Chapter 3: Hot Shot Loses It

Back at the Academy, Hoist, Fixit, Sludge, and Snarl, the latter two having returned from sim practice not too long ago, had tried once more to fix the Dimension Bridge.

"Any luck?" asked Hoist.

"Still nothing." said Fixit. "I've unplugged and re-plugged it in several times now, but still nothing's happening."

Hoist, Sludge, and Snarl became very nervous.

"What are we going to do?!" Sludge panicked.

"Why are you asking me?!" Snarl replied.

But the one who was most nervous was Hoist.

"Oh, this is bad, this is bad!" he moaned. "Hot Shot and Heatwave will be back any second now, and if Hot Shot finds out what happened to Whirl and that we're the ones who caused it, he's gonna freak out!"

"Hoist, calm down." said Fixit. "What did I tell you earlier? He is not going to freak out."

"Who's not going to freak out?" asked a familiar voice.

It was Hot Shot, who had returned from Cybertron with Heatwave at that point in time.

"Oh, scrud, it's him!" Sludge whispered. "What do we do?!"

But Hoist had an idea.

"Just watch me." he said.

Hoist then turned towards Hot Shot as Fixit and the Dinobots put a large sheet over the Dimension Bridge.

"Hey, Hot Shot, old buddy!" he grinned. "How was the match?"

"It was...good." said Hot Shot.

Hot Shot then noticed the sheet.

"What's under that sheet?" he asked.

"What sheet?" replied Hoist.

"The sheet that's right behind you." said Hot Shot.

Hoist turned around and saw the sheet covering the Dimension Bridge.

"Oh...that sheet." he chuckled. "Well, there's nothing underneath."

"Yeah, nothing." added Sludge.

"Nothing at all." finished Snarl.

Fixit face-palmed.

"Seriously?" he muttered.

Hot Shot, although he could barely hear Fixit's comment, shared the Mini-Con's feelings, as he (Hot Shot) could tell that Hoist was not telling the truth.

"If nothing's under that sheet, then I'm Peter Cullen." he said. "Besides, I can tell there's clearly something under that sheet, so you better stop playing games and tell me what the heck is going on. Also, where's Whirl?"

Hoist, Fixit, Sludge, and Snarl could tell that Hot Shot was started to really press down hard on them.

"You tell him." Sludge said to Snarl.

"No, you tell him!" Snarl argued.

"Both of you tell him!" put in Hoist.

Fixit was in no mood for this bickering, and pushed Hoist, Sludge, and Snarl apart.

"I'll tell him." he said sternly. "And that's final."

"Tell me what?" Hot Shot prodded. He was starting to lose his patience.

Fixit then came forward.

"Okay, Hot Shot, this is what happened." said Fixit.

The scene then cut to the exterior of the Academy. The scene shook when an angry shout from Hot Shot came from within.

"YOU SENT WHIRL TO ANOTHER DIMENSION AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO BRING HER BACK?!" Hot Shot roared.

The scene then faded to show Hot Shot, who was glaring at the other bots present in the room and forcing air in and out between his clenched teeth. His engine revved as he did this. These characteristics and actions made it clear that he was beyond angry. In fact, he was absolutely furious.

"I think that went well." said Sludge meekly.

Hoist, Fixit, and Snarl glared at Sludge.

"What?" asked Sludge. "I was just saying."

Hoist rolled his optics, then stepped forward towards Hot Shot.

"Hot Shot, please don't be too mad at us." said Hoist. "We didn't know it was going to turn out like this."

"That doesn't change the fact that my girlfriend is in a different dimension with no way to return back home!" Hot Shot snapped. "And it's all you guys' fault! Especially yours, Hoist, you big bolthead!"

Hoist was aghast at what he had just been called.

"Hot Shot, please, listen to me!" Hoist pleaded. "I didn't mean for this to happen! None of us did!"

"Yeah, Hot Shot, you're not being fair!" agreed Sludge.

"No fair at all!" added Snarl.

"I'm with them." put in Fixit.

"I don't care!" Hot Shot went on. "In fact, you know what?! I don't ever want to speak to you ever again! Never! Especially you, Hoist!"

"Hot Shot, please!" Hoist said sadly. "I'm sorry!"

"It's too late, Hoist!" Hot Shot finished. "Saying sorry won't bring Whirl back! I hope you're happy!"

Hot Shot then stormed off, leaving a very guilty Hoist behind with Fixit, Sludge, and Snarl.

"What have I done?" Hoist sighed.

Meanwhile, Hot Shot was furiously making his way to his quarters when he was approached by Bumblebee and Wedge.

"Hey, Hot Shot, you up for a game of Cube with me and Wedge?" asked Bumblebee.

"Buzz off!" shouted Hot Shot.

Hot Shot then shoved Bumblebee and Wedge aside and continued on his way.

"What's he so huffed up about?" asked Bumblebee.

"I don't know." shrugged Wedge. "I've never seen him this mad before."

"Something must be wrong." Bumblebee determined.

Just then, Hoist and Fixit approached.

"Wedge and I just saw Hot Shot." said Bumblebee. "And he looked super ticked off about something."

"And sounded super ticked off, too." added Wedge.

"Do you two know why?" asked Bumblebee.

Hoist nodded, then told Bumblebee and Wedge what had happened with Whirl and the Dimension Bridge, and even showed the machine to them.

"Wow." gasped Wedge. "That looks cool."

"Sure does." agreed Bumblebee. "Heatwave and the others have to see this!"

"Yeah." said Wedge. "They'll be very impressed if they do."

"Yeah, I suppose so." said Hoist.

Hoist then sighed.

"What's wrong, Hoist?" asked Bumblebee.

"I just wish I would have tested the Dimension Bridge to see if it worked right before inviting Whirl to try it out." Hoist confessed. "I feel stupid."

Bumblebee put his hand on Hoist's shoulder.

"Hey, it's okay, Hoist." said Bumblebee. "We all make mistakes. And I'm sure Boulder and Ratchet won't mind giving you guys a hand in trying to fix it."

"I know." said Hoist. "But if only Hot Shot could see that."

"Give him time." said Bumblebee. "He'll come around. I just know it."

"I hope so, Bee." said Hoist. "I sure hope so."

End of Chapter 3