Chapter 20: Shielding Ourselves

(Alternative Title: A Much Needed Talk )

Rad tapped his foot, frustration creasing his forehead. Kero had his arms stubbornly crossed as he floated in front of him. High Wire stood off to the side, glancing back and forth between them. "It's Saturday, we've been talking about this for nearly a week; no more stalling, we tell Hot Shot today."

Kero scowled at him. "We can't go into this without a plan."

"Why not? I've gone into pretty much every card hunt winging it." Rad retorted.

"And how many times did you almost get hurt?" Kero retorted.

"It's not like you're giving Rad all the pieces! You didn't even tell him that the cards could reseal themselves!" High Wire shouted, which Rad relayed and it made Kero's wings flap rapidly.

"Rad's not ready!" he snapped. "And I thought since Windy resealed herself that it was obvious!" he snapped, a snide tone in his voice. Kero winced when Rad flicked the guardian on the forehead, causing the plush lion to glare at him.

Rad glowered back. "I'll say it again, why aren't I ready? Am I gonna lose my mind? Is the cost for failing to capture the cards going to be so bad?"

Kero's wings held still, and he frowned at the ground. He was silent for a long time, and when he spoke, his voice was quiet. "Okay, we can tell Hot Shot today."

Rad blinked, but knew a carrot when he saw it. Kero was too adamant on keeping certain things hidden after all. 'Is getting the stick worse?' he thought, but whether this 'surrender' was merely a bribe, the blond couldn't give up his 'win.' "Good, just hope Rachel will let me go today."

"Let us go today." Kero corrected, and Rad felt another arguement coming on.

He had no patience for it though, and grabbed another hoodie. He pulled the yellow sweater over his head and caught High Wire looking at him, his emotions confused. Rad smiled weakly. "No point in fighting this one; Kero's gonna need to help me talk to Hot Shot."

"Yeah, and maybe then he'll give back Create." Kero muttered.

High Wire glared at the guardian, who fluffed the hood and nestled into the material. "Yeah, because it's Hot Shot's fault that Create hates Rad." If the mini-con had eyes, Rad was sure he'd be rolling them.

The blond though decided not to translate it, because again, he didn't want another argument to break out. Rad made sure to collect his phone, key and cards, and both he and High Wire made their way out of the room, and in the kitchen Rachel was helping herself to a cup of coffee.

She looked better lately-much more than when he first observed her; Rachel's hair was neat and combed into a low ponytail, and the bags under her eyes faded and she didn't appear as haggard and tired. She smiled at him, and pulled a cheque out of her pocket. "Guess what came in the mail yesterday." She looke pleasantly surprised. "Aunt Cindy must have thought with Mother's Day coming up next week she's giving us a hint," she smiled, mischievous but her eyes were sad; Rad winced-Rachel would be missing next Sunday for her dig, "I-I started making a list of what I need to buy though; anything you'd like to add?"

Rad thought of Kero, and decided to throw out his own carrot, trying with all his might not to remember he hadn't even realized Mother's Day was next week. "Those mini-cupcakes, Ms. Jay's are great, but store bought will last longer."

"I'll let it slide this time, but you can't keep eating all the sugary stuff. Don't think I haven't noticed the ice cream's almost gone." Rachel said, her tone reprimanding but her eyes gentle once more.

Rad though resisted flinching. 'Dang it, Kero. What happened to not being conspicuous?' he thought, and tried to think of a non-awkward way of bringing up the Autobot base. "So, I know my ban from television is over, which is gonna make me asking this weird, but can we go to the Autobot base?" Okay, so that failed.

Rachel briefly glanced at him, humming as she wrote something down on a notepad from her pocket. "Yeah, I gotta talk to them anyway. Since I'm going on my final exam trip next week I have to get things in order."

Rad didn't bother to hide his wincing this time. He didn't think the exam would be so soon, and the thought of Rachel leaving like his parents made his chest feel hollow. 'No,' Rad reassured himself, 'Ray isn't like them, like her own parents. She'll come back-she'll back to me.'

It might have been his own choice to stay, but that had been born from the deep rooted desire to have a home.

"Like-like what?" The blond asked, grimacing at how sullen he sounded.

Rachel might have seen it as petulant and childish, as she smiled slyly. "Gotta grow up some time." she teased him. "Though enjoy the time you got left." her smile became strained as she ran a hand over her hair. "Soon you'll be looking for colleges and making resume's before you know it."

Rad bit his lip, because dang if there wasn't some fear of that 'soon'. He had enough to deal with, what would Rachel say if he told her he was already doing a job? 'Tell Hot Shot first, then the rest of the Autobots, convincing Kero to let me tell Alexis and Carlos, and then tell Rachel.'

Long, daunting list, but he just needed to take it one step at a time.

Finishing off her coffee, Rachel grabbed her keys and headed for the door. "Let's head out, I'll call Hot Shot to see if he can give us a lift-he must be getting edgy being cooped up."

Rad nodded absently, and waited until High Wire transformed into his bike mode before wheeling him out.

Rachel furrowed her brow as once she locked the door, her eyes landed on Rad's hood. "Be careful with your plushy, you don't want it to fall out."

Rad nodded a touch more rapidly. "Right, I know." he rushed out, and made sure to lag just a step behind his cousin so she didn't get another look at Kero. He didn't want her to see him if the guardian happened to shift positions.

When they got into the elevator, Rad still made sure to stay behind her right up until they got outside, because he stopped as abruptly as her. Rad blinked as he found Sideways parked on the sidewalk in front of the building, the mini-con rider tilting his head at them, hologram firmly in place.

"Wow, you psychic or something?" Rad chuckled to break the ice, but while Rachel rolled her eyes, High Wire was miffed.

"What are you doing here?" Rachel asked, not hosile but still stern.

"Just in the neighbourhood, cruising around," Sideways said, his tone laid-back, "you know, just-you know."

Rachel raised a brow, but sighed. "Right." her voice was perplexed, and Rad was just as confused. "Though it does help that you're here; you don't mind being a cab back to the base do you?"

"Nah, it's fine." Sideways replied. "Hop on."

Rad grinned and sprinted over to the motorbike and climbed onto the back, wrapping his arms around Mirror. It was still weird to experience the disconnect that he saw the biker uniform, but felt the metal he was holding onto. He blushed when he noticed Rachel's bewildered stare and High Wire's hurt feelings. "I just think the motorcycle is cool."

Rachel huffed. "Long as you don't think about getting an actual one."

Rad smiled cheekily at her. "Not likely; High Wire's my one and only."

Rachel snorted, but High Wire preened, projecting happiness and sheepish surprise. Rad blinked when beneath him the 'motorbike' slightly kick back.

And when Sideways began to gun his engine and started forward, Rad waved to Rachel. "See you there!"

"Hold on tight!" Rachel yelled, hands cupped around her mouth. Rad laughed, but tightened his arms around Mirror.

Wind blew around Rad's hair, and he felt Kero's hands holding onto the back of his neck, so he almost missed what Sideways said,

"Where'd that pink stick go? I assumed it was important to you, like that yellow doll you have."

Rad's mind blanked. Thoughts kicked into overdrive, responses tossed around his head as he tried to come up with a reply. "Well...my doll is travel size, and I was only doing a-a-a magic trick." he smiled nervously. "It didn't end well, since I took my mind off it by touring an old building."

"I see." The tone was unreadable, but then the yellow and purple robot's voice turned thoughtful. "Strange things you humans indulge in."

Rad shrugged awkwardly. "I guess." he muttered, but he wasn't sure he was heard over the engine. He glanced back and found Kero still holding on tight and the hands cluthed tighter at his neck, but the irritating sting didn't keep Rad from focusing on the rapidly approaching town line, with the forest and mountain closing in. "I thought you already toured the town though?"

"I did, but can't a mech want to see it again?" Sideways questioned.

"Oh, I suppose so." Rad replied, and blinked when he saw Mirror glancing back at him, and smiled slightly. "High Wire said you're kind of tall, so I was wondering how that happened?" his smile faltered as the mini-con didn't reply, and stared back ahead. "Ah, I said something wrong, didn't I?"

"Don't take it personally, Mirror doesn't talk to anyone else." The yellow and purple bot explained, but there was an odd pause. "Though since you're not linked-up with him I assume you couldn't understand him anyway."

Rad glowered, but tried to remind himself not to be upset; Sideways didn't know he could understand the mini-cons. He furrowed his brow though, as when Mirror tightened his fist on the handlebar, Rad thought something was missing. 'Maybe it'll come to me later, right now I have to find out how hard it's gonna be to talk to Hot Shot.'

"How are things at the base? It feels like forever since I've been there." Rad said, and he glanced back to find High Wire was driving Rachel towards the mountain. The blond though realized it likely had been forever, or at least almost a week since he hadn't gone back to the base at all for fear of guilt because of what happened at the fairground with Flower.

"Things have been...hectic, I think is the right word." Sideways said. "Due to the the bizarre occurences which happened on Tuesday, Red Alert and Optimus have been on the look out for any strange energy signatures. Those other two kids came by earlier and were hanging out with Smokescreen last I saw, but that green-haired...girl has been almost completely absent. Hot Shot's practicing with the Star Saber, since he still can't go on missions just yet," his voice lowered, and the engine quieted to allow his tone to become conspiratorial, "though it's probably for the best since he still hasn't gotten the hang of holding the sword let alone swinging it."

Rad found himself snickering before he could stop himself. He cleared his throat. "Maybe, but he got a good swing at Megatron from what I heard. Pretty awesome for a newbie."

"That's right, the Autobots share everything with you all." Sideways replied, his tone surprised as if he just realized it. "It seems to be one way of earning trust, isn't it? I'm afraid I'm not much of a social mech myself, so I hope I don't come across as shifty." he added, his tone somewhat embarrassed.

Rad's lips curled into an understanding smile. "It's okay, being private doesn't make you bad." his smile widened into a grin and he reached forward to briefly grip the motorbike's handle bar beside Mirror's hand. "You saved my life, that makes you cool in my books."

"Yes, as if I couldn't tell by how much you've tried to show your friends I'm not scary." Sideways drawled.

Rad flushed, glowering as he sniffed. "Last time I try to be nice to you then." he softened his tone to show no hard feelings though. His eyes scanned ahead, seeing the blur of Kelly's home as they passed it and the mountain trail they drove on. "Any new mini-cons show up yet?"

"None so far, it's been quiet out there." Sideways said.

Rad nodded, and glanced back to see Rachel and High Wire were still trailing after them. His eyes looked back ahead and he bit his lip. He found himself thinking of what was next week, and even more guilt gnawed at him. "I was wondering, since I don't know much about Cybertron and it might be silly to ask, but do you have families-or, er, family ties?" his cheeks flushed red, right down to his neck.

The robot was silent for a long time, long enough for Rad to believe he wasn't going to answer until he nearly jumped when he did just that. "We do; perhaps a bit...inappropriate to talk about the details, but yes, we can have families. I...I don't know where he is, but I have a brother. What about you?"

Rad blinked, furrowing his brow as Sideways' question was a bit too quick to change the subject. He couldn't fault him, since it didn't sound like a pleasant conversation waiting to happen. "No, only child. I had my friends growing up, but Rachel was, well, like my big sister. I-I'd forget sometimes she wasn't, and," Rad grimaced, "I'd throw tantrums because she'd tried to go home."

"Interesting." Sideways said, but his tone was so even that Rad didn't know where that comment fell on the good-bad spectrum. "I know someone like you; who cared a lot about his...sister, but then just didn't." he added, his tone flat on the final word, sending a startled jolt through Rad.

The blond frowned. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Only giving you a warning, because other priorities can get in the way. I'd hate to see that happen to you, being forced to choose between your cousin and something else." Sideways replied.

Rad bit his lip, guilt already eating away at him. Wasn't he already doing that? His eyes narrowed. 'No, I'm not choosing the cards over Ray, I'm just doing this behind her back.' Which wasn't any better, but he could only hope that he was making the right choices now. "I-I'd pick Ray."

Sideways had detected his stumble though, and his question nudged at it. "Are you sure? What if it was something big?"

Rad opened his mouth, but found nothing coming out. He couldn't form the words, couldn't even think of a comeback. His jaw snapped shut, and his stomach churned as he realized he couldn't give a solid answer. He wanted to say, I'm sure, but something kept him back. Thoughts of his parents flashed through his mind, and a deep sense of shame welled up inside of him-they weren't even a factor.

And he hated that feeling.

He was grateful to have his mind taken off the dark train of thought by the sight of the cave entrance they pulled up to, and Rad hopped off the seat to let Sideways and Mirror transform. He glanced out from the corner of his eye as Rachel and High Wire pulled up, with the blonde doing the same as him, and High Wire looked up at the purple and yellow bot before quickly averting his gaze.

Sideways didn't notice-or pretended not to-as his optics were locked on Rachel. "You're the other humans' keeper, aren't you? I feel like I should inform you they're here too."

Rachel's eyes widened, and her lips pulled into a frown. "I don't believe this," she muttered, storming her way into the base, "but at least they're using the buddy system."

Rad furrowed his brow, and wondered if Rachel was more tightly wound due to the depth of what she needed to ensure got done. 'It's still a week away, why is she so worried?' Perhaps though his own wishing for her not to leave had him blinded by the significance. Or it was just another one of those 'adult' worries he dreaded having.

He jumped slightly when something bumped his arm, and he found High Wire was nudging him towards the entrance. "Right, almost forgot." he muttered, but paused when the sound of the mini-con alarm echoed from inside the base. Nervousness rose in his heart. "Sideways, do you know if Hot Shot is going with you on the hunt?"

"Beats me, but I'd better hurry up and get with the team." The purple bot said before making his way inside.

Rad nodded belatedly, and clutched at the key around his neck for a moment. He glanced at Kero, who caught his eye. The blond sighed deeply, reassuringly, and sprinted through the base. He entered the control room in time to catch sight of the doors sliding close to the warp gate room. Relief flooded sharply when he saw Hot Shot was still present, though there was a sullen look on his face. 'I shouldn't be happy he's stuck here.' he reminded himself.

Rad fell in line beside Grindor and Sureshock, both of whom seemed smug and amused. "You warned them about coming without supervision, didn't you?" he kept his voice low enough that his friends didn't hear, and as such both mini-cons only nodded.

Alexis was rubbing her arm sheepishly, but Carlos had his crossed and his expression was indignant.

"It's not like you're our babysitter still." he muttered.

Rachel narrowed her eyes. "Tell that to your parents' date night this Tuesday."

Carlos huffed, scowling. "I'm old enough be home by myself. I got Grindor for company anyway."

Rad found himself frowning before he realized it. Rachel mirrored his expression. Growing up, being alone was the problem. He'd have given anything to have his parents' attention before tunnel vision for their next dig set in. He spent too much time stuck in a room with little else to do but throw a ball at a wall.

"Yes, you do." Rachel said quietly. "Still, it's not like you can just tell them that." Carlos 'hmmph'ed.

Alexis stepped forward when the hologram girl appeared at the base of the computer. The screen showed Laserbeak was flying high in the air, revealing it was night time where the mini-con had activated. "I was wondering, do you have a name?" The green-haired girl stared at her, and Rad jolted when he realized they still didn't know what to call her.

"No." The girl said, her expression flat. "I am only the digitized personality imprint of the human girl I was..." she trailed off, a strain in her expression. "I'm-I'm no longer a person, therefore I do not have a name."

Carlos stiffened up, and his fists balled up. "That's not true!" he said vehemently. "You care and think, so you need a name."

The green-haired girl frowned. "I'm only an illusion..." she sighed, and Rad was startled to hear how staticky it was.

"No, Carlos is right," Rachel said, and the brunet beamed, "you need a name. It doesn't matter that you're digital."

The girl's eyes were widening slowly, as if it barely occured to her that people would disagree. Rad didn't know how long she'd been alone to come to think that way. "I...I wouldn't even know what to call myself. I-I can't recall what I was called in life."

Alexis coughed, her cheeks flushed as she unslung her backpack from her shoulder and pulled out her tablet. "Well, I hope you don't mind, but I thought you might have...memory problems in your hardrive, so I picked out a few names you might like." she held out her mini-computer, screen up as she ducked under the girl's stare.

For a long moment, the green-haired girl's eyes were locked on the screen. Slowly, an ironic smile crossed her lips. "So Maya means illusion," she whispered, and nodded to herself, "then you may call me Maya."

"Are you sure? What if you don't like it?" Carlos asked worriedly.

The newly dubbed Maya furrowed her brow slightly. "Then I will simply need to adjust to it, but I cannot think of a name that would so perfectly fit."

Rad bit his lip, a sting at the back of his neck as Kero pinched his skin. The guardian gritted his teeth as he kept his voice to a low hiss.

"Ask her about Clow."

Rad blinked, and he furrowed his brow. He was curious, but he wasn't going to just blurt it out. "Maya, what was your civilization like?"

The green-haired girl glanced off into space, her eyes holding a far-away stare. "Well, we were a peace and philosophical people...at first," she muttered that bit, "but we had always been looking to the stars, to learn more of the world. It was that curiosity which led us to finding the mini-cons that formed the Star Saber, and from the remains of technology they had been found with, we gleaned what we could and made ourselves more advanced than what humanity had been at the time." she looked down at the floor, eyes downcast. "It's been five thousand years since then, and I see the world has changed so much than I could have thought."

"That long, huh?" Carlos asked mystified.

"Yes," Maya said quietly, "but perhaps if we had listened to him we could have avoided our fate."

Rad felt Kero stiffen, while everyone else looked confused. 'Here we go.' The blond thought. "He who?"

Maya sighed deeply, but even she seemed to realize how unecessary it was. "Clow Reed, the most powerful wizard in the world. It was so strange, how one day he just...appeared," she sounded bemused even now, "and he told us much about the world, about the stars-and much like the mini-cons, we used that knowledge for our own desire, to gain power." Her features twisted in shame, and Alexis bit her lip.

"I find it a bit hard to believe that just a worldly person could have been a wizard," she said, "since magic doesn't exist and all, but this does explain why the Star Saber mini-cons don't like you." Maya nodded grimly.

Rachel frowned. "Magic doesn't exist." she whispered, but it sounded like a reassurance.

It made Rad wince all the same. "What happened next?"

"Clow Reed was celebrated as a great scholar, but when we began to use the Star Saber for more...territorial purposes, he became furtive and distant. It was only near the end that my...alive self learned Clow had tried to warn our leaders about the danger of what we were doing. I...I do not think I need to elaborate that it did not end well for us anyway."

"No," Rad said, "but can I ask about Clow Reed's magic? Did you ever see him use it?"

Rachel sent him a wide-eyed stare, but there was a balefulness in them. Rad understood it as her 'this does not compute' glare. "Magic-"

"Yes." Maya said. Rachel's mouth snapped shut, and she turned a more incredulous gaze to the girl. "It was the last human memory I can recall. As our city burned, Clow Reed used his magic to make the Star Saber and the rival civilization's mini-con weapon to revert back to their dormant forms, and scattered them-but one. Even now I do not know what happened, or where he went. What I do recall is that he could wield his magic with these special cards he carried with him."

Hot Shot straightened up, his attention that had been split between the screen and Maya, was now completely on the girl. "Cards?" he echoed, and Rad knew where his thoughts were headed. "Were they pink?"

"No, they were red." Maya said, her brow furrowed in confusion. Hot Shot sighed, shoulders slumping. "Long and rectangular, with pictures of many things on them, but I can't recall one ever being pink. Why do you ask?"

"I-I just thought- never mind." Hot Shot muttered.

Rachel shook her head. "As fascinating this history lesson is, I still have things on my checklist to do." she said and pulled her notepad out of her pocket. "I can cross explaining the situation off."

"You did that in two minutes of yelling at Carlos and Alexis?" Rad asked in disbelief.

"I multi-tasked." Rachel said. "Now come on," she gestured to the entrance, "let's get going." she paused and bit her lip as she looked at Maya. "Do...you want people to know? My father's an archeologist, and so are Rad's parents-I'm sure we could convince them to take a look at the ocean where your ruins are."

Maya blinked, her eyes wide. It was the most vulnerable she looked. "You...you would do that?" Rachel nodded, and the green-haired girl gave another static-filled sigh, more relieved than worried. "Then yes, if you can manage it."

Rachel smiled. "I'll do what I can."

"Ray, could I stay behind just a bit longer? I got something important to talk to Hot Shot about." Rad said, nervous about being so close to the moment of truth.

Rachel gave him a scrutinizing stare. "If I do, you'd better come right back after you're done. No slacking off or I'll know."

"Because you're psychic?" Rad asked, knowing Rachel would take offense to it, and she scowled as expected.

"No, because High Wire will tell me." she huffed. "Now, don't make me tell you again." she said sternly.

Alexis and Sureshock followed after her, while Carlos grumbled but Grindor patted his shoulder.

"She is the more wordly person here." he said soothingly, but Carlos just grumbled louder.

Rad waited until the footsteps faded, and he took a calming breath. "Hot Shot, the card you have...is-it used to be called a Clow Card, the same cards that Clow Reed used."

Hot Shot's optics grew wider, and he scrambled to take the pink card from his shoulder compartment. He looked incredulously down at it, then at Rad in disbelief. "How do you even know this?"

"I know because," Rad slowly pulled out the array of cards he had, holding them face out to let the pictures be seen, and winced when the yellow bot's optics seemed to lock onto Flower, "I have the same ones-only now they're called Sakura Cards."

"Amazing." Maya whispered. "They look so much like the cards he used."

Hot Shot shook his head, taking another step back as his frame began to shake. "This can't be, it's supposed to be a Wisp messing with me!" he reached up with his free hand to clutch at his head. "What is even going on?!"

Rad held the cards to his chest, once more feeling Create's judgemental gaze on him. "I'm sorry, and I know I can never say it enough to make it up to you."

"You lied to me!" Hot Shot snapped, and Rad flinched under the angry blue gaze. "You knew what this was and you didn't say anything-what kind of friend does that?"

Before Rad could say anything, Kero's voice cut him off.

"Hey, back off you rustbucket!" he flew up from Rad's hoodie, and zoomed around to stand between the blond and the yellow bot, who stared in disbelief down at the guardian. Maya looked just as stupified.

"What-what the slag are you?" Hot Shot sputtered.

"He's Kerberos, a guardian beast." Rad explained. "He came out a book that was in Rachel's attic, and he's supposed to be watching over the Sakura Cards."

"The cards you hold truly are those that Clow Reed used?" Maya asked.

"Yes." Kero answered instead. "He poured immeasurable magic into creating fifty-two cards called the Clow Cards."

"Fifty-two." Rad repeated. "So I guess something happened that cause them to be fifty-three?" Kero nodded, and the blond felt the weight of the mission fall on him. There were still so many left. A hand landed on his shoulder, and the blond both saw and felt the reassurance from High Wire, who had clearly opted to be a silent observer. It did give Rad a bit of strength back. "After all the cards escaped, I was tasked with capturing them and-and that's how you ended up with Create."

Hot Shot stared at him with hard optics, and then at the card. "Rad, you let me think I was crazy, that everyone else thought I was." he said, hurt lacing every word.

"I wanted to tell you, I never meant for this to happen." Rad said.

"Then why didn't you?" Hot Shot pressed.

"Because I told him not too!" Kero shouted. "If you want to blame someone, blame me! I'm the one who doesn't trust you and told him not to tell any of you giant mecha toys!"

"Toys?!" Hot Shot retorted, his expression twisted in offence.

"Yes!" Kero snapped. He crossed his arms, holding himself stiffly. "The mini-cons knowing was bad enough, and I didn't want to know what you Autobots would do if you knew about the cards."

"Mini-" Hot Shot's optics widened once more, and his shoulders tensed. "Jolt!"

Rad winced, and saw the helicopter mini-con wander into the room.

"You bellowed?" Jolt asked sarcastically.

Hot Shot ignored it. "Jolt, did you know about these things called Sakura Cards? That I had one all this time?"

Jolt stared at him. "Huh, so Rad's finally telling you. About time."

Hot Shot sighed shakily, Create slipping from his fingers to waffle to the floor. He clutched the edge of the console, his entire form sagging as he just looked so defeated. Betrayed. Rad took a step forward, but High Wire kept him from going forward, and the mini-con shook his head.

"Don't, the last thing he'll want is to hear you." he said sadly. Rad bit his lip, and nodded. Even Maya stepped away from Hot Shot to give him space.

"All this time..." the yellow bot whispered. "All this time." he stiffened when slowly, Create glowed faintly and rose from the floor to waver in front of the mech. Hot Shot didn't even flinch when Create went back inside his shoulder compartment. An expression Rad had never seen crossed Hot Shot's faceplate; he looked bitter, and sad. "I guess I'm just suppose to be the universe's punching bag, since it's one shot after another it feels like."

Rad didn't know how to respond, do he stayed quiet.

A silence stretched over them, settling like a blanket.

And breaking the pause, was the Autobot leader's stern voice, "Hot Shot, I think we're going to need the Star Saber. There appears to be a strange dome over the mini-con. Nothing we have will get rid of it."

Rad's eyes widened, and he looked up at the console screen, showing Laserbeak's position above the group of Autobots that were standing in front of a mini-con who was tapping the green-blue and slightly opaque dome over it. "Kero, I thought you said the cards wouldn't go so far from town-that place looks too...cliffy to be anywhere nearby."

"I know what I said." Kero muttered. "And given that this is Shield, I'm pretty sure it wants to protect the mini-con. No distance would matter to it."

"Hot Shot?" Smokescreen's voice sounded over the comm., more unsure. "You there, buddy?"

"Y-yeah." Hot Shot's fingers clenched the console tighter. "The footage just shocked me, like what happened at the fair." his voice grew quieter as he likely remembered Flower, and what she was.

"The Star Saber won't break the dome." Maya said, her eyes focused on the dome. "During the final fight between our civilizations, Clow Reed used one of his cards to create a shield the same colors as this one which stopped the Star Saber in its tracks. It didn't even scratch it."

"Great." Hot Shot muttered. "Just what we need."

Rad glanced down at the cards still in his hands, and he bit his lip. If the Star Saber could cut through anything except Shield...then what about a sword that might able too? "I know you have no reason to trust me anymore, but-but I have an idea."

Hot Shot's optics narrowed. "You're right, I don't trust you."

Rad winced, and High Wire's reassuring grip on his shoulder tightened. "Okay, I deserve that and so much more, but please, at least acknowledge the Decepticons finding out about the cards to be worse."

The blond couldn't forget what Cyclonus said, just missing Glow but tracking a strange signal. "When I was kidnapped, Cyclonus told me he was looking for an energy reading; I don't doubt it was Glow-another Sakura Card-and it came so close to happening already."

Hot Shot gritted his denta, optics staring hard at the screen. His gaze narrowed, and his lips pressed into a tight line as he turned to look at Rad. "I'm still mad at you."

"And you have every right to be." The blond said.

"And you," Hot Shot scowled at Kero, "I don't like you."

The guardian stuck his tongue out at him. "Feeling's mutual, pal."

Hot Shot glared at Kero, but sighed in frustration. "Alright Rad, what's your idea?"

The blond bit his lip again, thumbs rubbing together nervously. "Well, I figured if you went out there with the Star Saber I could get Sword to embue it with its cutting power. You know-Sword and Shield, figured there really wasn't any better option right now." Rad hesitated, because this was the tricky part. "I'm not strong enough to use Sword from a distance, every time I've done it at close range...I need to go with you."

"What? No way!" Hot Shot retorted. "I'm mad at you, but I don't want you to die!"

"Listen tin can, Rad knows the risks of being a Cardcaptor." Kero said as he flew up to Hot Shot's level. "Why don't you stuff your self-righteousness and just listen to him?"

Hot Shot glowered at him. "I really don't like you."

High Wire crossed his arms. "I finally have someone feel the same way about Kero I do, and I can't even enjoy it." he grumbled, but Rad definitely wasn't going to reply even if he could.

"Can we put this on hold right now?" Rad asked. "Each second is more time we lose before the 'Cons show up."

Hot Shot breathed in deeply. "Fine, but we're nowhere near okay." he said morosely, and glanced at the green-haire girl who'd stayed silent as she observed the scene. "Maya, fire up the ground bridge. Rad, go wait in the warp room-I gotta get the Saber Saber minis."

Rad nodded, and when both he and Hot Shot split, Maya glanced at Kero.

"Clow Reed never mention he made guardians." she said simply.

Kero crossed his arms. "Funny, he never mentioned your civilization either."

The girl nodded, and that was all which needed to be said.

Going through Hot Shot's processor were many thoughts, some angrier than the last. Hurt was a close second; weren't he and Rad friends? Why didn't he tell him the truth earlier? That plush doll said he told Rad he hadn't trusted them and that was why. That hurt just as much; Rad knew the rule was dumb and still followed it.

Hot Shot was trustworthy, wasn't he? He didn't follow orders as strictly as he should, but he'd never sell anyone out. He vented deeply as he transformed into vehicle mode, allowing the three Star Saber minis to climb into his cabin. They beeped and booped with each other, leaving him unable to understand them as they had opted not to uplink with any of the Autobots.

The fact they knew when asking for them meant 'time to cut things' was a bit worrying though.

When Rad came into the warp room, a pink stick in hand and Kero floating alongside him and High Wire, the three mini-cons already in the cabin didn't even react. Hot Shot wondered if they were already told. Jolt wasn't going, because he'd kept this from him just like Rad did.

The boy glanced at High Wire. "If Rachel calls the base looking for me or shows up, can you try and make something up?" he asked, and High Wire nodded.

It made Hot Shot realize Rad hadn't told his cousin sink in-he really had kept it from them on purpose. If not for a slip, would the mini-cons even have known? No, probably not. "We'd better hurry."

Rad nodded and climbed into the passenger seat, placing the stick over his lap. A card slipped out from his pocket, the face revealing the woman he'd danced at the fair with. The card zipped around the interior of the cabin before flying back in front of Rad, soft blue ripples emitting from it. Rad's expression was downcast. "Now's not a good time to come out."

The card seemed to sink, before falling back into Rad's grasp.

The blond put the card back into his pocket before pulling out another one, this one with a thin sword covered in chains on the face of it. "Okay, we can go."

Hot Shot didn't reply as he gave Maya the all clear, causing the warp gate to light up. It showed the rocky night time area where the other Autobots were, and Hot Shot made his way through.

Once on the other side, Hot Shot opened his doors to let his passengers out, and transformed.

"Wait." Rad said suddenly, his expression worried as the three minis looked to form the sword halted. "I-I'm not sure how Sword's going to affect you," he winced, something guilty in his features, "or, I'm not sure how Sword's going to affect you now that it's been caught." he breathed in deeply. "It won't hurt you, so...please just let Sword do its job." And he really did looking pleading.

Hot Shot saw Jetstorm, Runway and Sonar all nod, no hesitation in their reply. The yellow mech wished he could be as certain, have as much faith in Rad and these cards. "I...alright." he finally muttered, and glanced at the three mini-cons. "Time to form the saber." The trio nodded and in a flash of light, the Star Saber fell into Hot Shot's grasp, the laser coating appearing along the blade.

Rad tossed the card into the air, where it actually stayed in place above his head. He pointed the stick at it, the wings at the side of the circle glowing and expanding. When a golden circle appeared under Rad, Hot Shot couldn't stop himself from taking a step back in surprise. "Give Hot Shot and the Star Saber the ability to cut through anything in their way, Sword!"

The yellow mech flinched when he saw a ghostly shape of the sword on the face of the card melt into the Star Saber. His optics widened as a surge of power went through the blade, and it ran along his own frame. He twirled the sword in his grasp, his movements foreign yet familiar.

He wasn't clumsy, he actually felt refined holding this blade. Like he could actually use it.

"Rad, you'd better find a good place to hide." Hot Shot said.

The blond nodded, still subdued. "If you manage to cut through Shield, please keep the others from seeing Shield's card."

A new flare of anger roused. If, because this wasn't a garaunteed plan, and because Hot Shot was being asked to pull one over on his comrades. "I'd tell you forget it, but I'm too mad to argue."

Rad slumped over, his grip tight on his staff. He nodded without a word, and slipped off to one of the rock crevices.

Hot Shot glanced up, his optics managing to catch sight of Laserbeak flying overhead. They'd probably have to deal with the video feed being recorded too. Great. His audios picked up the sound of a rock being kicked, and his servo tightened around the Star Saber's handle. Alertness surged to the forefront of his mind, but he relaxed when the purple and yellow frame came around the bend beside him. "Oh, hey, Sideways. Thought you were a 'Con for a second."

Sideways chuckled quietly, lowering his arm cannon. "Feeling was mutual, but I am glad to see it's you." he tilted his head slightly. "Think you can get rid of this dome?"

Hot Shot grinned, calling on his acting skills to make sure nothing seemed off about him. "You bet I can!"

"Then come on, everyone's over here." Sideways said, and Hot Shot trailed after the other mech for some twenty feet. They weaved through jutting rocks, and the yellow mech would catch flashes of blond hair as Rad was forced to follow them. Hot Shot in turn had to steer into the boy's line of sight to keep Sideways from spotting him.

Once they turned at a steeper cliff that seemed to go up into the clouds for miles, Hot Shot found the rest of the Autobots standing around the opaque dome. He held the sword against his shoulder. "Guess who's here to save the day?"

Smokescreen smiled at him, light and teasing. "Getting a bit ahead of yourself, aren't you?" Hot Shot huffed.

Kneeling next to the dome, Red Alert was scanning it as the mini-con was now sitting on the ground, beeping and drawing circles into the dirt. "This sphere would be amazing if it weren't so infuriating." The medic said. "It matches the signal of the previous energy readings we found, but my scanners aren't registering the mini-con at all."

Hot Shot furrowed his optic ridges. The mini-con wasn't showing up? "The alarm went off though."

"Perhaps the dome appeared after the alarm sounded, but before we came across the mini-con." Optimus said. He vented heavily. "These strange energy signatures are an unknown factor, and we have no idea how dangerous they are-to the humans and to us."

Hot Shot grimaced as the image of Optimus' seared plating flashed through his processor. It had been a shock to the system, especially now when he could still see the white lining where Red Alert had patched up the tear. "Step back and let me do my thing."

Red Alert snorted lightly, but stepped away from the dome. Smokescreen and Optimus did the same, and Hot Shot walked up to the dome. He glanced to his side and made sure they wouldn't see the card.

"Make sure you remember to swing down." Red Alert said dryly.

"Ha, real funny." Hot Shot retorted.

The mini-con got to its pedes, standing to the side of the dome as the yellow mech raised the Star Saber.

A sharp shing shot through the air, and Hot Shot felt his body move as a shot came close to shooting him in the shoulder. His optics widened; was it him or Sword that just moved? Right now he didn't know and as he whirled around, his spark pulsed. 'Scrap, 'Cons.' He didn't need this right now.

Optimus shot the yellow mech a quick glance. "Get that barrier down and we can get out of here."

Hot Shot gritted his denta, his optics glancing at where he'd last seen Rad hiding. Scrap. "Alright." he gritted out, and turned back to the dome while the other Autobots went to fight the Decepticons. He rose the blade again, but the flash of red made him jump back and scowl as Starscream's swing missed him narrowly.

The seeker sneered at him. "Hello, little Autobot; do you even know how to wield that sword?"

Hot Shot glared at him, his grip tightening on the hilt. "I knew enough to send Megatron packing."

Starscream jerked his chin up, a haughty look on his faceplate. "Beginner's luck, you have no idea how truly difficult it is to master a blade."

"You did." Hot Shot retorted, and smirked when the seeker's frame tensed.

"I will make you regret those words." he said. "There's no one here to protect you now."

Hot Shot narrowed his optics, the phantom aches of feeling his plating tear open echoing through him. "I don't need to be protected." he brandished the sword in front of him, the thrum of power flowing through him. Whether it was the Star Saber or Sword, he couldn't be sure, but he wasn't going to fight it.

Starscream narrowed his optics, but charged without a word. He swung his wing sword, and Hot Shot moved to block it, a strange disconnect as though someone else were in control of his body. Starscream pressed his sword in closer, and the yellow bot scowled at him as the seeker smirked. "What, no smart remarks?"

Hot Shot felt his body coil tight. "Just one," he hoped this gave Sword its cue, "you're done."

Springing forward, the Star Saber was angled down to come up in a slash that tore clean through Starscream's wing sword, with the seeker freezing as the laser blade was held inches from his throat. A shallow crack appeared on his chest plate, right in the spot that Hot Shot's own had been torn.

"Thought I'd return the favor." Hot Shot felt the words slip out, surprise pulsing through his spark. It didn't feel like him talking, and when he realized he was smirking he couldn't stop that either.

Given their close proximity, trying to fire a shot would cause a huge backlash. Something Starscream also knew, as he scowled and a baleful glare appeared in his optics. "Don't think you're better than me."

Hot Shot felt his lips curl into a grin, and he wondered if this was Sword being offended by Starscream thinking he was a master swordsmech. "Bye now."

The seeker's scowl never left, even as he warped away. Hot Shot felt his limbs come back under his own control, and he hurried to the dome.

'No time to waste.' he thought, sliding around the dome, and in one motion the blade began to cut through the opaque. His optics widened as his grip slackened and the image of Sword appeared and disappeared just as quickly.

Then his gaze was cast onto to the ghostly form in front of him as the dome became a the image of a wing, with a tapered base that angled into three points and an orange gem in the center like a clasp. The image vanished, leaving a card in its place that floated into his grasp.

Venting, Hot Shot put Shield with Create, and turned his gaze to the mini-con. "Hey there."

The mini-con beeped, tilting their head. It's gaze shifted to somewhere behind him, and Hot Shot became very aware of the fact things had gone quiet. The yellow mech looked over his shoulder, but relief was sharp and clear as he saw there was no sign anyone had seen him.

"Hey, Optimus, Red, Smokescreen, Sideways, any of you still out here?" he called.

"There is no need to yell." Red Alert said as he returned with the others.

Smokescreen blinked when he saw part of a sword impaled on the ground, and then looked at Hot Shot. "No way, isn't that Starscream's sword?"

Hot Shot grinned. "Sure is, I caught him off guard and cut it in off. Had him on the ropes so he took off." he waited until the blade's laser coating disappeared before patting it. "This sword really can cut through anything, took one swing and the dome went poof."

"It's remarkable you were able to use the Star Saber so efficiently, given how...badly you're training with it has been." Red Alert said.

"Good job, Hot Shot." Optimus said, and Hot Shot beamed, saluting the mech.

"Thank you, sir!"

"Alright everyone," Optimus began, "let's head back to base."

"Sure thing, I'll get Laserbeak," Hot Shot said, "I think it got hit by a stray shot."

Optimus nodded, and he warped away, along with Red Alert and Smokescreen, who had went to retrieve the mini-con. Sideways stayed a moment longer, his gaze cast to the blade and then to Hot Shot before he too warped out.

Hot Shot let out a loud sigh of relief. "Laserbeak!" he yelled, and the drone came flying down. He caught it, and ejected the memory chip before crushing it. Hot Shot gave the slot a gentle denting, just enough to give the illusion of scruffing. "Rad, get out here, I need to talk to you."

Rad came out from his hiding spot, pink staff no where in sight but that wasn't the pressing concern. The blond tried to smile, but it came out a grimace. "You-you were awesome." Hot Shot stayed silent, and Rad winced. "What did you need to talk about?"

"Can these cards control people?" Hot Shot asked bluntly.

Rad flinched, panic on his face. "Sword did that? I thought you were just better at using the Star Saber than Sideways said." he rubbed his arm. "I guess that answers the question. I'm not really sure how anything works myself, it's mostly guessing and that's not fun."

Hot Shot frowned, but given how long they were taking, it wouldn't be good to be to sta out here and have anyone get suspicious. "Do you want Shield?"

Rad bit his lip. "Of course, but Shield chose you, even if you can't use it. I won't make a card come with me."

Given Create hadn't tried anything since it was with Hot Shot, the yellow mech hoped this meant they liked him enough to continue being calm. "When we get to base, I'm gonna make an excuse to go for a drive, and then I'm going to drop you off at your apartment, got it?"

Rad didn't argue, and he climbed into the cabin along with the mini-cons before Hot Shot warped them away.

Unbeknowst to anyone, a figure high above the battlefield stood in a dark cloak. They were a tall form, and when speaking, the voice had a metallic edge. "It seems things are more interesting on this planet than I initially thought."