look. He found that, despite the look of it: it was only badly bruised. No bones were out of place. She'd just have to keep it bandaged, just in case: and it would heal just fine.

When Caitlin finally got out of the base, she set up an area with her backpack. She fell asleep in the shade of a tree, some distance from the base.

What she failed to realise, however…

Was that a Predacon was lurking in that area.