Chapter Three

Megatron calmly waited for the last few of his officers to enter the meeting room. As they were seated, he spoke.

"Greetings, and thank you for coming on such short notice."

"What is this about, Megatron?" inquired Starscream from beside him. "It must be urgent since you called us all to gather as soon as possible."

"Indeed, Starscream," rumbled the Decepticon leader with a frown.

"As some of you may have heard, there was an Autobot attack on one our mines earlier this solarcycle."

"All miners and guards were killed except for Breakdown," Knockout added quietly, staring down at the table, servos crossed.

The rest of the mecha present bent their helms in solemn silence for a few kliks.

Soundwave was the first to break the silence. "That's just not cool, mechs. What did they do that for?"

Nodding, Megatron spoke again. "Yes, it was needless. Though I am grateful for Breakdown being spared, this has been a grave loss."

"How many?" Iron Blade asked from his seat next to the Air Commander.

Megatron glanced towards the young scientist. "Ten."

Iron Blade frowned and nodded silently.

"Is Breakdown alright?" asked Starscream, directing his question across the table to Knockout.

The medic replied quickly, "Yes, he will be back on his pedes within a week. He was lucky."

"Thank the Allspark," muttered Shockwave under his breath. Then louder, he continued. "I recommend finding out how the Autobots were able to find the mine, and then take precautions so that this does not happen again."

"With your say-so, boss, I'll get right on it," Soundwave said, looking expectantly towards their leader. "I'll make sure those Autocreeps can't pick up any more signals in no time flat."

"Very good, Soundwave," Megatron said with a nod. "If you need any assistance, take Shockwave or Iron Blade with you."

Knockout spoke again. "Do you wish for me to take a team of troopers and prepare the offline for burial?"

"Yes, Knockout."

The medic sighed. "This is going to be a long offcycle. And if I may say, not to speak ill of the offline, gruesome."

Starscream, Iron Blade, and Soundwave exchanged glances.

"How- How bad was the fight?" the Air Commander asked hesitantly.

"From what Breakdown told me, the pair tore them to pieces. He escaped with only injuries because it took time to get down from the cliff where he was. And then the kid was simply playing with him after he'd done his share of the damage I suppose. Or distraction while the other one grabbed any data from the computer system."

The medic paused, lowering his helm. "He could have joined the rest if he hadn't been on the cliff."

"Wait, hold up," the visored communication specialist said, raising his hands in gesture. "You said the pair. As in two?"

Knockout and Megatron nodded.

"That is also why I called you all together," the leader said. "From Breakdown's report, it seemed that the only Autobots present in this attack were the seeker called Blurr, and the spy called Steeldust."

"Great, the Speed Demon is back," grumbled Iron Blade, crossing his servos. "I haven't seen that guy for awhile and I was liking it."

"Isn't Blurr also an intel officer?" Soundwave asked. "So, the two bros were out spying and then decided to go in for the kill?"

"Soundwave," Shockwave reprimanded. "Don't speak so casually of this matter."

"Sorry, dude. Didn't mean for it to sound like that. It just, you know. Came out."

"Anyways," said Knockout, stressing the word. "We need to think of a way to catch those two."

"Good luck," muttered Iron Blade.

Starscream glanced upwards in thought. "Perhaps we can create a trap for them. I will have to think further on the subject, but I may have an idea."

At that, Iron Blade shot a glance towards his friend. "Are you planning to share?"

"Perhaps."

"Very well," Megatron rumbled. "I will leave that up to you for now then, Starscream. In addition, I'd like for you to increase the number of guards stationed on the various mines and sites we have on the ground. In the event that the Autobots attack again, they will be safer."

"Yes, Sir."

"The rest of you have your tasks. This meeting is over, thank you all for coming."

With that, Soundwave was out the door like a shot. Everyone else got up and filed out as normal.

"You'd think he hated meetings or something," mused Iron Blade as he walked down the corridor beside Starscream.

Walking behind them and overhearing, Shockwave answered. "He does."

"And probably, his minions are likely waiting for him somewhere," added Starscream.

"That cat better not be in the lab hiding somewhere," grouched Iron Blade with a scowl. "Last time that stupid thing was in there, he spooked me and I almost dropped what I was carrying."

"And what was that?" Starscream asked, his wings flicking in amusement.

"Acid that could've ate a hole into the floor."

"What were you doing with it?" inquired Shockwave, a suspicious tone to his voice.

Iron Blade fidgeted, then turned his helm to look up at the bigger mech. "I intended to test it on some earth substances, in a controlled setting of course. But I was only going to take small samples of the stuff to the surface.

"I was headed for the table to put some into vials when the dumb cat jumped off of I don't even know where."

"I have a name you know," said a voice from the nearby ventilation shaft.

All three mecha jumped slightly and turned towards the vent.

Two yellow optics stared down at them.

"RAVAGE!" yelled Iron Blade. "Stop doing that!"

"Make me," the panther grinned, leaping out of the vent and bounding down the hall.

The warrior scientist gave chase immediately, running back the way the trio had come.

Shockwave and Starscream stood silent, watching as the two disappeared around a corner.

"For such a short mech, he is extremely loud," Shockwave said, scratching an audio antenna.

"Agreed," nodded Starscream. "But do not tell him that. He will only yell louder."

They carried on towards the lab then, without Iron Blade, who they knew would join them later.

Once he caught or lost Ravage.

"Do you think he will succeed?"

"Hardly. Ravage likely knows this warship the best out of any of us. And he can fit where we can't."

"Iron Blade is determined. I feel as that will not help him in this case."

"I agree, Shockwave. Wholeheartedly."


Skyshadow transformed and dropped to the ground in a crouch.

Sharp audios listening to her surroundings, she straightened, glancing around.

A flash of black and red through the trees caught her attention.

Silently walking in between the large trees, Sky shook her helm.

"I knew he'd be here," she thought.

Emerging from the trees into the small clearing, a small sad smile appeared on the half-Vosian's faceplate.

The mech sitting on a rock was throwing bits of gravel into the river at his pedes.

Something he and his brother once did together.

Drawing near, Skyshadow stopped several steps behind him.

She waited silently, knowing that the mech likely felt her watching him.

After several kliks, he spoke.

"How'd you know I was here?"

"This is one of your favourite places," Skyshadow shrugged, folding her servos across her chest. She rose an optic ridge. "And it's the closest one to base. It wasn't hard to figure out."

The mech snorted, throwing the rest of his handful of gravel at the water. "Was. Was one of my favourites."

A hand touched his shoulder.

He glanced at it, then up at the mecha's faceplate.

Skyshadow's optics held pity and sorrow. "I'm sorry, Sunstreaker."

Sunstreaker looked away, towards the setting sun.

"I know."

"I'll find out who offlined him. I promise," Sky whispered, tone hard. "They will pay for what they did."

"It was an ambush. How are you going to find them?" asked Sunstreaker quietly, looking down at the river. "We didn't even find Sideswipe. And it was from behind, so he didn't see who it was before he- "

Skyshadow knew he knew what he knew because of the twin bond.

Something she no longer had with her own twin.

How either of them had survived no longer being connected to their twins, she didn't know.

"Don't worry, I have my ways," Skyshadow said. "Sideswipe will be avenged."

Sunstreaker made no comment or movement in acknowledgment.

Which concerned Skyshadow.

She had spoken of them gaining revenge on whomever had killed his twin before. And she never received much of a reaction.

It was odd.

Normally, whenever one twin was in danger or being made fun of or something, the other twin would be right there. Snarling promises of vengeance or already dealing it out.

After all, if you took on one, you took on them both.

"So why isn't he eager to find Sideswipe's killer?" Skyshadow wondered, optic ridges furrowing.

After a long silence, she spoke again.

"You're not telling me something. Aren't you?"

Sunstreaker froze.

That confirmed Skyshadow's suspicions.

She moved forward and crouched in front of him. Waiting til Sunstreaker met her optics, she asked him another question.

"Sides isn't dead, is he?"

Sunstreaker returned her stare for several kliks, then shook his helm. "No. He's not."

Skyshadow's optics widened. "The Decepticons have him, don't they?"

"I don't know. He's alive, but has been unconscious since the ambush. I can feel him, but very weakly. He's injured."

Biting her lip, Sky thought of what options they had.

Both of them knew Optimus Prime would never organize a rescue mission.

His rule was if you got yourself captured; it was your problem.

You were basically a lost cause. Not many Autobots could get on the Decepticons' ship to begin with, let alone manage to escape after being spotted.

However, Skyshadow didn't have her reputation as a master assassin and spy for no reason.

Placing a hand on Sunstreaker's knee, she looked him in the optic.

"I swear to you, on my life, that we'll get him back."

Sunstreaker looked back at her, an apprehensive look on his faceplate. "We can't rescue him. Prime won't let anyone- "

The black and purple femme shook her helm, interrupting him. "You should know by now; I don't need that old fool's permission."

Sunstreaker stood, pulling Skyshadow with him. Grabbing her shoulders, he looked down at her. Fear invaded his normally stoic faceplate. "I can't let you do that, Sky. You can't risk yourself for him."

Sky smiled a sad smile, reaching to cup his faceplate with one hand. "You need your twin, Sunny. And I've been on and off that ship more times than even Soundwave knows. I'll be alright."

"I can't lose you too," Sunstreaker whispered, pulling her close.

Skyshadow returned the embrace quickly, then pushed away. Taking several steps backward, she spoke again.

"You won't. I'll be back. With Sideswipe.

"I promise, I'll find him." She turned and began walking away. Her optics narrowed as she gazed to the sky.

"Whatever it takes."

Sunstreaker watched as she leaped into the air, transformed and flew away.

He frowned deeply.

"I shouldn't have let her go," he muttered, angry with himself.

But Sunstreaker wanted to know if his brother was okay. And he wanted him back.

And his love might be the only one able and willing to get him back home.

If it was safe for Sideswipe to come back to the Autobots.

Sunstreaker didn't know for sure, but he had suspicions.

He suspected that Skyshadow did too.


Iron Blade was working late again.

Though that was not an unusual thing for him.

After chasing Soundwave's dumb cat around the ship for awhile, the young warrior scientist had joined Starscream and Shockwave in the lab.

They'd thrown around some ideas for capturing the two Autobot speedsters for awhile.

Nothing for certain would work, but they had some good plans to try.

The other two scientists had long since retired to their rooms for the night.

Iron Blade stayed to work on one of his personal projects. One he was very proud of.

A sword that he'd worked on and off throughout his years. One that with a flick of a hidden switch in the hilt, could burst into flames.

Well, maybe not burst into flames. More like flames enveloping the blade.

Which was super cool.

But lately, the thing had been temperamental.

And so, Iron Blade was attempting to fix it and perhaps, make it work even better.

As he often was, he was so lost in his work that he didn't hear the door open and close.

Or notice the silent figure sneak up behind him.

Iron Blade froze when he felt a cold, metal blade at his neck cables.

"Hello, brother," came a hiss from behind him.

Recognizing the voice, Iron Blade was not certain whether or not he could relax.

At least it wasn't his other sibling.

"What do you want," he growled, trying not to move as much as he could.

"Information, dear brother," the femme said, not moving her knife.

"I'm not telling you a thing, Skyshadow." Iron Blade wanted to get up and draw his own weapon. Or turn in his seat to look at his little sister. Or at least cross his servos.

He was ticked that she had managed to get the drop on him. Another reminder that she had grown very dangerous since they had split ways.

And he knew from her tone, that she meant business. Maybe he wouldn't die at her hands, but that depended on why she was here perhaps.

"Don't worry, your loyalty isn't in too much danger," Skyshadow said smoothly. "I don't want any information on your friends or faction."

Iron Blade couldn't help but furrow his optic ridges. "Then what do you want?"

Skyshadow moved to stand beside him instead of behind his chair, knife never leaving his neck cables.

The warrior scientist watched her warily, optics narrowed. She returned his stare, just as darkly.

"Where is Sideswipe?"

Iron Blade furrowed his optic ridges again. "Sideswipe?"

"Yes. Tall front liner. Green and black paint job. I'm sure you know who he is."

"I know who he is," Iron Blade snapped. "Why do you think we have him?"

Skyshadow's lips curled up in a smirk and the scientist knew he'd said too much.

"Thank you for confirming my suspicions, dear brother," she said smoothly. "Now. Which cell in your brig is he in?"

She paused, then glared down at her brother. Tone dangerous, she continued.

"And in what condition?"

"Excuse me?" Iron Blade demanded. "Do you really think that you can just show up on our ship and demand stuff."

"Then what do you propose I do instead?" Skyshadow hissed. "Ask nicely?"

"Remove the knife from my neck and I might think about telling you."

Skyshadow paused, and then to Iron Blade's surprise, did as he asked.

"Only because I'm feeling merciful today, Iron Blade. Now, Sideswipe."

"What do I get in return for telling you?"

Skyshadow watched him warily, knowing there was a good chance he may attack now that there was no blade at his neck stopping him. She moved a step back.

"You get a former Autobot seeker off your ship and I don't do any sabotaging."

"That's not a deal," Iron Blade growled, rising to his pedes.

"Well, you're not offering any, are you?" snapped Skyshadow, backing away another step.

"Get out before I have to take you prisoner, Skyshadow."

"Not without Sideswipe."

Iron Blade shook his helm, frowning deeply. Drawing a sword from the sheath on his hip, he stepped away from his desk.

"Then so be it."

Lunging forward, Iron Blade swung his sword. Skyshadow ducked, then slammed her fist into his unprotected side. Grunting, Iron Blade brought the hilt of his sword down towards Skyshadow's helm. She saw it coming and dropped to the floor, rolling out of the way. Iron Blade followed her, but didn't have time to attack before she was back on her pedes. He dodged the fist aimed at his faceplate, the deflected another with his free hand.

"You've gotten better," he said approvingly, swinging his sword again.

Skyshadow bent backwards to avoid it, wings touching the ground. Following the motion with a flip, she smirked as she answered.

"It seems sitting and being a scientist hasn't made you lose any of your skill. So far."

Throwing a sudden kick at his tank, Skyshadow was stopped in her tracks as Iron Blade caught her pede. Her optics widened as he smirked.

Then, she returned the smirk and threw a quick jab with the palm of her hand into his chestplate. The hit made him stumble back, letting go of her pede.

Recovering quickly, Iron Blade realized he needed to go on the offensive.

And so, he did.

Swinging his sword left and right, Iron Blade forced Skyshadow to bring out her own sword to block his.

While she was a skilled sword master, Iron Blade was better.

Forcing her to parry and block his strikes instead of deliver her own, Iron Blade had the upper hand.

Suddenly, Skyshadow darted out of reach, dropped to the floor and rolled under a nearby table. As soon as she was standing, she turned and kicked the empty table at her brother.

Slicing it in half before it could hit him, the two sections fell away at his sides with a clatter.

Skyshadow was immediately in front of him again. Her blade flew toward his faceplate, fortunately he ducked out of the way just in time. Feeling the blade brush his helmet, his optics widened.

He was less sure that his sister wouldn't kill him if it came down to it.

Swinging his sword towards her tank, he jerked back and jabbed towards her shoulder as she went to block him. Missing his sword, she dodged the jab, but barely.

Iron Blade charged, knowing she would move out of the way of his bigger frame. Since she favoured her right hand, he knew she would move to the right.

Or he was mostly certain.

Skyshadow proved him right when she dodged the direction he'd predicted.

Sticking out a pede, Iron Blade tripped her, grabbing her wrist as she fell.

She'd been prepared to land on the ground and get back up quickly. She didn't expect Iron Blade to grab her, breaking her fall. Before she could react, he hit her hand on a nearby table hard enough to break her grip on her sword.

It clattered onto the ground, leaving her without a weapon.

That had a sharp blade anyways.

With a growl, she let herself go limp, pulling Iron Blade to the floor with her. Smacking his helm against it when he landed with her free hand, she then punched him in the faceplate. He let go of her wrist and she leapt to her pedes.

Dazed, he followed, now also having lost his sword. He barely deflected the jabs and punches that flew towards him before he was able to deliver some back.

After several kliks of close combat, Iron Blade finally got the upper hand.

He grabbed Skyshadow's wing and swung her into the wall. Gritting her denta, Skyshadow tried to get away, but he was just as quick.

Holding her against the wall by the wing, he vented hard. "Nice try, kid. But I'm still better at fighting than you are."

A growl from Skyshadow and then Iron Blade felt a sharp pain in his side. Glancing down, he noted that she'd grabbed a scalpel from the nearby table and managed to find a chink between his armoured plating on his side.

Luckily for him, she hadn't been able to get a good angle and didn't cut him very deep.

Not enough to be real concerned about at the moment anyways.

Not life threatening.

Again, Iron Blade hit her hand against the table, making her drop the weapon.

"You little brat," he growled, pulling her around by the servo and wing to face him. Then, shoving her towards the wall again, he pulled out his own knife from subspace.

"You tell me something," he said, tone angry.

Skyshadow stilled when she felt the blade at her neck cables.

"Now the tables are turned," Iron Blade growled. "What do you really want, Skyshadow? Tell me one good reason that I shouldn't throw you in the brig."

Lifting her chin, Skyshadow answered quickly, a dark look in her ruby optics. "Not every Autobot is as heartless as you Decepticons think.

"Some of us care enough to risk themselves on a rescue mission."

"What else are you here for?" demanded Iron Blade.

"Sideswipe. That's it," Skyshadow hissed, baring her fanged denta. "Tell me where he is and I'll be on my way."

"No." Iron Blade glared into his sister's optics. "I'm not going to let you have the run of our ship."

"You tell me where Sideswipe is and I'll tell you something you want to know," Skyshadow said. "I'm sure you would like to know something about the Autobots."

Iron Blade snorted. "You wouldn't betray your faction."

Skyshadow shrugged slightly. Her gaze never moved from her brother's as she spoke.

"Not all of us stay because we're loyal, Iron Blade."

Iron Blade's glare softened. "He broke bonds with you, Sky. With all of us."

"He's still my brother," Skyshadow said sharply.

"Am I not too?"

Skyshadow looked away. "What do you want, Iron Blade?"

The warrior scientist stared at his sister.

Did she not care for him at all?

"Alright," Iron Blade said, growing angry again. "You know what I want, Skyshadow?"

He waited until she met his burning, blue optics once again.

"What?" she spat.

"Where's our mother?"


Disclaimer: I own nothing other than my story and characters. Iron Blade belongs to my brother who helps me with this story.

Thanks for reading!