Chapter 9
The Messenger
During the Decepticon/TRF attack at the Junkyard...
"Well, what a day this is turning out to be!" Stripes said with heavy sarcasm as he chased down Cade Yeager, who in turn was being chased by TRF drones! This was not turning into a good day so far. First, a kid pops up in the camp named Isabella wanting vengeance against the TRF. Next, they received word that TRF had found them, then they were on the run. Next thing they knew, Cade and said kid were pinned down in Crisis City!
"Cade, would you stay still for three seconds so I can get a fix on you?!" Stripes snapped.
"Kinda hard when you are being chased around by drones with SMGs!" Cade retorted as he continued to run.
Stripes sighed.
"Just do me a favor and stay alive! Tell the kid to do the same!" He finished with a quip.
He flew down main street like a bat that was on fire, drifting through the corner.
Dreadbot was down the road, cannons ready. With Stripes in his crosshairs!
"Oh, come on!" Stripes managed to avoid Dreadbot's shots with a cleverly-timed Scandinavian flick! Then he transformed to robot mode, activating his shoulder cannon as he slid across the ground! He fired, hitting Dreadbot in the Optics! Dreadbot was blinded!
"Sorry, not sorry!" Stripes said as he changed back to vehicle mode and made tracks to Cade's Location.
As soon as Stripes found Cade, he saw him with Bumblebee. And something unusual.
Standing next to him was what appeared to be a human-sized Transformer! Stripes changed modes as soon as he pulled up.
"Ah, the Son of Primus graces us with his presence!" The human-sized transformer took a gentleman's bow. "I am Cogman, in the service of Sir Edmund Burton. You and Master Cade are needed in his presence at once. I've already informed Mr. Cade of the situation, but we must make haste!"
"Uh… Okay." Stripes said, stumped. But he figured he'd just better go along with this.
After all, in his book of rules you never shoot the messenger.
# # # # #
Meanwhile, on Cybetron…
Optimus had just left Starblossom in a safe place near Quintessa's main chamber. He went forward, leaving her, telling her she would be safe.
Starblossom couldn't help but worry though. What was going on? She didn't know why, but she was getting a bad feeling about all this. Something was not right. She snuck behind Optimus, hanging back a few paces.
She needed more info about what was going on.