Author's note: Itty bit of swearing courtesy of Roadbuster. :-)

Chapter 131 – Promises

Phoenix P.O.V

After weeks of silent observation, frustration and tedium - it all happened at once.

The sound of screaming and explosions erupted almost simultaneously from within the large factory I had been observing for nearly three weeks, and I felt myself leap to my pedes and immediately transform. As I stood there with my massive metallic wings arcing out either side of me, it would seem the need for stealth and invisibility had now since passed.

I felt myself tense as I prepared to leap to Sideswipe and Dino's aid, knowing they were on their own in there with Joyce's bogus creations; Galvatron and Stinger and Primus knows how many other minions. When something caught my optic.

Joyce – AND ''The Seed''.

He had slunk out of the main building, followed closely by that female I assumed was his business partner, Su Yeuming, and the blonde headed woman, Darcy. I felt my optics narrow in anger and disgust as I watched him heft the cargo into the car, preparing to retreat quietly as the world around him seemed to go to hell in a handbasket. I let out a loud screech of irritation and annoyance and the flames roared to life along my frame.

The screams from the factory workers below intensified as they took in the sight of my flaming body atop the roof. A sudden swell of hatred tore through me as I took in the sight of another figure approaching Joyce's car – Attinger!

A low growl rumbled through my battle mask, which had automatically clamped shut at the sight of the arsehole who had orchestrated attacks on Rachet and Leadfoot, killing the later. My body tensed as I watched Attinger banging on the car roof as Joyce seemed to ignore whatever it was he was saying, and took off away from him. I cocked my helm sideways in confusion. /Didn't those pricks have some agreement? Weren't they working together to use the Seed to make more Transformium so they could make more abominations?/.

As I watched, with no small amount of satisfaction, Attinger's face turn a delightful shade of red as he was consumed by anger, I came to a sudden and somewhat interesting conclusion. /It would seem Joyce had apparently had a change of heart and developed a conscience deciding to remove ''The Seed'' from both Attinger and Galvatron's grasp/.

As I watched the arrogant dickhead race towards an awaiting silver car with tinted windows, another wave of rage swept over me as I realised who would be sitting behind the wheel of that car – /SAVOY!/.

For a moment I was torn in two as I cast a quick glance towards the large factory where Dino and Sideswipe would have been fighting. /You can't leave them alone to battle Galvatron and all the other Decepticons… and yet if I stay Joyce AND ''The Seed'' AND Savoy get away!/. I close my optics in frustration as I weigh up my options and I once again screech my exasperation and anger aloud.

Suddenly, above the screaming, explosions and chaos, I hear a thick Scottish accent and a decent amount of swearing, as a voice filled with utter hatred and rage rises above everything. ''Ya fuckin' Nancy twats, come at me. I'll fuckin' bottle the lot a ya!'' A smile spreads slowly across my dermas under my battle mask and I open my optics. /The Wreckers- Roadbuster and Topspin!/. ''Not alone Phoenix. Dino and Sideswipe are NOT alone which means…..''

I whip my helm around to see Savoy and Attinger's car racing out of sight into the night, speeding after Joyce and ''The Seed''. Raising my helm to the stars, I give a final loud, and furious screech and in a single mighty jump, leap off the roof of the building and take to the sky. My massive metallic wings flap furiously to gain altitude in pursuit of my quarry.

As I speed through the night sky and quickly gain on my unknowing targets, a steely determination settles within my spark. It is time to keep two promises I have made. /One, to do whatever it takes to stop ''The Seed'' from being detonated and falling into the wrong hands/. At this thought my spark aches thinking of Optimus and the fact I may never get to see him again… never get to make things right with him and tell him once more that I love him – /even if he doesn't love me/.

For a split second I falter at the thought of the pain I may cause him if I was to…..

I shake my helm and growl out loud. /NO! Enough! I MUST focus…Focus on your other promise Phoenix/. The aching pulse of longing and pain in my spark at the thought of my beloved Optimus is replaced with a deep-seated hatred and anger at the thought of my second promise. /SAVOY!/.

I subconsciously begin to beat my wings faster in an effort to close the gap. I have extinguished my flames – for now – as I try to maintain some element of surprise. I feel a feral grin form under my mask as I recalled a conversation with Savoy years ago after he had threatened me, my family and most importantly Prime.

/Your little robot friends and that pansy Lennox won't always be around to protect you and when they aren't, - THAT'S when you'll be taken down/. I growled and pushed myself faster, the city scape of Beijing looming ahead as dawn began to herald a new day.

I had not been afraid of Savoy then and I sure as shit wasn't now. That bastard was going to get what I had promised to him as my own words flashed through my processor. /You are a steaming pile of excrement and when the time is right, I will personally scrape you off the ground and dump you unceremoniously into the trash/.

Flying above the buildings of the sprawling and bustling city, I fixed my optics on the silver car as it threaded its way through the heaving streets. My optics keenly scanned for signs of Joyce and ''The Seed''. Moments later, as I circled back around, I gave a screech of triumph as I find Joyce and ''The Seed'' and the black-haired woman bartering for a motorbike. /GOTCHA!/.

Circling around as would a hawk eyeing off its meal, I sweep back over and watch as the silver car containing Attinger and Savoy chase Joyce and ''The Seed,'' coming dangerously close to intercepting them. I watch as the motorbike disappears into an alleyway leading to some sort of apartment building and Savoy produces a walkie talkie giving some order. I do not know if Savoy or Attinger are aware of my presence, neither do I care anymore.

Arching back around, I come to rest atop the roof of the building that sits opposite the one Joyce and his partner must be hiding in. Eyeing Savoy and Attinger carefully as they make their way up a flight of stairs towards the building too, I notice flashes of metal crawling over a raised walkway near the base of the same building.

As my optics scan the area, my processor is fed data instantaneously. How many bodies, their sizes, weapons, their distance from me. The sight of one such metallic behemoth hulking around makes my spark still momentarily. /Galvatron!/. I spare a brief moment to pray to Primus that Sideswipe, Dino, Roadbuster and Topspin are okay before I feel a faint flickering and burn of flames ignite along my wings. Yet I do not move. Not yet.

I wait.

I wait as patiently as possible for the opportunity to make good on at least one of my promises.