Here are your usual beginning of story notifications: I, nor roudyredd own any of the Transformers characters (though we may have various objects or animals that may hold their names). All of that belong to Hasbro and all the buyers of the names and rights and all that rot. Definitely not us.

This story revolves around OC's. If you don't care for OC's, this is probably not a fic for you.

Scatterblade,Charlie and Nate: belong to roudyredd

Illusory and Marc "Tibs" Tiegan: belong to me

Warning; spark stuff.


Event Twenty-Nine

Safety is an illusion. It is a scattered idea of perceived protection from that which can do the worst damage.

They reached the place where Tibs and his small crew had set up in due time. A class was currently doing a 'walk through' of the lab; something that the team had worked out with the college as part of the co-education program they were setting up. Most students were oblivious to the technology they were seeing, only here because it was required, while some were so overwhelmed that they could hardly control themselves.

"And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the next wave in bio-mechanical experimentation!" Tibs announced happily waving over his cluttered table of parts.

Jazz's holoform trotted easily into the small crowd of college students, a mischievous look on his face. "Looks like slag!" He announced, hidden within.

"Trouble," Illusory grumbled as she came to stand just beyond the crowd. "Mech is nothing but trouble."

Charlie and Scatterblade slid up beside the femme, the human woman stifling a fit of giggles at the small mech's antics.

"Slag?" Tibs responded to the word before recognizing the familiarity it was used with. "The only thing that's slag around here is your sad excuse for a vehicle, sir!"

"Hey! That baby's in top shape!" The mech held out his hand as Tibs came over to shake it.

"How's it goin'? I didn't know you were coming into town."

"Had ta make uh delivery ta th' locals," he jerked his thumb over his shoulder to where the others were standing.

"Hello, Mr. Tiegan." Illusory greeted.

"Showing off your geek van?" Charlie quipped, trotting up beside Jazz.

The students looked thoroughly confused by the sudden change in focus, but calmly stood around to wait until their current guide wanted their attention again. Some took the liberty to explore on their own.

"Of course!" Tibs answered with enthusiasm. "Can't just let it sit here and not get admired. What brings you guys up here?"

"Ah thought Ah'd check in with ya. Base asked meh ta report back," Jazz explained.

"Oh! Well, let me finish up here and we can talk." Tibs turned back to the students and continued his tour, his enthusiasm for what he was showing them not dimmed at all by his desire visit with the 'bots and Charlie.

"He's definitely in his element," Charlie stated with amusement.

"Seems like it," Scatterblade agreed.

"I suppose it is not every day he gets the opportunity to show off the things he has that no one else can have to people who may , or may not, care." Illusory said rather plainly. While she was impressed by what the technology could do for the humans, she wasn't overall thrilled by the technology itself. It was all rather basic as far as she was concerned; as far as most any Cybertronian would be concerned really, but it was a large step forward for the humans.

"True," Charlie conceded, looking at all the stuff everywhere. It was some kind of organized chaos stuffed to the brim with things she didn't even comprehend what they might be for, let alone what they could achieve.

Jazz poked around for a while, but soon found the lab to be rather basic and a little too reminiscent of Wheeljack's lab back on base. "Ah'd swear these two were related if they weren't different species," the mech stated with an amused huff.

"Jazz, please, watch what you say," Illusory scolded after a few students spared him a curious glance.

Charlie smiled nervously as the students passed by. "You're louder than 'Blade."

"Hey!" The dark haired holoform pouted.

Jazz just laughed and waved cheerily at the students; most passed him off as just 'weird' but one or two kept a wary eye on him and those associating with him.

Once everyone had their fill, or had been chased off, Tibs returned to the small group.

"Good to see you all," he greeted happily. "Let's go to the back where we can talk in private."

Everyone followed Tibs's lead, all breathing a small sigh of relief that the lab was less crowded now that the students had left.

There was a small area designed for sitting; possibly for study, for conferences, or just to sit in, and Tibs waved that they each take a seat. Jazz took no time swinging a chair around to sit in backwards, Tibs sitting across from the energetic mech and Illusory claiming a chair with a wall directly behind her. Scatterblade sat to her left and Charlie on her right, flanking the still edgy femme to offer some form of comfort; even if Charlie didn't know what for.

"So, what have you been up to out here?" Charlie asked, glancing out at the rather haphazard looking lab.

"We've had the opportunity to do a ton of introductory research with some of the prosthetic research facilities around here. Nothing on par with Charlie, but still; we couldn't exactly just slap all of this at them and not expect to have to come up with some inventive answers. Best to take the slow and easy route."

"Definitely true," the redhead laughed. "Glad to see you're keeping busy. I thought you'd go crazy in this bus with nothing to do."

"Oh no, this thing," he patted one wall affectionately, "is home away from home...well, it's more home than the away from tell you the truth. But at any rate, we keep busy around here."

"Cool. I'm still looking for a job that works around school," she mumbled, no small amount of annoyance at the fact in her tone, "but, I get to move in with Blade and Lu!" Her mood immediately lifted once more.

"Move in? Where?" Tibs turned to the two mentioned 'bots, curiosity clear on his face.

"Oh, yes. We guilt a home near the beach with a human facade to cover it; Charlie has agreed to live within the facade. It will make it real and as well as keep good company nearby."

"That sounds...strange," the man shook his head. "Living in a facade?"

"Its a house above theirs," Charlie smiled as she explained.

"Oh! Okay, that doesn't sound quite so awkward," Tibs laughed.

"It is equivalent to any standard human based home; it would not do to have a facade that could be easily seen through."

"Yeah," Jazz added. "That's th' statistical way ta say it..." he teased. "Besides that, it's uh pretty nice little beach house if ya ask meh."

"Totally!" Charlie agreed. "You did a great job!"

"It is still incomplete," Illusory pointed out.

Jazz shook his head. "AH swear, ya gotta be from th' same creators as Prowl. Focusing on all th' wrong points, femme! Ya got uh beautiful home, uh great companion," he waved his hand to Charlie, "an' uh great bond-mate. Be happy."

"I am happy!" She retorted sharply. "I am simply pointing out that things will be better in a few more orns."

Scatterblade grinned, placing his hand on hers. "Jazz is just trying to loosen you up a little. I know you're happy, you're excited. Jazz just thinks you should show it a bit more enthusiastically."

"Some of us do not exactly know how to be so...open," she grumbled softly, though a flutter of excitement struck her spark and a smile found its way to her faceplates. "It's just so...new."

Jazz laughed, enjoying seeing even the slightest joy cross the femme's features for the first time since he had arrived. "Next think ya know, there'll be lil' ones runnin' around causin' all kinds'a havoc. Might as well enjoy this quiet time."

Scatterblade only just managed to keep his laugh inside, merely continuing to grin and soaking in the joy coming off of his femme, ignoring Jazz's jibes.

Illusory, however, practically lost control of her holoform at the statement. She knew better than to say anything or Jazz would know. Then again, as Scatterblade had said before, would it be so bad? Sharing their good news shouldn't be such a fearful thing to her, yet still a part of her simply refused to relent. "Yeah, s-someday..." she stammered.

"Little ones? Really?" Charlie tried not to squeal with her excitement over the prospect.

"That would be great!" Tibs bounced in his seat, only just managing to control himself at the unexpected news that the pair had bonded. "A new generation of Cybertronians born right here on Earth?!"

The pure panic that came over Illusory at that point was visible even in her holoform.

"'S matter, Lu?" Jazz asked, leaning over the table to look at the femme a little closer. "Yer holoform went all pale. Ah didn't even know they could do that."

"N-nothing," the femme fidgeted slightly, feeling a little trapped where she was. "Ah'll be back," she muttered as the holoform vanished.

"Lu!" Jazz called, confused and concerned by her reaction. He turned to Scatterblade for some kind of explanation. "Yer femme's actin' awfully strange, mech. What's goin' on?"

"Was it something I said?" Tibs asked nervously.

Scatterblade studied those around him for a moment before letting his own holoform dissipate. ::Lu, hey, are you alright?::

::Ah'm fine...just feeling a little overwhelmed is all.:: The femme assured her mate. She wasn't used to the level of self awareness she currently had. She had always been very careful to keep herself out of harms way, to know where she was and where those around her were, but for some reason she couldn't entirely explain other than she was now carrying, she suddenly felt hyper aware of everything and skittish. ::I think maybe I should return home. Will you watch after Charlie?::

::Of course,:: he obliged. ::Go make yourself comfortable. Comm if you need anything.::

With a thankful ping to her mate, the femme turned for home, a faint wave of relief washing over her.

"What's goin' on?" Jazz asked from the door of the lab. He had come to investigate what had set off the femme and was surprised to see her leaving. Charlie and Tibs had followed behind and looked just as confused to see the white Tiburon driving away.

Scatterblade reestablished his holoform and let it get out of the car for appearance sake. "She's okay. Just feeling a little strained."

"What's causing the strain?" Tibs asked worriedly as he joined the others. "Is there something we can do to help?"

"Space," the mech said with confidence. "She just wanted some space."

"We make her mad?" Jazz pushed, still sensing something was glaring at him and he simply wasn't seeing it. Not a feeling he was at all comfortable with.

"No," Scatterblade assured them all. "She's not mad, she's really eager to get our house finished. Guess she just let the stress build up, that's all."

"Ah see," Jazz nodded, though he still didn't look convinced. "Well, its uh good thing Ah'm gonna stick around uh few days an' help finish up. Maybe she'll stop stressin' so much."

"If there is anything I can do," Tibs offered, "I would be glad to help out too."

"Three," Charlie grinned. "Lucky you."

The black front-liner smiled gratefully. "Thanks guys."

"No problem," Tibs cheered happily.

"Yeah," Jazz agreed. "That's what friends are for."

"Absolutely," Charlie agreed.

Scatterblade nodded, accepting the statements with welcome. "So," he said with a heavy sigh, "what is everyone up to doing?"

"Well, I'm pretty well done for the day, that was the last tour tonight." Tibs waved back toward the lab and to where a few students were still milling around. "I just need to lock up and I'm free."

"Ah'd really lie ta see th' place," Jazz said as he looked around. "Ah mean, th' whole place, not just th' university."

"Sounds good to me," Charlie beamed. "We can go to the boardwalk!"

"I could show Jazz the PCH," Scatterblade said with a knowing grin. "Pacific Coast Highway. Scenic and fast."

"Ah like fast!" The mech practically crowed his agreement.

"Thought you would," he laughed. "Let's way we drop off these two and head on up?"

"Sounds great," the saboteur agreed, turning to see if the humans liked the idea.

"I like the boardwalk," Tibs agreed.

"Cool!" Charlie practically bounced with eagerness.

Scatterblade got into his 'car', opening the passenger door for Charlie.

Jazz cuffed Tibs on the shoulder, indicating that he was going to ride with him. The scientist was all too eager to get a ride from the silver Solstice.

The trip to the boardwalk was quick, though enjoyable. Scatterblade raced with Jazz and tried to keep the speed limit at the same time. Charlie laughed the entire time, clutching her seat belt with every turn they took a little too quickly.

Jazz made sport of the run; it would be easy enough to ignore the speed limit all together and pour on all his speed, but with a human passenger he kept closer to the speed limit.

Scatterblade nearly missed his exit, so enthralled with the pseudo-race. Pulling into the lane quickly, he offered a quick; "Sorry," and slowed for the red light.

Jazz spun into the turn with a loud screech of his tires, but didn't seem perturbed by it at all. "No problem." He was built for tougher moves than that anyway.

Pulling into the street, Scatterblade grew excited. There were so many people here! He knew it was still really cold for this area and not a lot of people would be in the water, but they were all over the boardwalk. There were small vendors set up selling trinkets; colored clothes, and accessories. People rode bicycles and roller blades, and walked or sat to talk or play music, just enjoying themselves in the warm sun.

"It's always so lively here," Tibs said happily.

Jazz agreed with a rev of his engine; completely absorbing the activity around him. "Way better than the base."

Scatterblade found a parking spot and his holoform stepped out. "You could spend all day here," he chuckled in awe.

"That's exactly what some guys do," Charlie stepped out of the car. "There's even an amusement park on one of the piers."

"Ya'll know how ta waste some time havin' fun," Jazz laughed.

Tibs couldn't help a cheeky smile. "Call it a knack; we never have enough time but we sure find good ways to waste it."

Charlie shrugged, not ashamed in the slightest. "Definitely a knack," she agreed.

Jazz's holoform did a little dance, displaying his excitement. "Ah'm not complainin' one bit."

"Do you think you wanna go find some rides?" Charlie asked the guys, her grin nearly split her face. It was always exciting to be on the boardwalk, but having people new to it all; aliens at that! It was a whole new level of exhilarating.

"What'da'ya think, 'Blade? We can race later, wanna enjoy some human style fun?"

The mech pumped his fist with eagerness. "Yes! Let's go!"

Tibs had grown accustomed to most of the Autobots on base; they all had different personalities and were unique in their own way, but he hadn't had the opportunity to work with Jazz as close as he had to mechs like Wheeljack and Ratchet. He found the change rather...nice. Charlie was also excited to have Jazz with them. She had loved being on base and meeting all the 'bots, but getting to know them well wasn't very easy. She was eager to have the chance to get to know another awesome mech. Having a chance to hang out with Tibs didn't hurt either.

Jazz thoroughly enjoyed the place; being loud and gaining attention. Crowds tended to gather around the group to see what was so entertaining, or to cheer them on in whatever they were doing. Charlie played some games and cheered as Scatterblade shot ducks, and other targets at various stalls. The day was easily wasted as they went on. Tibs stayed close to Charlie the whole time.

Even as things were calming down, Jazz still seemed as though he would go on forever. Scatterblade was about to ask if they could do one more activity when he saw how tired and glazed over Charlie looked; Tibs not too much better himself. "Not as durable these two," he chuckled to Jazz, pointing at the weary humans. "Ready to get going?"

"Yeah, should get them home," Jazz agreed.

"Ready to head back, Charlie?" Scatterblade asked, gaining the redhead's attention.

"Home?" She asked, trying to clarify.

"Yup," he smiled, already ushering the pair toward the exit.

"Yeah," Tibs laughed, "it's probably about that time."

"Ya wanna take Charlie, an' Ah'll take Tibs?" Jazz asked. "We can meed back later fer uh little racin' if yer still up fer it."

"Absolutely," Scatterblade said, nudging Charlie along. "Come on, Charlie. Let's get you home."

"Alright," she consented with a yawn.

Tibs offered a tired goodbye to the other two, then followed Jazz's holoform back to his alt.

"It was fun, Charlie," Jazz waved. "Catch ya later!"

"Yeah, I had a blast! See ya later, Jazz! Bye Tibs!"

Jazz took off with a little flourish, though he kept his pace slightly slower this time around; minding his exhausted passenger.

The black Bonneville sped after him, careful to keep watch on speed and traffic. He knew better than to be careless at night.

::Hey, 'Blade?:: Jazz called as he pulled off to take Tibs back to the university. ::Why don't ch'a ask yer femme if she want's ta join us? Maybe burn off some steam?::

He hesitated. Would she be up to it? Or would she be upset? He vented, only one way to find out. ::Hey, 'Lu. How are you feeling?::

The other end of the link clicked a few times as though the femme were attempting to connect, then sat silent.

The strangeness of the comm sent a shock of alarm through the mech. ::'Lu? Lu, what's wrong?::

Again there was a click followed by silence, then another comm pinged Scatterblade. It was an unfamiliar one with a rather urgent stamp to it. The message was simple; ::We have your femme. Come get her.::

Slamming on his brakes he squealed to the side of the road. "Jazz!" He shouted aloud, terror gripping at his spark.

Charlie clung to the seat, shouting in surprise. "What the heck did you do that for?!" Her exhaustion was gone, banished in the face of adrenaline.

Jazz knew something was very wrong at the tone of Scatterblade's voice even as it carried to him over the sound of traffic. ::What's up 'Blade?:: all joke and play was gone from his voice, the vorns of war and being the third in command under Prime shining through clearly.

Scatterblade ignored his passenger, anger seeping into the shock and fear. ::Someone answered Lu's comm.:: his engine roared back to life and he sped toward home, determined to find and destroy whomever had been foolish enough to touch his mate.

::'Blade!:: Jazz snapped, obedience demanded in his tone. ::Take Charlie somewhere safe first.:: Jazz's own engine purred with stirring emotions as he pulled back on the road, intending to deliver his passenger home.

"What is going on?" Tibs asked a little nervously after the sudden stop.

"Seems uh situation has come up. Gonna take ya home, then gotta run."

"What kind of situation?"

"Not sure yet."

Scatterblade felt an urge to just keep going; he didn't care what Jazz said, his femme was in danger and she needed him now. Still, she had asked him to watch over Charlie and he had no idea what kind of trouble they might be facing. He gave the saboteur a confirming ping and returned to his original course to return the woman home.

"'Blade, what's going on?" Charlie asked, tightening her seat belt. She was pretty sure she could feel tremors running through her seat, but that might very well have been her.

"I don't know," he said shortly.

Charlie felt a twinge of worry start to tear into an ever present gap that existed wherever her alien friends were concerned, allowing the feeling to flood her. "It'll be okay, whatever it is. It'll be okay," she said confidently, though she wasn't sure her words would be any comfort to the mech.

"Slag right it will," he growled determinedly.

Jazz made a quick job of dropping off Tibs and heading for the beach house. ::'Blade, talk ta meh. Ya know who it was? What'd they say?::

Scatterblade dropped Charlie off with a quick promise to let her know what happened as soon as he could. ::Jazz, I don't know who it was. They just said 'we have her, come get her'.:: He took heavy intakes of air to help him not let his fury out on his friend and senior officer. He looped back onto the road and sped home; speed limits be damned.

::Slag,:: the mech groaned. ::Could be anyone, but Ah'd venture to guess it's 'Cons. Usually is.::

::It's so much worse than just that,:: Scatterblade's voice trembled before he could catch himself.

::'Lu's dealt with 'Con's before, 'Blade. It isn't th' best o' situations, but she's strong. We'll find her.::

::Jazz, you don't understand,:: the front-liner lamented with a growl, ::she's...she's carrying our sparkling. I've put them both in danger and I wasn't even there to protect them!::

Jazz felt his innards turn to ice, his engine stalling. ::She's what?"

::She's carrying our sparkling,:: he repeated hopelessly. ::I shouldn't have left her alone. I shouldn't have let her leave...:: he rambled, anger and despair building. He was angry at whomever had done this, angry at not thinking about protecting his family. He was so very angry with himself.

::Okay, okay,:: the saboteur tried to keep his voice calm. ::They don't know that, she'll be fine. We'll find her before they can do anything.::

Scatterblade was silent for a full breem as they drove toward the house. He didn't want to take it out on Jazz, the mech was there to help him. It wasn't his fault. ::Right,:: he vented finally. ::We will.::

Arriving at the house, they found no external evidence of a struggle. There weren't even any tracks that indicated Illusory had reached their home on her return trip.

"Ah don't think she came back here," Jazz suggested.

Scatterblade shook with his anger, but kept his voice calm enough to speak. "Let's see if we can find where she was last."

"Head back th' way sh'd have come. See if we can find where she deviated. If they told ya ta come get her, they want ya ta find where she was at least." Jazz tried to keep his tone commanding, but sympathetic. Things seemed suddenly much clearer to him and he didn't envy Scatterblade one bit being in his current position.

As they backtracked, they came across a spot that looked like a car had been pushed off the road.

"There," Jazz pointed out.

The terrain was rough but drive-able. It seemed pretty clear from the tracks that Illusory had attempted to run, but hadn't made it far. The tracks ended very suddenly.

"Fliers," Jazz cursed under his breath. "Lets spread out, look fer some clue."

Scatterblade cycled more air to keep himself from fuming at the saboteur as he started to search the brush.

It took some time but Scatterblade finally came across a postcard, stuck in a small island of sand surrounded by old, congealed energon. The card showed many green trees and rolling hills. It simply proclaimed; 'Come to Oregon!'

"Jazz," the mech called, his voice trembling with anger. He fingered the card, a churning in his tanks at the liquid spilled around it.

Jazz came to where Scatterblade was, his own anger boiling just beneath the surface. "We know where ta head," he said tightly. "Ah'll contact Optimus." He turned away to give Scatterblade some privacy for a moment.

Scatterblade stared at the ground, trying hard not to see the energon. He clenched his fists, pain percolating at his spark, illness twisting his tanks. How could this happen? He was supposed to protect her; not only was it his job – his mission – but she was his mate! This was the prisoner mission all over again. He had let himself get comfortable and they had slipped in to destroy his world...again. He tried to shake it from his processor, but he couldn't. He was going to lose her because he hadn't been paying attention. Venting brokenly, a tired angry sound escaped him.

"Optimus is sending uh team ta meet up with us there. Try 'n contact 'em again."

"What?" Scatterblade had nearly forgotten Jazz was there at all. Turning to look at him he saw understanding but also a determination that wouldn't go unheeded. "Yeah, okay." Venting again to calm himself, he attempted to contact Illusory again.

The line clicked like before several times before there was any response. ::'Blade?:: The femme's voice trembled. ::Don't come,:: she begged raggedly, ::Its ah tra...::

::Sneaky,:: the unfamiliar voice cut in. ::Your femme's got some spunk...and a few tricks it seems. Better hurry before it gets her deactivated.::

::You hurt her, you're dead,:: he said simply, opening the comm so Jazz could hear both ends of the conversation.

The voice laughed. ::Threaten me? That's wise.:: There was a klik of silence before a torn scream filled the link. ::There. Now, come make good on your threat...or try to.::

Scatterblade's spark froze and he felt on the edge of glitching and offlining. He felt his knees buckle beneath him and he fell heavy to the ground.

"'Blade!" Jazz moved to steady the mech. "Focus, we need somethin' ta go on. Keep talkin' ta him."

::What do you want?:: Scatterblade asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

::You,:: the mech answered easily. ::We weren't done with you.::

"Of course," he growled. ::Oregon's not very specific,:: he muttered, attempting to keep focused.

::Get there, then contact me. We'll come to you.::

::I'm not going to assume you're going to let her go,:: he said flatly.

::Does it matter?:: The mech laughed again before cutting the connection.

"We'll get her back," Jazz promised, "an' we'll make sure they pay." His voice was dark, dangerous, promising of things a 'bot couldn't even imagine in their worst processes.

Scatterblade vented heavily, as if the call had weighed on him physically and it was now off him. His anger pushed him to his feet and he locked optics with Jazz. "You ready to head out?"

Giving a curt nod in answer, Jazz turned for the road. "Let's get 'em," he growled.

Scatterblade took a few running steps and transformed mid-air, hitting the ground with his engines roaring and sped off, Jazz right behind him. They needed to hurry, speed limits and other basic road rules just didn't matter. They were forced to outrun local law enforcement as they went, but that didn't matter either. There was a life on the line; three lives on the line, a good soldier, a friend, and one barely even starting. There was no way Jazz was going to let that happen.

They made it to the rolling hills of Oregon just as the rest of the Autobots deployed commed in that they were reaching California and would meet with them in a few hours. ::Better make it fast,:: Jazz said sinisterly, ::we're already here.::

Scatterblade drove off the main road and into some trees where they would be hidden from view and transformed to his root mode. This wasn't the best of fighting grounds, but remembering the last fight he had in Logan Canyon, he was sure he could do it here too.

Jazz followed him from the road, then as soon as he transformed paused. "Ah'm gonna find some high ground ta keep watch."

"Sounds good," the front-liner agreed, not really listening. His processor was fixed on one single thing. His scanners were on high searching for his opponent, his hands itching to deploy his blades and relieve some of his anger.

When the other team signaled that they were close, Jazz commed Scatterblade. ::Contact him, see if ya can't draw him out.::

::So, where are you hiding?:: Scatterblade demanded over the comm, anger filling his voice.

::Here already, huh? Femme must mean a lot to you,:: he laughed, ::and here she's been begging for you to stay away. No matter. I will come to you, stay where you are.::

"No problem there," he growled, ignoring the mech's jabs. He looked around and spotted a rock jutting out of the side of a hill. Crouching down behind it he waited for the mech, his battle programs humming, providing different scenarios and the best way to handle them.

The roar of a large engine announced the approach of the mech, turbines forcing the trees to bend under their power. When the mech finally settled among the trees he was already on his feet, looking as though he might challenge Optimus for height.

The front-liner actually flinched at the mass of the mech, but he tightened his grip on his swords and waited. He wasn't about to make the first move.

"Come on out, project. There is no use in delaying the inevitable." There was the clear sound of a plasma cannon charging, along with the sound of some kind of rifle type weapon loading a charge.

"Not until I know where she is," he growled, charging his own blasters and shoulder guns.

"She's safe, for now."

"You're pretty considerate for a 'Con," he quipped. "Not attacking me when you had the chance."

"Whats the fun in blowing you to pieces before you run? Besides, if I was out to deactivate you, I'd have brought your femme's sparkless frame with me."

Scatterblade's rage exploded and he jumped from his spot with a roar, his swords glowing menacingly with too much energy. He struck hard hoping to sever an arm. The large mech grunted at the strike, the sword gouging deeply into his arm and frying a few circuits, but not severing it. Energon gushed for a moment before his systems cut the flow to the damaged area.

"Ah, that got you, didn't it?" He teased as he rounded on the smaller angry mech. He aimed his rifle, but just as he fired, another blast hit his aiming hand, knocking the weapon aside as the charge let loose. With a snarl, the mech searched the darkened trees for the second attacker. "You brought friends. I shouldn't be surprised."

"I'm your fight," Scatterblade roared, slashing once more, this time at the flier's wings and back.

The mech bellowed in pain as the front-liner damaged his wings. He turned and kicked out at the smaller mech, trying to get some distance from him. "It's hardly a fight, project. It's little more than a game!"

Scatterblade barely dodged, getting scraped from the offending appendage. "You think I care what you think?" He quipped, using the banter to keep himself from acting out in anger blindly.

"No. I don't think you give a slag about what I think, but I know what you do care about..." with a dark grin he replayed the sound of Illusory's scream, along with a few bits of her begging Scatterblade not to come after her.

Jazz fired three more shots at the large mech, knocking him slightly off balance.

"GAH!" The flier shouted as he stumbled. "Your friends are going to get her terminated, project! Call them off!"

Scatterblade attacked before he heard what the mech had said.

The large mech dodged and avoided most of Scatterblade's hits, but a few struck, causing minor damages along both legs. With a snarl, the large mech fired his own weapon at Scatterblade's back, not intending to deactivate him, but definitely meant to damage.

The blast caught the front-liner mid twist to strike again. It threw him back into a tree, knocking his senses off for a klik.

"You want your femme mech?" The flier aimed his rifle again. "Put down your weapons and come with me. I'll show you where she is..." there was a dark sarcasm to the mech's tone; something far more sinister lingering just behind his words.

Scatterblade hid behind another tree to gather himself again. ::Jazz, where's that back up?:: He was desperate for something.

::They're comin', just keep him busy...ya alright?::

::Little banged up but I have no idea if he's bluffing about being able to hurt Lu right now,:: he spoke his real fear. ::I've already got her hurt. I don't want to have it happen again.:: His words were thick with a plea to a higher power.

::We'll get her,:: Jazz promised, even as he unleashed another round of shots at the larger mech.

"Dirty fighting Autobots!" The large mech cursed as he rounded to where Jazz had fired from. "Fight me face to face you piece of slag!"

"We'll fight you face to face!" A new voice crowed as several roaring engines announced the arrival of the other team. Sideswipe was already in his root mode and launched himself into the air at the larger mech, his twin hot on his heals and going for a low blow.

Ironhide unleashed a calculated hailstorm at the beast before him that blinded the mech to the attacking front-liners and knocked him off balance so the smaller mechs' attack would be more effective. Scatterblade easily integrated himself into the fight, his anger boiling beyond anything he could imagine, his blaster and swords working at every opportunity given.

The large flier soon found himself overpowered and made a run for it.

"Ah don't think so!" Jazz shouted as he leaped from his hiding place onto the mech's back. He did his best to avoid the grabbing hands as he attempted to hack the mech's processor. "Yer gonna tell us where Lu is!"

"Like Pit I will! I'll have her deactivated first!" The mech growled.

Scatterblade ran and jumped off Jazz's hiding spot, launching himself into the air. He kicked at the Con's back with both feet, using the momentum to flip and land, swords at the ready.

The mech grunted with the impact and stumbled. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were quick to follow Scatterblade's lead, likewise jumping on the larger mech's back, further unbalancing him. He fell, finally, though the second he hit the ground he struggled to free himself of his attackers, tucking his wings in close and rolling. The two front-liners abandoned their position to get a better one, Jazz stayed stubbornly planted where he was; taking the pressure of being crushed beneath the larger body.

Ironhide finally joined in, planting his much heavier foot in the small of the flier's back as he rolled again, attempting to gain his feet. "Sit still and tell us what we want to know," he snarled.

"Go to the Pit," the large mech growled back.

Scatterblade came to the mech's head and laid a blade on either side like scissors ready to cut. "Where is she?" He growled.

The mech laughed. It was a dark, self amused laugh. "I'll tell you where she is," he promised, "but she'll be terminated long before you get there..."

"Ah'm in," Jazz announced as his hack finally connected.

"Care to revise before I give you a shave?" Scatterblade warned, scraping the two blades against the mech's neck.

"You're not going to let me live," he spat, "I might as well enjoy the last kliks of my function. That femme will be deactivated...here, listen..." the mech opened a comm and the still, forested hills were suddenly filled with screams of pain. The whole time the mech continued to laugh.

Scatterblade nearly dropped his weapons as the sound pierced through his processor. He shut his optics and tried to cut his audios, but he just froze. His femme, his love, was screaming in pain and it was his fault.

"Ah got it!" Jazz announced curtly, disconnecting from the large flier none too gently, breaking the mech's laughter for a moment.

Ironhide couldn't take the sound, his cannon let loose before he could think about not firing his weapon. The charge burned directly through the mech's back and sparkcase, then seared deep into the ground beneath him. Silence resumed.

Jazz patted Scatterblade's shoulder cautiously, aware of the mech's weapons and the torment inside him at the moment. "Come on, we gotta get ta her quick."

The black mech took a few kliks to pull himself back and sheathed his swords before he looked up to Jazz, his optics distant and angry. "Let's go," he murmured.

The team moved together, Jazz quickly taking the lead with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker flanking Scatterblade, and Ironhide bringing up the rear. Their trek took the group nearly two breems, their destination a on old logging mill. It was dilapidated and falling apart.

"This is it," Jazz stated.

"Fan out, find Illusory," Ironhide snapped, instantly turning for a perimeter sweep.

The twins shot forward to search the building. Jazz stood where he was carefully taking in everything around them. "It's too quiet," he stated tensely.

Scatterblade heard Jazz's warning, but moved forward anyway. He couldn't stand idle; if she was here somewhere, he was going to find her. He headed toward the river that ran along the side of the mill to see if anyone was on the other side, or if there were any tracks to follow. He spotted an old stone bridge that crossed over the river and moved cautiously across it, unsure if it was strong enough to support his weight.

Jazz turned for the far side of the mill opposite Scatterblade. Just as he was starting to search in earnest for any viable place the femme could have been stashed, a deep rumbling sound started, then turned into a louder roar as the main structure collapsed in on itself, spewing dust and rocks into the air like some twisted sort of volcano.

The Bonneville felt his spark sink and he scrambled back across the bridge to the ruins. Digging through the rubble, he hoped the twins hadn't been there when it collapsed. He hoped Illusory hadn't been there either.