Chasing Kaos Chapter 11

Escape

A/N: Please Read and Review

Shadow Runner kept a yelp firmly closed off as the whip slammed into his back again, slashing into one of his wings but he had gone through worse torture in the pits, he was merely surprised by how quickly they went after his wings.

Shadow Runner grunted as he was pulled off of the large hook and he fell onto his back before the Vehicons pulled him callously to his pedes and forced him to walk down the halls back to the brig.

Shadow Runner handled the strain easily enough and quietly walked inside of his cell to see Arcee covered in whip marks as well and was in recharge, curled up in a small ball as close as she could get to his cell bars.

Shadow Runner waited until the Vehicons were gone before he slid his servo easily in between the gaps of the bar and gently pet Arcee's back, despite the powerful shock he received when his other servo was pressed against the bars.

Shadow Runner gently patted Arcee as she relaxed slightly with a sigh and he stood carefully, moving away from Arcee to sit on his berth and he slumped forwards slightly and slid into recharge sitting up.

Shadow Runner twitched slightly when he felt servos dancing over his wrists but did not move otherwise as his optics came online, however he kept his helm tilted down so that Soundwave could not see his optics.

Shadow Runner smirked slightly sensing Mirage and murmured softly, "Took you long enough Raj." Mirage whispered softly, "I'm sorry. I'll have you loose as quickly as I can." Shadow Runner shifted slightly, "Are the cameras on a loop?"

Mirage nodded before he tapped Shadow Runner's shoulder in conformation before Shadow Runner straightened and dug his claws into the stasis cuff and shorted it out before he ripped it off and began to pull off the chains wrapped around his frame as Mirage worked to get his pedes free.

Shadow Runner groaned softly as Mirage managed to pry the clamp off of his almost shredded wings before they slid quietly out of the cell and Shadow Runner easily lifted Arcee up into his arms before a ground bridge opened.

Shadow Runner stiffened hearing Megatron's roar and immediately tossed Arcee to Mirage, "Go! I can get out of here later! Take her!" Mirage hesitated, torn between leaving Shadow Runner behind and escaping Megatron's wrath before Shadow Runner barreled into Megatron, knocking them both to the ground.

Mirage turned and ran into the ground bridge, vaguely seeing Shadow Runner thrown off of Megatron before Megatron pinned him to the floor.

Shadow Runner flailed under Megatron for they had always been evenly matched but with him being so injured it was all that he could do to keep Megatron from smashing him into stasis.

Shadow Runner snarled as his battle mask snapped back and he bit deep into Megatron's neck cable. Megatron roared and jerked back, falling onto his back as Shadow Runner lurched to his pedes and rushed through the newly opened ground bridge as he snapped his battle mask closed.

Shadow Runner staggered through the ground bridge before he collapsed, straight into Optimus's arms.

Optimus immediately lifted the wounded flier up into his arms and high tailed it to the med bay with Jazz and the twins on his aft.

Ratchet nearly shrieked when he spotted Shadow Runner's battered frame but instantly began to work, snapping for the twins, Optimus, and Jazz to get the frag out of his way so he could work in peace.

Shadow Runner smirked when he came online and slowly sat up before Ratchet was instantly at his side. Ratchet let out a sharp click of surprise as Shadow Runner uncharacteristically hugged him tightly to his chassis but he chuckled and gently pat Shadow Runner's back, "I want you to take it easy Shadow Runner. I've taken you off of combat duty for three months. I don't want to hear any complaints either. When you go out for a flight Silverbolt or one of his other team mates will accompany you."

Shadow Runner nodded and released Ratchet before the fliers came in to greet him. Shadow Runner smirked as he settled in the now full air hangar and settled down on his own berth and pulled his thermablanket over his frame.

Shadow Runner came online the instant he was touched and had slammed the mech onto his chassis and wrenched his arm behind the mech's back, digging his claws in deep as the mech squealed.

Shadow Runner blinked as he shook his helm and released the mech, "My apologies." Shadow Runner moved back as the mech slowly got to his pedes and rubbed his shoulder before Shadow Runner checked over his back, "I didn't dig to deep so your self repair will handle it."

The mech nodded before Shadow Runner gently nudged him, "Stop being so impulsive Air Raid." Air Raid glared over at Shadow Runner only to find him gone, "Where in the slag did he go?!" Silverbolt smirked, "He's not one of Jazz's boys for nothing. Way I hear it he's one of the most elite. Right up their with Mirage and Jazz themselves." Slingshot snorted, "I bet I could take him." Fireflight smirked, "I doubt that. He's way bigger than you are."

Slingshot glared at Fireflight and his purposeful barb at his lack of confidence but kept his mouth shut only to have Shadow Runner appear behind him, "If you'd like we can have a go."

Slingshot yelped and twisted around as Shadow Runner smirked but it didn't reach his optics as he leaned forwards, purposely forcing Slingshot's back against the wall as he invaded his personal space, "I'm old Slingshot. Very old and you have no chance against an old gladiator of the Pits."

The Aerial bots' optics widened in utter shock as they stared at the powerful flier in a new light before he bowed and turned swiftly on the heel of his pedes and walked out of the room as silent as a wraith.

Shadow Runner stretched as he walked down the halls, going to check on Arcee to find her sitting in the rec room with Bumblebee and Bulkhead, "Are you alright?" Arcee looked over at Shadow Runner and smiled, "I'm fine thanks to you. How are you?" Shadow Runner shrugged, "I am well."

Arcee smiled as she gently grabbed Shadow Runner's clawed servo, "Thank you for saving me." Shadow Runner shook his helm, "I didn't save you. Mirage did."

Arcee smirked, "You stayed behind and fought Megatron to allow us to run. That counts as saving us both."

Shadow Runner shrugged before Arcee released his servo as Shadow Runner gathered up an energon cube, chuckling softly when he heard Ratchet roaring at his supposed guards.

Ratchet blinked as he watched all of the Aerial bots walk past his med bay without Shadow Runner, "Silverbolt. Where in the frag is Shadow Runner?" Silverbolt shrugged, "No clue." Ratchet roared, "What kind of guards are you?! You useless pit spawns of the unmaker! Find out where he is you glitches!"

The Aerial bots all yelped and scrambled when Ratchet began to throw wrenches at them and they were able to take cover around the corner as they quickly headed to search for Shadow Runner.

Slingshot growled softly, "I don't see why we have to guard one mech. I mean he's a gladiator and if he can't protect himself what makes Optimus think that we can?"

Optimus growled softly, "Because Megatron is after him and I am not going to allow him to take him for torture and deactivation! Especially seeing as Megatron is obviously fixated on him!"

Slingshot immediately flinched behind Fireflight who stepped in front of him protectively before Shadow Runner appeared, "I can handle myself Optimus. This guard duty is entirely unnecessary."

The Aerial bots watched in shock as Optimus grabbed Shadow Runner firmly and slammed him into the wall, "It is not unnecessary! Do you even know what he could do to your frame?!"

Shadow Runner growled softly as his claws flexed slightly on Optimus's arms but he didn't dig them in as he glared down at Optimus, "I know exactly what he could do to my frame! He was my partner in the Pits of Kaon for nearly 100,000 years!"

Optimus's optics widened in shock before Shadow Runner hissed, "I am no weak flier who needs to be hidden and protected. I am an ancient gladiator with skills that are long since dead. Kept alive only by myself, the twins, and Megatron and you will respect those skills if only for the mechs who died teaching them to me!"

Shadow Runner's claws flexed slightly before electricity arched from his frame and Optimus cried out as his motor relays were momentarily disabled and he collapsed but Shadow Runner held his frame up, "If you have so little faith in me as Shadow Runner then look up my original designation as Kaos of the Kaon Pits."

Optimus's optics widened slightly, remembering when Megatronus had mentioned a deadly flier with a beauty that was as unmatched as his fighting skills.

Shadow Runner lifted Optimus up onto his shoulders and carried him to Ratchet's med bay and walked out before any questions could be asked and said nothing as the Aerial bots closed ranks around him.

A/N: Please Read and Review