Disclaimer: I own none of the Transformers characters. I do own my OCs so if you use them you need to ask me first, please and thank you.


Key:

Com. =::-::


Chapter 51

There were flashes; lights were moving around her. She could hear more sound. The sounds of machines humming and beeping, of voices which spoke of science, technology, and herself.

She could feel too.

The pain was unimaginable. It ranged from small pin prick feelings like needles breaking the skin to crushing pain like she was in a trash compactor which had her screaming in her mind. Metal was taken off of her then put back in place seemingly daily, though she had no concept of time. Wires were nicked, fluids were taken, things poked her, and she screamed and cursed at the culprits in her head since she couldn't do so out loud for them to hear.

Anger burned in Jade. She would get free and then, then she would get her revenge. Nothing would be sweeter than the moment where she would exact her vengeance. They would pay for tearing her from her family, both human and Cybertronian.

They would learn that it was a bad idea to cross Jade Rays.

They won't be able to walk away when she was done with them.


Starscream shot up to a standing position from the spot that he had been recharging in. Several energon signals had shown up on the scan he was running in the background during his first recharge in an orn. Standing just out of sight from the cave opening the seeker started debating the options he had available to him. He couldn't run like he would have liked so he either had to negotiate, which probably wouldn't end well, or fight, but judging by the number of signals that wouldn't end well either.

He vented in relief when his com beeped on the secure Autobot line.

:: Starscream, it's Ratchet. Ironhide, Jazz, Ground Hog, the twins, and I are on our way. How's Barricade doing? :: The Autobot medic's voice sounded so sweet right then.

Glancing over at the Decepticon grounder, the seeker cringed. :: I do not believe he has much time left. He sustained heavy damage and I believe the corrosive acid may have damaged his spark chamber. He is currently in stasis lock ::

There were colorful curses from the medic and Starscream silently sent the group his location.

Within two breems he was greeting the six mechs with a grim look on his face plates. The medics immediately went to Barricade and began patching up the mech who was only silent due to him going into stasis lock three groons ago. Jazz immediately ran to the sparklings, checking them for injuries that the seeker knew weren't there, at least they hadn't been injured during the attack. The Autobot twins stood guard at the cave entrance with solemn looks. Ironhide, shockingly, went to the sparklings as well; Shieldstriker, Carbonation, Locator, and Trapmaster attaching to him the moment he drew near like how the others had done so to Jazz. Venting in exhaustion Starscream leaned wearily against the cavern wall.

"Hey, Screamer." Annoyed, the tired seeker opened one optic to look at the twins.

"What?"

"Show us the place? We'll start getting to work while the others get things squared away here," Sideswipe replied, his yellow brother strangely silent.

Nodding, the former Arial Commander of the Decepticons led the frontliners to the scene of Jade's kidnapping.

The sooner they worked, the faster they got the frustrating red femme back.


For once in his life Ground Hog was truly concerned for his leader's life. The corrosive acid that Project M used had indeed damaged the spark chamber of the stasis locked mech. In fact it had barely missed his spark and the small medic didn't want to think of what would have happened it if had touched the glowing blue sphere.

He diligently worked on what he could while occasionally helping Ratchet. Since the first moment he had stepped onto the Autobot base, Ground Hog had been taken under the gruff medic's wing like the smaller mech had done for Healingblade. The Race Track Medic would be the first to admit that his work was sloppy and technically shouldn't hold, but Decepticons still preferred him to Flatline and Scalpel. Glit was the best Decepticon medic, but he was a true medic in that he refused to fight and healed anybot that needed repairs. Hook was good too if one could ignore his insufferable attitude and perfectionism. There was also rumor of another beast-like Cybertronian that was almost exactly like Glit, but they were a different beast form and went by the name of Santon. Ground Hog had never met the last one, but he had briefly met Glit who showed him the basics to at least repair the Race Track Patrol. It was Hook though, that he learned the art of crafting new weaponry and how to optimize scavenged pieces so that they would be better than what they used to be. Now he was getting trained by the Ratchet who had one of the best reputations from before the war.

"Hey," the smaller mech looked up at his unofficial mentor, "He'll make it."

Nodding, he handed the older mech a tool he needed and went to work on the small patch jobs he knew he could do himself.


There was nothing but silence as the twins and Starscream made their way to the spot of Jade's abduction. None of the usual goading and empty threats that normally transpired between the three occurred.

Each were in their own thoughts.

Sunstreaker was so thankful at the moment that the bond between him and Sideswipe was currently closed. He didn't want his brother to know his thoughts about the whole situation.

Jade was gone, captured by probably the worst humans that the yellow mech had ever had the displeasure of interacting with and learning about. There was no telling what they would do to the red femme that had saved his life.

For the first time in his life the painter felt worry for someone else besides his twin.

The beautifully unique femme known as Jade was gone. He would find her and make those humans pay. They took her and he would be slagged before he gave up hope in saving her.

Ironhide didn't know what to think. Currently he was trying to be comforting for Shield, Locator, Carbonation, and Trap. They cuddled into him, seeking the comfort that he wasn't sure he was capable of giving them. He was a soldier, slag it! He had barely able to convince Chromia to bond with him, he swore to Primus it had happened because the femme herself was a soldier too.

Long story short: he had never had much contact with sparklings other than Bumblebee. Slag it, he was afraid he would frag this up. Jade had done such a good job of keeping them sheltered, giving them memorable sparkling-hood moments that proved they were well loved and cared for.

Yet he held them close, gently revving his engine to reassure them that someone was there to help them. As they reacted the large black mech couldn't help the thought that flashed across his processor.

Did Chromia ever wish they had a sparkling together?