-Look at chapter 11 for disclaimer.

Chapter 13: Surprises

The lecture wasn't at all as bad as I had presumed it would be at first. Before Rhinox actually scanned me that is. And in that case, Optimus joined and I seriously had felt an overwhelming sense of regret. As expected, Dinobot stood on the sidelines with a smug 'I told you so' look…although an 'I told you so' just wasn't enough in my case. No, I wasn't dying, but my anatomy altered greatly. All my internals were same in structure, but their composition seemed changed, apparently going from fully organic to (seamlessly) techno-organic –as Rhinox has called it, the fusion was too subtle to make me a cyborg. My skin was no exception either, although it still appeared to be my normal pale, it was no longer as thin as it had been, and was no longer regular skin. While the alien nanites took on my natural skin tone on top, they took on a more metallic grey color a layer or two underneath. The most drastic difference was my bone make up; the scans had shown that they were of the same alloy, but more resilient and dense, and seemingly darker in color. And if that wasn't a tip-off, my spine/shoulder blades sure were –an external mutation was present, no I did not have wings or anything of the sort, it's just that whatever my bones were made up of could be clearly seen if I took off my tank-top, exposing the dark metallic grey that was my bone composition. It amazed me what alien bio-engineered cakes and drinks could do, that and my curious nature which had a tendency to get me into trouble.

Rhinox was going to run me through a physical but before we could even do that, we needed to help clean up our base first. The blast doors had needed the most care since Rampage nearly destroyed them by ramming into them not once. Not twice. But three times, and it had also been reported that the transmetal crab ran over them a few more times for good measure.

A small smile stretched across as my hands fidgeted with a stress ball. Something I would find myself doing often since it helped send me into a focus-induced train of thought. Ah yes, I really missed my family and home. With that thought, I had selfishly wished that maybe (just maybe) my close relatives would join me, however I also hoped the Vok wouldn't scare them too much. Even if they are cold logic-based scientists, they had to have some pity to yank me from my old universe…

As I continued to reminisce, my eyes locked onto the stress ball and nothing else, and because of that I failed to notice a curious feline as he peeked over my shoulder "Hey!"

"EEEP!" I found my rear end leaving the chair for a wholesome second. I growled and snapped my focus onto Cheetor, whom was blissfully unaware of all my initial murderous intentions –provided if it were Rattrap or Trailblazer.

"Oh sorry! You looked upset and I wanted to cheer you up!"

He may not know it, but he was seconds from death, I shook my head and grasped my chest "By scaring me to death?"

"…no…" he down-casted his optics, sheepish as can be.

I rolled my eyes and smiled "Relax Che, it worked"

"Huh?"

"Memory lane was getting depressing, it's a good thing you snapped me out of it"

"Oh well uh –you're welcome-"

"Hey kids!"

We both jumped and spun around to see a red transmetal horse smiling at us warmly. I fumbled the stress ball around like an idiot, doing everything in my power to think of a proper greeting.

"Hiya Blaze" I greeted half-heartedly.

"Gee you sound down in the slag-heap"

Curses! "I was just evaluating my life choices…" I rubbed my eyes "eating that cake and drinking from that vial being two of 'em"

"Well you're still with us aren't ya?!" Trailblazer reverted to bot form and pulled me into a hug "That's all that matters!"

"I honestly believed that lecture killed me and I was left to deal with you and Cheetor for eternity-"

"Not nice!"

Me and Trailblazer chuckled at Cheetors' puffed chestplate. That kid was just too cute.

"Whelp, sorry to break this to you Shortie but you're still very much alive and in the Beast Wars"

Thank Primus, I snorted to cover up my inner relief "No kidding, aside from OP and Rhinox I'm one of the reasons your sorry butts are not mounted on Megatrons' wall"

"He'd really do that?!" I reminded myself that Cheetor hadn't gone anywhere. I smiled sweetly.

"Yesss" and did my best Megatron impersonation. In response, Trailblazer doubled over in laughter. I swear to Primus the guy found humor in everything, or maybe I was just that funny? To confirm, I earned soft laughs from anyone who had been listening in.

"He'd prefer to mount our heads…" such as Dinobot "however; I wouldn't put it past him to also mount our, posteriors"

"You're not here to give me a reprimand are you?" because you stayed awfully quiet while Optimus and Rhinox did

Red optics glinted in mock innocence "Not now, I will merely wait until we're both in the afterlife…" as the raptor leaned and grinned evilly "so I can reprimand you for eternity". I visibly shrunk as Trailblazer fell to the floor laughing his shiny transmetal butt off. Cheetors' green optics broadened something fierce.

"That's harsh" the cat walked over and hugged me "Stay strong Cass" and I returned the embrace.

"'Til All Are One', Che…'Til All Are One'". Trailblazer's howling laughter escalated, the noise not really bothering anyone since they were doing their best to contain themselves too. Optimus was the first to regain his composure as he sauntered on over to us.

"How are you feeling?" Optimus asked politely.

"Like I have been run over by a Peterbilt…" I rubbed my temples "from an emotional standpoint. Physically I'm in good condition"

"Would you like to rest?"

"No, are there any tasks that need to be done?"

Enter Rhinox urgently notifying Optimus "Optimus, we have an emergency"

We exchanged worried glances amongst ourselves.

"Megatron?"

"No, the reading detected by the long-range scanners is not Predacon. Optimus…it's alien"

"On such short notice?" Optimus didn't sound too thrilled "Alright…". The massive ape-former turned to us "Looks like I already have a team assembled, if they are ready?"

For those of us who were standing (i.e. not Trailblazer) we straightened our postures and saluted.

The briefing was a quick one. Rhinox already had the crashed alien ship's coordinates displayed on the hub. And Optimus had made the point cut and clear; get in, have a look-see, get out…any hostiles we were permitted to eliminate.

"Wow these aliens must be gluttons for punishment-" Trailblazer cracked his neck "Not that I'm complaining…how about you Cass?"

"I won't complain, if there's more cake"

Dinobot snarled "At the rate your going, we'll simply hand you over to the aliens"

Everyone seemed ready to inflict some hurt. Not me, I made it my personal mission to capture a Vok and get some answers, so I maintained a neutral attitude whilst I started to argue with Dinobot. Optimus smiled as he observed our bickering. He waited for a full minute before he got our attention "Is everyone ready?"

We nodded in unison.

Out of all the places the strange alien ship needed to crash-land… I hugged my coat tighter …it had to be someplace cold and pulled my hood over my head. I wasn't complaining -not out loud anyway- the two layers were not enough to protect me from the intense chill from on top of a snow-capped mountain. It could be worse… my eyes examined every inch of the peak we were on while my palms were attempting warmth through friction.

"It should be…" I heard Dinobot mumble beside me, "just…down…" a faint beeping (the tracker) grew louder and more frequent as Trailblazer cautiously shimmied -in beast mode- down toward our destination.

:"Any luck?!": Cheetors' voice boomed through my radio, startling all three of us.

"Yell any louder-" Trailblazer grit his teeth "and you'll cause an avalanche"

:"…so…no then?":

"We're closing in on our target"

I spotted an enormous bulge covered with snow and earth, the typical debris from a crash-landing. I grinned, talk about being so close to something it'll bite ya! "Trailblazer-!" I pointed my index finger like a small child "big ship thingy-me-bob over there!". Coming to a dead stop, which gave him and the raptor time to follow the direction I happily gestured toward, Trailblazer then trotted up to the buried Vok ship.

"The Pit…?" he motioned for me to get off, and I did, careful not to fall in the snow in my excitement. Oooooo so mysterious –no, none of that cat curiosity are you trying to get yourself killed?! I stayed my distance considering how closely Dinobot watched me; the raptor appeared more like a mother-hen than a vicious prehistoric hunter. It was a good call, because there was an intense humming emanating from it.

"Wise move…" Dinobot patted my shoulder and showed me the scanner "Primus knows what's in there"

I squinted oh my GOODness "That is-" I gasped loudly as my peripheries caught sight of a big horse Maximal cautiously tip-toe and then bury his hand in the snow "-Trailblazer!"

Nothing happened.

Insert nose twitch. "What" I did another nose twitch as Trailblazer resumed his examination in a nonchalant manner. As we were trying to process just why Trailblazer hadn't triggered any defense systems, the familiar roar of jets closed in and landed gracefully next to our stunned forms.

"Oh neat! Is that it?"

We continued to stare as Trailblazer then gripped something "Sure. Hey, think I found an airlock-". His cobalt optics narrowed mischievously on us, but immediately disappeared as they locked onto someone else.

"My, who do we have here?"

I didn't turn around, instead, I went as still as the mountain I stood on. Dinobot exploited my stillness and tossed me to Trailblazer, whom caught me gently and placed me behind his protective stance.

"Oooohooo! Waaazzspiiinator want to be in party too!"

I spun around to face three figures standing smugly on higher ground; and they all had their weapons trained on us.

"It ain't a party till we got some Preds to shoot BugEyes-!" and with a speed I didn't know he possessed, Cheetor merged the two halves of his cat's maw and shot Waspinator right on the lugnuts (whether that was his intention or not I never found out), wow, that's gonna hurt for weeks. All hell broke loose as the other two Predacons –Rampage and Inferno (two of the bigger Predacons, eff my life right?) began firing. Trailblazer easily dodged one of the crab's rockets whereas me and Cheetor needed to dive for cover as Inferno roasted where we were standing moments before.

"Didn't Megatron want you-"

"Don't dwell on it" I peeked out to see Trailblazer and Dinobot taking on our remaining opponents, whilst Waspinator still pitifully rolled in the snow, but slowly and surely recovered.

Easy pickin's.

"Hey Che, feel like helping me with something?"

"Sure…what do you have in mind?" he mirrored my grin.

"You'll see, just follow my lead" I sprinted toward Waspinator while Cheetor kept Inferno off my back. Since it was a somewhat close-quarters battlefield, everyone's optics immediately shot over toward us with an inquisitive/panicked look that screamed 'whatever they're up to it ain't good'. The only bot unaware of our advances being our target, and so Waspinator's only warning before I tackled him was my overly ridiculous battle cry. With some struggle in his attempt to get away, the wasp Predacon transformed. Not that that did any good, he was in my clutches, no matter how hard he tried to buck me off of him.

"Bad female flezzshy-bot bad!" buck, swerve "You too heavy!"

Oh really?! "You did not just call me fat!" I know he didn't, though intimidation was the key to control in my case. I pulled out my blaster and pointed it at his head.

"Don't shoot Wasszzzpinator! Wasszzzpinator did not mean to call female flesszzhy-bot fat!"

So he did –oh hell no! I yanked on one of his antennae, earning a pitiful whine. "You deserved it! Now quit whinin' and fly straight!"

As the wasp took it easy on the dangerous maneuvers, I could clearly see that we had a spectator. With the thought that he was probably safe (enough), Cheetor dropped his guard and gave me a thumbs up "yeeahaha Cassie you showed him-!" only to be blasted in the back by Rampage –even if the crab was in a beat down with Trailblazer, he still found the time to take advantage of the cat's distracted state. As the two continued to duke it out, Inferno rushed over toward Cheetor and I cursed softly as the maniacal pyro-Predacon aimed his flamethrower at a stasis-locked Cheetor. I cursed a little louder to see that Trailblazer was in quite the pickle himself.

"You'll regret that you crustaceous cretin!" Trailblazer landed a few punches, but was quickly kicked aside…

"Ohhhoho like I'll regret this? Pffttt hahaha-!" and quickly recovered with a bad-ass somersault to dodge Rampages' stomp. I want to intervene but Cheetor…? I glanced over to Dinobot, who looked just as conflicted. With a moment of silent agreement, Dinobot ran to engage Inferno (who had been his opponent at the beginning of the fight). I breathed in deeply.

"Oh, to hell with it" I gripped both Waspinator's antennae and yanked in the direction Rampage and Trailblazer were fighting. As I watched the two large red bots beat the slag out of each other, I found myself both awed and nervous, is he really trying to kill the immortal with his bare hands? I winced as Trailblazer got close enough to choke Rampage for a whole few seconds. The crab merely laughed/coughed at the infuriated equine's efforts as he pried him loose from his throat.

"Did you really just try to choke me to death?!" those same laughs escalated into guffaws "I could learn to like you…!" as he pulled out his three-barreled rocket launcher "If I let you live that is-!"

"Incoming!" I jumped off of Waspinator just as the wasp crashed into a bewildered Rampage. I was relieved I had prevented Trailblazer from getting a face full of rocket, the horse Maximal had really grown on me like a real big brother. That and I somehow didn't want a personal reason to hate Rampage. As sappy as that sounds -because well, the guy kind of killed an non-quantifiable amount of people in his supposed backstory- it was my mindset.

That's my way of saying I had a wee crush on Rampage. And that seemed alright, because I was a part of the Beast Wars universe. By the Matrix…what is wrong with me?

"Cassie! The hell?! Get back!" Trailblazer pushed me behind him as Rampage recovered from his little 'run-in' with Waspy. With a huff, CrabbyCakes kicked his comrade to the side in favor of aiming his weapon back at Trailblazer. We all stood there awkwardly, up until the point where Rampage had an epiphany. My jaw dropped as he whirled around to fire at Dinobot –who looked very much occupied with a cackling Inferno. Whether it was because of my enhancements or because Rampage was savoring the moment, I was able to push away Rampage's weapon from its intended target as the crab snapped his optics over to me –unfortunately, I didn't distract the crab's trigger finger as he fired the rocket that was meant for Dinobot, the explosive projectile instead making a beeline for the side of the mountain we were on.

With a series of sickening crunches, massive portions of snow began to cascade down the slope. Oh an avalanche that's just dandy! I hopped onto Trailblazer as soon as he entered beast-mode. With a nod directed at Dinobot, the ex-Predacon gathered Cheetor in his arms (while shooting Inferno with his optical lasers) and transformed into his beast mode where he then made a mad dash down the mountain alongside us. Was it fun? Loads. Was it scary? Very much so!

"Hang on!"

I'll try! I wrapped my arms around HorseBoys' neck as I stared wide-eyed at the swiftly approaching frozen doom. Hey we just might –wait what is that? My eyes narrowed at the sight of a red speck that quickly became not-so speck sized. I gasped loudly as a crazed, airborne, Inferno dive-bombed us "For the Royaaallltyyy!" and sent me and Trailblazer rolling down the mountain (I thanked my lucky stars I hadn't somehow got underneath the horse Maximal). What made things even worse? The little bugger flew off cackling. I was pretty sure he talked some last second slag while he was at it, but I was too busy getting battered and bruised as I fought for control. I tried to anyway; gravity was not on my side. I groaned and clutched my side as I looked for some higher ground to beat the avalanche. There were ridges on both sides.

"Cass-!" my head whipped around to see Trailblazer as he limped toward me "Don't worry, I'll get ya outta here Girlie"

Why am I seeing two red bots- I squinted wait that other one is too big to be Trailblazer! The roar of the avalanche was near deafening, my eyes grew as wide and round as saucers ooohhhh shiiit Igottarun! And so I hobbled away from Rampage as fast as I could in favor of reaching Trailblazer, which wasn't very fast. I was huffing and puffing and-

My eyes grew wider as I coughed, is that my…blood?! Apparently I had underestimated the power of Physics that day. I groaned and gripped my other side, well this is it…I'm gonna die and get buried at the same time-EEP! That pain doubled as someone (who wasn't Trailblazer) gripped either side of me and tossed me into the air. And it wasn't like I landed on soft pillows on landing either, nope; instead it was a nice cool, hard shell. Dazed, I looked up to see my two (blurry) comrades safely crouched/passed out on top of elevated land. The last one, Trailblazer, I couldn't find anywhere. I frowned and looked for any sign of the soldier while I and my rescuer literally had death on our asses. I wonder just how many times he's gonna save me before he decides to just kill me… I rolled onto my belly, tempted to ask how Rampage was able to outrun an avalanche in tank mode, but didn't because it was impossible for any kind of verbal communication with the deafening roars and I could clearly see that we were losing the race. With no warning, I found myself ejected into the air, not-so-gently caught, and then squished between a red arm and crustaceous/metallic torso as Rampage landed, tucked, and rolled. I heard the rush of the avalanche's contents swirl all around us before coming to a quiet rumble as a loud crunching noise humbled it.

Once we were in somewhere dark and significantly warmer, I was deposited gently on the ground in a lax manner. A too lax manner, it was almost unnerving.

"Rampage?" oh boy, the guilt trains pulling in! I got no answer. No worded answer anyway. I instead heard moans of pain. My eyes followed the moans and found the source's dimmed green optics. What in –oh dear God! I suppressed a scream as I saw just why Rampage was in so much pain. A massive pointed spike pinned him to the floor, a chunk from the mountain I could only surmise, and had almost severed him. I grasped his arm and joggled it, hoping for any response. And I got one. I couldn't hear it at first because it sounded like more guttural groans.

"What…?"

More garbled noises.

"Please speak up"

"Do you delight in being a damsel in distress?"

Finally! I grunted, being in rough shape myself "No-" grunt "-not-" cough "-really, do you…" I winced as I gently prodded a rib "Do you delight in saving me?" feeling especially brave. Green optics regarded me.

"Not really, I find it quite tiresome"

I rubbed my temples "Then why…" I held my tongue, unsure whether to continue "then why do you insist on saving me? Why do you consider me a friend…" I trailed off as his arm snaked close to me "…I uhm, of course I'm grateful for the many times you'vesavedmeIreallyam-eep!" and then swiftly grabbed my collar. Rampage brought me very close to his face.

"Do you have a problem with it?" he inquired in a polite tone.

Eheheheeee wow, I was very certain he was going to hurt me. "No, I really don't, I like being your friend, and Transmutate's too! Which reminds me; how is she?"

He looked satisfied, "Why she's in good health" and so he released me. "…and if you must really know; I'm not keeping you alive for the sole reason of Transmutate liking you" Rampage grunted as he adjusted for comfort. Or whatever could pass as comfortable from where he was. "Perhaps I keep you around because you're good company"

Buffering… my mind contemplated those words to the best of its ability. I could only stare. "Oh" and that was the only thing I could muster. I got a snort in response.

"I know, so simple isn't it? You were probably under the impression I was a complex creature"

"To be brutally honest, I was"

"Brutal honesty is good, excellent even! Talking things out in such a civilized manner like true friends. And speaking of friends, why don't you be a dear and help me out of here hmmmm?" Rampage wriggled like a worm. I figured he'd eventually get to that point. Problem was; I really couldn't help him.

"Rampage…" I eyed the chunk that impaled him "I would gladly help you but…I think whatever's keeping you trapped is keeping me alive"

"I thought-!"

"I didn't mean it like that!" I frowned and raised my palms "that piece of avalanche debris acts like a plug, if it were to be destroyed, everything above where we are will come pouring in…you'll be fine, but I won't…". I sighed "Can't blame a girl for having some sense of having self-preservation can you?"

"I guess not…say, I never knew you were capable of such critical thinking!"

"Now you're just being a shmuck"

Emerald optics twinkled "Don't be discouraged, I'm actually rooting for you!"

"Because you want to be free"

"Precisely, two minds are better than one" he pulled, released a sharp pained grunt, and then flopped back on the ground. "Cassandra"

"Yesss?" I smiled wryly. Rampage groaned.

"None of that, I hear plenty of it back at the Darksyde"

I sniggered. "Sorry…what were going to ask?"

"You're not squeamish are you?"

"Are you suggesting-"

"Yes" he said tersely. A clear indication he was getting impatient. I gulped and pulled out my energon knife from my utility belt.

"In the time it takes me to slice through you, won't you heal?" yes, I was skeptical of the idea before he even suggested it.

"Cut fast then"

The blade trembled in my hand. I can't –well I can, I just don't want to! I nervously crawled on my hands and knees toward Rampage's waist. I hesitated.

"It's okay if you don't want to cut me free; I'm quite comfortable where I am"

My right eye twitched "I can do without the sardonic attitude"

"Oh can you really-"

Whatever was going to come after was lost on me as my attention snapped onto something else. A red, pulsing, alien-manufactured something else, something I missed while trying to help Rampage. The crab Predacon also looked over to my object of interest. Difference was, he didn't share my level of intrigue. In other words, he did not give a rat's ass what it was. I felt a hand tug on my coat.

"Ah yes, rather pretty isn't it, plenty of time to stare at it after you help me"

With a dinky energon knife?! I don't think so! "For Primus' sake, it's not going to work!"

"You won't know till you try"

"I don't need to! It's too small to do anything!"

"Pessimism is not really something I'd expect from you young lady"

"Sorry for the disappointment" I deactivated the blade and stuffed it back in its pocket "But unless I can pull an axe or a machete out my ass I can't help-!" I yelped as I felt my arm experience a white-hot pain, its weight suddenly shifting. What the Pit now-?! My mouth dropped as I saw that my right forearm/hand had been…weaponized. I looked at it, then Rampage, and repeat. I did it so many times my neck hurt.

"Hmmm, not really from your posterior but it will do"

I ignored his snarky comment in favor of gaping at my arm. The Vok –what was in that stuff?! My mind seemed to shut down and the concept of time meant little to me as I stared blankly at my arm. Thankfully, I was jostled from my stupor.

I whined as I rubbed my sore arm, courtesy of Rampage "Ow"

"You're welcome". Strangest thing was I was grateful that CrabbyCakes woke me from my catatonic state. And in return, I prepared myself for some emergency surgery. I sighed and gave a quick nod and raised my axe shaped forearm, and held it there.

"I'm going to cut this side and then move on to the next, I need you to pull while I'm doing that okay?"

"Get it done"

I brought the axe down swiftly, the blade effectively slicing through Rampage's metallic flesh. Doing my best to drown out his distressed cries, I moved onto the other side and performed the same action. Whatever this alloy is it's strong enough to cut through Rampage, I gave the Predacon crab some distance as his top half severed from his bottom as he dragged himself backward. Once he got a reasonable distance away, Rampage propped himself up against the wall. "I am capable of regenerating limbs, however, I would recover faster if I had my old set" I took that as my cue to drag his other half to him. I had a fair idea of how his regenerative abilities worked (I may have asked Rhinox once or twice). With a grunt, I summoned every ounce of my strength to drag the large bulk to its owner. I had to keep myself from gagging as some of the mechanical innards spilled on me. Rampage no doubt enjoyed my disgust. "Someone's not going to be a doctor anytime soon"

"Oh be quiet and regenerate will you" I shivered as I shook the mech fluid off my hands –my axe reforming back into my hand/forearm shortly after I set Rampage free. Now where was –ah there it is! Wanting very badly to take my mind off my gruesome deed, I went to go fetch the alien gizmo, i.e. the Transmetal Driver. Problem was, when I got there, I realized that the electromagnetic field that suspended it was supported by magnetic devices mounted on the far side of each wall. And those were fifteen or so feet off the ground. I grumbled incoherently and looked for some way to power down the devices. That included levers, buttons, switches, etc. and my eyes searched frantically.

Heavy footsteps vibrated the ground beneath me, a sure sign CrabCakes had fully healed.

Ugh he's probably going to –wait! When all else failed "Hey Rampage…?" I resorted to the help of a tall person.

"We both were sent to this mountain with the same objective, my dear" red hands reached for the Driver but came up short. I snickered.

"An objective you can't reach. I'll be more than happy to –eep!" I found myself being lifted to match the same level as the alien device.

"Don't hurt yourself" my temporary ally warned dryly. I wiggled my nose at him and grasped the Transmetal Driver cautiously. I got no reaction. With a heavy sigh, I clutched it close to my chest. "You can put me down now" I mewled when he almost dropped me to the floor.

The both of us weren't really sure what to do with ourselves after we retrieved the Transmetal Driver. We did not bother look for a way because, well, there wasn't a way out. Sure we were safe, but we were also buried. I thanked Primus I had no phobias of the dark (and maybe of crabs) as I sat cross-legged on the floor of the ship. Rampage was in his crab form, idly staring at the area behind me –he probably had his fair share of heckling me earlier that day. We were quiet with the mutual respect that none of us really had anything to discuss.

Up until we heard the soft roar of a flamethrower. And there were two bots I knew of that used them.

"I wonder who that could be" Rampage twitched his antennae.

"You got a fifty-fifty chance between Inferno and Trailblazer"

The crab hummed and scuttled close to where one particular spot of the ship's ceiling began to glow red hot, an indication that whoever had come to rescue us had incinerated away any of the snow/ice and earth above, and had been at it for a while. The metal bubbled and then dripped, Rampage dancing around the falling molten metal in a funny fashion. At long last, a gaping hole had been made and voices could be heard.

"My…you seem to be in quite the pickle there Rampage, yesss"

Just not the voices I wanted to hear.

"Have you recovered what the Royalty seeks Drone?!" Inferno demanded. I took that time to hide behind a large cylinder.

"No" the crab glanced in my direction.

"You're a horrible liar" Megatron sneered, and not even a second passed before Rampage convulsed. "Where is it?" the grape-faced tyrant growled out. He's doing what he thinks a friend would do, I bit my lip as Rampage continued to squirm, and the gizmo also plays a role in the plot too- I sighed and stepped out behind my cover, and then rolled the Driver like a bowling ball toward Rampage.

Take it; the look I gave him assured my thoughts.

"My patience is waning…-"

"Fine" Rampage stomped over to where the alien device stopped just short of being seen by Megatron and his lackey, and grabbed it.

"Now was that so hard?"

Megatron only got a grumble. I peeked around the cylinder to see the tyrant and Inferno step back to give their aggressively quiet comrade some room as he bent his knees, and jumped through the crude exit. As all three Predacons left, I thought I saw Rampage jerk his head toward the hole as if indicating my location to no one in particular. He probably just has a crick in his neck

That was not the case. A minute later, a large red transmetal jumped through and landed with a thud. Cobalt optics sparkled upon seeing me.

Well I'll be damned

"Well I'll be damned"