DMK: Eh, well now I have like what, 20 reviews? Dude I feel so cool and stuff!!! ^o^ Eh, anyway, this is prolly not as funny to some of you as it is to others... so don't kill me if it isn't what you were expecting... aside from that, enjoy!!
And one author's note: in the past, Caitlin earns the nickname Shorty'... a name that she hates, and usually responds to by shouting: DON'T CALL ME SHORTY!!! (she ish VERY sensitive about her height... ^^'')

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Chapter 5


From what Hotshot had told me, Blurr was off shooting targets. So, grinning insanely, I snuck down the corridor as quietly as a giant robot could. Which, is actually pretty darn quiet if you try hard enough.

It was a five minutes' saunter to the shooting range that I had loved going to back when I was human, and watched the bots show off their impressive marksmanship. It felt a bit strange to be able to actually shoot the targets now.

From outside the door I could hear the ceramic disks being blasted right and left. I also picked up words being muttered under the shooter's breath, most of them seemed almost venomous.

bang! crash! -Decepticons. You'll- boom! -pay for this, I'll- Bang! -make sure of it.

Well, SOMEBODY'S in a bad mood, I thought, watching the shattered targets fall to the floor like snowflakes. Thank god for me! I'll change his attitude in five seconds or less...

Unholstering the laser pistol Hotshot had let me borrow, I stepped into the room casually, and shot one of the targets before Blurr had the chance to pull the trigger. The laser round passed over his right shoulder and made the ceramic disk shatter with a satisfying crash'.

Eh... THAT was a lucky shot, I said in my head. Well... just think of it as Area 51' back in the arcades... and the targets are the evil mutant aliens... yeah... here's to my imagination.

As Blurr spun around to face me, I fired again, shattering another target that had gone airborne. The shot was inches from his masked face, and it took the red and white disk out instantly.

Calmly, ignoring the stare I was getting from the light blue and white mech, I stepped up to the boundary and began to fire on the targets that were whizzing through the air. Care to join me? I asked him simply, acting as if he wasn't dumbfounded.

He chuckled under his breath, and shook off the initial surprise. As you wish. He turned to face the practice range again, and took aim for a ceramic disk that had been sent flying.

Not bad, I commented, though I knew all of my shots had been dumb luck thus far. I also took aim, and shot a disk from the air.

Two different disks went flying, and Blurr carefully aimed his gun. I don't mean to be rude, but may I ask your name?

My name? I cocked and fired my gun, taking the first target out. You mean you don't recognize me?

Bang! ... No... Am I supposed to?

Crash! Blurr, I'm hurt. It's only been three days...

Boom! He lowered his gun for a moment, and looked at me out of the corner of his optics. Who... are you?

I smirked and resumed aiming my blaster. Understanding that I wasn't going to give him a straight answer, Blurr also pointed his gun to a target.

I fired on my flying disk, and then lowered my gun, waiting for him to take his out.

God, that's TWO of you that haven't been able to recognize Caitlin today...

Blurr was in mid-shot when it hit him. In his shock, he pulled the trigger, missing the target by at least ten feet. I think the loud bang' blotted out an obscenity that I'd rather NOT repeat. He spun around to face me, and tripped over his own feet, landing unceremoniously, half on his side, half on his aft.

Lowering my gun down completely, I bit my metallic lip to stifle my laughter. I placed the borrowed blaster into my hip holster and turned to face him fully.

Well shoot, I thought you'd take it a lot better than that.

He looked up at me with bewildered and fearful orange optics, now rolled fully onto his behind. You- you can't be... alive. I saw you die.

Well, my body died three days ago but my soul wouldn't rest peacefully. Sooo... I decided to stick around for a while. I extended my hand to him. Slowly, uncertainly, he reached out and took it, and I helped heave the dumbstruck mech to his feet.

You look like you've seen a ghost... are you okay?

Fine. Just... fine.

I snorted. Yeah, sure, whatever you say. Well, if you are indeed fine', I should get going.... I have two more stops on this little campaign of mine...

Two more stops'? What's that supposed to mean?

Well, Jetfire and Sideswipe are pretty much the only two who are still in the dark... Sooo I gotta go tell them now...

Go to Sideswipe first, He told me. That poor kid is so confused right now.

Slowly, a mixed expression on my face, I shook my head. I don't know why, but... he'll be last on my list. Besides, I doubt he'll do anything dumb within the next half-hour, aaaaaaaand, Jetfire's on my way there.

I could sense Blurr smile a bit under his blue mask. Alright. Do as you wish.

I smiled in response. I will. Then, I turned back around and began to head for the door.

And Caitlin?

I looked back.

Tell me what Jetfire does. I'll bet you anything he'll hit the floor.

I rolled my optics. Considering your and Hotshot's reactions, it wouldn't surprise me.

Hey, I tripped! He commented defensively, with a bit of a childish sound to it.

Yeah, yeah.... Keep telling yourself that, Blurr.

He huffed, and used the evil glare'. As retaliation, I turned back again, and began walking. I'll be back, Blurr. And I'll let you know how bad Jetfire takes it, too.

I wasn't looking, but I could tell he was grinning.
***

Jetfire hummed a little tune he'd picked up while on earth. One from a song that was more angsty and depressing-sounding. But who could blame him?

Like everyone, he was down. Seriously down.

First of all, his human prank partner' was no longer there- how the slag would he pull off his jokes without her? Only a few days before she died, they had done a marvelous job of tarring and feathering a certain medic while he was asleep... and Hotshot had taken the heat! Another wonderful prank was on Scavenger, and let's just say that he'll never go near an unguarded, open container of Energon again- Caitlin had provided the bubble solution, Jetfire had managed to slip it into Scavey's drink whilst his back was turned, and... well, you do the math. Again, it was pinned on Hotshot. There was just so much humor, and then... three days ago, it changed.

Second, like everyone else, his dear friend was gone. One of his first days there- he had already developed a love for the Earth and the humans. He comprehended the fragility of the humans, but hadn't realized it until that last battle. And he was hellbent on revenge.

As Jetfire checked over battle statistics one last time, he got ready to leave for the command center. As he stepped into the doorway, he nearly crashed into Optimus.

Uh, Optimus, sir. I thought I was gonna meet ya in the control room. He stated, a bit confused.

The matter isn't of dire proportions, but I must inform you that there's a new addition to the team.

A new addition'? Jets echoed. Was another Autobot here?

Looking over his commander's shoulder, he saw a femme head in their direction. Upon seeing Optimus, her optics brightened with a bit of surprise. Jetfire also looked a bit shocked.

Once she had reached them, Hey, Optimus. Fancy meeting you here.

He nodded toward her in acknowledgement, then looked back to Jetfire, who was still a bit stunned. This would be our new warrior.

Now that the Vice Commander's senses had finally been gathered, he took the time to look her over. If stood back to back, she would come up to about the middle of his chest.

My, aren't you a shorty, he said a bit teasingly.

The femme, Jetfire sensed, didn't like being called that. At a closer look, she seemed maybe a year or two younger than Sideswipe, which, in human years, is seventeen.

Nice to meet you, too- she retorted a bit gratingly, pausing for only a moment.

Okay,' he thought. Serious case of deja-vu... And how the heck does she know my name?'

Have we... met before? Jetfire asked a bit slowly, trying to make sense of her.

she answered coyly, not breaking optic contact with him.

Argh! Why do I feel like I know her?! Eh, snap out of it Jets, your memory bank is gettin' too old... yeah, that's it... too old... Wait! I'M NOT OLD!!! Smokescreen is old! NOT me! But... man... she's so slagging familiar... AHH! I'm getting Transformer Alzhimers!! ...wait- is there even such a thing as Transformer Alzhimers...?

Optimus gave an uncomfortable cough, and snapped Jetfire out of his mental conversation with himself.

Jetfire said kindly, quite composed outwardly. It's nice to meet you... Shorty... he snickered. This did remind him of his late friend, but it was subconscious reaction.

She handled the first Shorty' reference with just a glare, but this time... Hey! DON'T CALL ME SHORTY!!

Jetfire stepped back suddenly, his optics wide, while under his mask, Optimus grinned. The femme gasped upon realizing just WHAT she had done.

Alright... familiar voice, similar sense of humor, despising me when called Shorty'... There is only ONE person I know of that's like that...'

His voice was now a little bit above a whisper.

What- were you expecting the Easter Bunny?

From the shock, Jetfire lost the will to stand, and just simply sat down in the middle of his quarters with a satisfying crash!'. He could do little more than stare up at her with stunned and wide optics.

The femme standing over him laughed. That makes three of them that have hit the floor. She watched Jetfire for a few moments. Are you... okay?

I'm. Just. Peachy.

She grinned and giggled to herself. For some reason though, a bit of doubt had suddenly risen in Jetfire's mind. Well okay, if you ARE Caitlin, tell me something that only SHE would know.

The short, blue-green Transformer looked thoughtful for only a moment. Well... I know that when it came to tar and feathering Red-Alert and putting the bubbles in Scavenger's Energon, Hotshot was completely innocent. You and I did it.

He gasped and pointed a wavering finger from his seat on the ground. Holy Primus! You ARE Caitlin!!

Optimus just stared, and then the two realized just what they had unwittingly confessed to their commander. Caitlin turned to Prime quickly. Oh please! DON'T tell Scavenger! He'll wring my neck!

Jetfire was still sitting. You think Scavenger is bad?! You ain't seen nothing until you watch Red go off!!

Optimus laughed softly at their dismay. I can't guarantee anything, but I will think about it.

Both of them sighed in relief, and Caitlin turned back to the floored Jetfire. Come on, man. I've still got to go see Sideswipe... She offered him one of her hands.

You'd better, He answered as he took her hand. He's just about as messed up as Hotshot is over this whole thing...

No duh, She replied back a bit dryly, pulling him up with some effort.

Jetfire watched her, amused, as she brought him to his feet with a bit of trouble. She was pretty small compared to him, after all. Glad you're back, midget. Playing pranks on everyone just isn't the same without ya.

She grinned back, and looked then to Optimus, with an expression that said, Well, looks like my work here is done...'

Prime acknowledged her glance with a nod. Well, I suppose you and I should get going, Jetfire. We have to start analyzing that data on the Minicons.

Right, I forgot about that.

As Caitlin walked back to the door with the other two mechs, she could have sworn she saw something yellow peering into the room. She had no idea that Hotshot had heard the WHOLE thing.

Smiling to herself, she went down the corridor to the opposite end of the base, where Sideswipe was.

He was next.



TBC

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Weeeeeeell, how was that? IT'S LONGER THAN THE OTHER ONES, SO BOOYAH!! *cough* .... This one I finished about three weeks before I actually posted it, but... eh, I've been away. Aaaaaanyway, I brought this fic in its entirety to one of my summer English class friends, and this poor schmoe asked, Oooh! this fic is so cuuute! Please tell me- is she gonna fall for one of them?' I just stared and answered, ... Uhhh... no...?' That would be so.... I dunno, weird? Though I HAVE read a fic like that somewhere... o.O'' What do all of you think? I'm indifferent to that notion... and I think the fic won't change regardless. Though, in the verysmallchance than you approve of romance, I could do a whole lotta self-doubt and angst... and a lotta self-doubt and angst is a very, very GOOD thing!! ^___~
Also, for anyone that has played Heavy Metal War, I have a little fic in the works based on my Autobot team, the Red Cross'. Well, Tell me what you think about this idea of mine, and that question my friend introduced... Should there be ANY romance?' *rolls eyes* Okay... these Author's Notes are getting longer and longer, so I'll leave now... I want some poptarts...