"Lord Ultracon, the first phase of the plan has been complete." Downpower told his mighty leader in his eerily monotone voice.
Stormstrike winced mentally as he realized what Downpower's words had meant. Stealthblade had been struck by Downpower's supercharged electricity. His brother could have been in critical condition at worse, to severely put off at best. No matter what though, the shock would have scrambled his processor for a few vital moments; long enough to destabilize his mind for a proper viral manifestation.
The worst part was, Stormstrike could have warned him.
No, he said he could take care of himself, so I'll let him. Stormstrike bitterly thought.
A tingle ran down his back, but he shoved away the feeling, incase it meant he'd accidentally contact his brother. Still, he flinched. Stealthblade's back must have taken a heavy blow.
"That is excellent news Downpower. Well done you three." Ultracon congratulated Wildshot and Silenthowl as well.
A smug grin lit up on Wildshot's face plate, and Sniperifle sprung out of no where and clung to his arm admiringly. Stormstrike had to force back a gag of disgust.
"Shadowshifter, are you ready for your part?" Ultracon turned to the dark mech, leaning heavily against a far corner.
His punishment had left him with a long scratch running across his chest plate, which he wasn't allowed to repair, so no paint would ever cover up the mark. His red visor caught Stormstrike's gaze, making him look away quickly. Shadowshifter had become a lot more unpredictable after his recent failure.
"I'm ready whenever you need me to be, Sir." Shadowshifter retorted, disdain poorly concealed in his voice.
"Good, then tomorrow morning you are to head out ahead of our troops, and do what must be done to get that virus implanted in that traitor." Ultracon was too enraged with Stealthblade's 'betrayal' to even say his name.
Okay, this is getting kinda bad, maybe I should warn Stealth? Stormstrike pondered for a moment.
As he attempted to make contact, he was only answered by silence. He could feel the tingling running down his back from Stealthblade's injury, telling him the mech was still functioning, but he wasn't responding.
Stealthblade, hey bro? Stormstrike mentally called out.
No answer.
Well if you're going to be like that, then fine, I won't tell you what the Decepticons are about to do! Stormstrike exclaimed, expecting to get a response out of his older sibling now.
Still there was no answer.
I know you're functioning Stealth! Stormstrike snapped.
He nearly grumbled aloud as his brother yet again refused to answer.
Fine be that way! Stormstrike howled, and then closed off his connection.
You still need me Stealthblade, despite what you think! You believe you've got everything under control with your new Autobot buddies, but you don't, and you wouldn't be where you are right now if it weren't for me! Maybe one defeat will teach you a lesson? Stormstrike thought angrily to himself.
Yes, that was it, he'd make sure his brother lost, though still got out alive; to show him he needed his brother in this. That they were still a team, not a one man army. Slightly nodding to himself in approval, he left to recharge some.
*****
Stealthblade activated with a bad feeling in his spark. Almost as if something was about to go horribly wrong. Carefully he pushed himself upright, relieved to feel his back didn't hinder him in the least.
"Careful there Stealthblade, I had to replace a large portion of the inner skeleton in you back, and I'm not sure how compatible it'll be with your system." Pulse warned, placing a hand on his shoulder to inhibit him from climbing to his feet.
His body did an automatic scan over itself, and the results told him he was fully operational and back to at least ninety eight percent.
"Well I've got to get up sometime." Stealthblade replied to the overly cautious medic. "Do you really want me getting up when Montana suddenly decides to run in here?"
Letting out a defeated sigh, Pulse pulled back his hand, allowing Stealthblade to straighten up. Everything moved seamlessly together, not a click out of place.
"You're an amazing Med-Bot, I'll give you that." Stealthblade's visor glowed thankfully.
"Just try to be more careful. I don't know how many more lightning strikes your processor can handle." Pulse's calm eyes held an eerie glare while remaining soothing at the same time. Perhaps it was the shade of blue that did it, Stealthblade would never know for sure.
"Don't worry; I don't plan on getting hit by any more bolts ever again." Stealthblade reassured.
"All right, you're free to go then." Pulse seemed hesitant over something, but apparently not hesitant enough to keep him in there longer. "Montana's been an emotional wreck anyways."
"I hope she wasn't blaming herself." Stealthblade murmured.
"Then I won't be the bearer of bad news." Pulse sighed.
"Great." Stealthblade shook his head and left the Med-Bay, seeking the distraught young girl.
Pondering where she'd be, Stealthblade headed to the lounge first. Just as he turned around to look in, someone slammed into him, and fell to the ground with a loud clank! Startled Stealthblade looked down at who he had toppled over, only to see Dawncatcher looking both alarmed and embarrassed.
"Sorry!" They said in unison.
Lowering his helm spikes meekly, Stealthblade held out a clawed hand to help the femme up. She seemed unsure, but took it anyways.
"Are you okay?" Stealthblade asked carefully, due to the femme's far more fragile frame.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine, I just was in a hurry and uh…I'll just be on my way then." Dawncatcher shakily smiled, a pink optic wincing, though not from pain.
"Oh, have you seen Montana?" Stealthblade asked just as the femme turned to go.
Dawncatcher winced again, and the stealth soldier realized it was because of his dark voice. He couldn't help but drop his gaze to the floor glumly.
"Yes, I believe she's in Headquarters." Dawncatcher replied, making the black mech look back up at her.
"Thanks." Stealthblade would have given her a reassuring smile, but had to suffice with a faint glow from his visor.
Quickly he turned and left, allowing the embarrassed and daunted femme to compose herself. His long strides easily carried him to Headquarters, though he had to pass through the main sleeping quarters of the Autobots. He tried to keep his focus straight ahead incase any Autobot were inside one of the windowed rooms, but that alone didn't save him from Clawfist.
"Stealthblade, up and about already?" Clawfist's voice called from behind.
Reluctantly he turned to face the second in command, twitching a helm spike as he did so. He took a startled step back as he came nearly face to face with the orange opticed Autobot.
"Hello Clawfist." Stealthblade stated rather monotone, fearing if the mech found out the worry he was actually feeling at the moment would make him jump to the wrong conclusions.
"So, did Pulse just release you?" Clawfist seemed skeptical.
"Yes Sir, but you can always go ask him if you don't believe me." Stealthblade replied.
An irritable twitch flickered in the mech's optic for less than a millisecond, but Stealthblade still caught it. Clawfist looked as though he were about to say more when Stealthblade quickly beat him to it.
"If you don't mind, I have to go find Montana, and report to Aero Prime that I'm fully operational again." Stealthblade indicated with a nod.
The faintest hint of a growl escaped Clawfist's throat, but the mech did not protest, but instead nodded. Stealthblade turned, uneasy leaving his back exposed to such an unpredictable 'bot and sending of a bombardment of warnings throughout his system. He forced himself to ignore them, and continued on his way to Headquarters.
Upon reaching the familiar area, as soon as he entered a small head spun around and smiled.
"Stealthblade, you're up!" Montana exclaimed and ran over to the dark mech, embracing one of his legs like a little sister would cling to a sibling.
"What, don't tell me you were worrying about me this whole time?" Stealthblade shook his head, knowing already that that had been exactly what she'd been doing.
"If I didn't worry about you, how could you call me a friend?" Montana grinned, though as Stealthblade studied her face, he could read the stale tear trails that were still gleaming on her cheeks.
"Yes, but too much worry is unhealthy and makes that pretty black hair turn gray." Stealthblade chuckled fondly.
"Really?" Montana's smile dropped momentarily.
Stealthblade just let his visor glow and looked up from the girl towards Aero Prime, who looked to almost be beaming over something.
"Aero Sir, I am fully repaired and ready for work whenever you need me." Stealthblade reported.
"I'm glad to hear that, please, come here." Aero Prime motioned with a hand.
Stealthblade joined the leader's side uncertainly, looking over the monitors together.
"This is your brother correct?" Aero Prime asked, indicating to a freeze frame on the monitors from when Breakshift and Dawncatcher had been taken captive.
Stealthblade just nodded; not quiet sure where the mech was leading to.
"In Breakshift's report, they said he had been rather easy on them, and you had freed them with little resistance from Stormstrike."
"Yes Sir." Stealthblade nodded, now getting it.
"Tell me, does your brother wish to remain with the Decepticons, or leave?" Aero Prime raised and optic ridge.
"I'm sure he's gunning to leave the moment the opportunity arises. The only problem though is I'm sure Ultracon would want to get him back just as badly as he wants me, so I don't want his cover blown until he's in the clear." Stealthblade explained.
"Your bond with your brother is very strong." Aero Prime's optics seemed to soften.
"Yes Sir, I guess you could say he's like my main structure, I can't stand without him." Stealthblade shrugged.
An almost cold shiver rippled through Stealthblade's spark, and he once again got the impression something was about to go terribly wrong. Looking down at Montana, he noticed her honey eyes were examining Stormstrike's image intensely, like she was grinding his appearance into her brain. Gently he picked her up, allowing her a closer view.
"Aero Sir!" Dawncatcher's voice suddenly rang out from behind the three.
They all spun around in unison, Stealthblade and Montana exchanging worried glances, though Stealthblade's masked face couldn't reveal that worry physically.
"What is it Dawncatcher?" the leader asked hastily.
"I've just intercepted a coded message from the Decepticons. They seem to be heading for the old open copper mine a few hundred miles north of here." Dawncatcher reported hastily. "It appears he's sending his full forces out together."
"What would Ultracon want with a copper mine?" Aero Prime muttered, glancing back at the monitors like that would help.
"I'm not positive Sir, but I was getting distinct indications they want it blown up." The femme bit her lower lip plate nervously.
"All Autobots, report to Headquarters immediately." Aero Prime called over the loudspeaker.
Immediately 'bots ran in, filling up in less than a minute. Stealthblade looked unsurely at the leader, his spark throbbing in his chest, like it were screaming at him something wasn't right.
"Autobots, the Decepticons are staging some sort of attack on the open mine two hundred miles north of here. We know they are leaving in full force, and will be prepared for any interference. If we are to stop them from achieving whatever goal they're planning, we must intercept them will all our numbers as well." Aero Prime instructed.
Only one 'bot dared to question Aero Prime's orders.
"Sir, are we to leave our base completely unguarded?" Clawfist asked, his orange optics glaring at Stealthblade.
"I'm afraid we may need Pulse on the field in this one, so yes soldier, we are." Aero Prime nodded. "Dawncatcher, you are to carry Montana and keep her safe as well."
She nodded; her pink optics looking towards Montana seated in Stealthblade's palm.
Montana's going out there, isn't that a little dangerous? Stealthblade flattened his helm spikes unsurely, but dared not question the Autobot leader's orders.
"Stealthblade, you shall be joining us as well." Aero Prime looked at the black mech beside him.
He nodded. Well, at least this way I can also sort of keep an eye on Montana.
"Autobots, transform and roll out!" Aero Prime ordered, and all the 'bots in the base listened without hesitation, Stealthblade included.