Ch. 85

Bulkhead hadn't run alongside Breakdown in a long time. At least, not in a capacity that aligned them as partners. The green mech wanted to make some sort of statement to that effect as the pair exited the ground bridge but found the moment not quite appropriate when a powerful blast of red plasma nearly hit the two and sent them sprawling for cover behind large boulders on either side of the now closed ground bridge.

Bulkhead covered his helm and transformed out a blaster, growling, "They sure didn't waste time!" he hollered, firing back.

Breakdown huffed, "They got us all over the place, you really think they wanna buckle down and talk first?!" the gun mount on his shoulder activated and sent a rapid return fire as he laughed, "I say they made us a nice welcome mat, Bulk! It'd be rude not to stomp on it!"

Bulkhead smirked and nodded, "I wasn't much for talking anyway."

The two waited a breath and roared, quickly jumping into action to fight. Neither mech was phased when they saw three Insecticons waiting for them, the pair switching to melee weapons on approach. Two of the Insecticons engaged while one held back, his visor glinting and his maw hissing.

"I am Hardshell!" the Insecticon roared, "I have been dispatched by my mighty Lord Megatron in search of the seeker! Divulge his location!"

Breakdown laughed sarcastically as he slammed his hammer into one of the Insecticon's helms, throwing it back, "A seeker? You'll have to be more specific! Is he a friend of yours?"

Bulkhead pummeled his weapon into the lower chassis of his Insecticon, grunting out his response, "Haven't had to deal with a seeker in a while! But I've heard they usually like to fly around in the sky! Can't exactly do that with four wheels!"

Hardshell snarled, "Enough of your useless prattling! Reveal the seeker's location and your deaths will be swift!"

Both Bulkhead and Breakdown managed to throw their Insecticons back, each switching to long range weapons.

"Don't think I'm in the mood for 'revealing' anything. You, Bulk?"

"Ha! Not much in the mood for dying, either."

Hardshell hissed and stalked closer, his Insecticons following his lead, "I am not a mech to be trifled with!" he seethed, "The Insecticon hive may be many, but even alone, our power and strength is not to be challenged! I will only give you a chance more! Where is Starscream?!"

Breakdown smirked at Bulkead, who nodded in return and spoke up, "Gee, Hardshell. I don't think I can tell you where he is. I can sure tell you where he isn't, though, and that's here," he lunged forward at the Insecticon, his melee weapon ready, "to enjoy watching us pummel you to pieces!"

Hardshell growled as he took a defensive stance but when Bulkhead ducked away there was hesitation in his movements, which allowed Breakdown an easy hit to the Insecticon's jaw with his hammer. Hardshell stumbled back and shook the dizziness away, roaring angrily. The other two Insecticons moved in, slashing with large claws and terrifyingly, though unsuccessfully, trying to bite into the two Wreckers.

The Wreckers both retreated and transformed, driving down from the barren and marred volcanic mountain range and into the closely growing and lush jungle just beneath them. They weren't retreating out of necessity, the pair were actually enjoying themselves.

Breakdown stayed near the back, his gun aimed upwards as the Insecticons transformed to follow, "How long should we make them chase us for?"

"We won't have a choice in how long," Bulkhead informed him, "The jungle ahead is pretty thick. We won't be able to drive much longer."

"And to think," Breakdown sighed, "I left all my green paint with the doc. Guess I'll have to play bait this round, Bulk. You know how much I hate playing bait."

The green mech laughed, "If we get closer to the ocean, we'll switch!"

The Insecticons behind them were still giving chase, their loud buzzing wings and booming shrieks the least of their concerns as hot red plasma threatened to burn into one of them. The Wreckers expertly dodged and weaved back and forth until the jungle finally swallowed them up and the Insecticons were forced to land and transform first. It wasn't much farther in that the pair had to do the same, Breakdown still keeping his gun mount ready to fire as they backed into the trees surrounding them.

"What's the plan?"

Bulkhead didn't hesitate as they walked ahead, "Well, they clearly want Scream, and we're not Scream."

Breakdown huffed, "I'm insulted they weren't excited to see us."

The green mech smirked, "I say we take'em out and get back to base. Simple."

Breakdown's yellow optics scanned behind him and he nodded, "Sounds fun. Which maneuver should we do first?"

"Well..." Bulkhead began, "you did say something about 'bait'..."

Hardshell sniffed the air and growled, "Fan out! Find them! I will tear their spark chambers from their very chest plates after they have given us the information we seek!"

The Insecticon pair scuttled into the brush and latched onto large trees, running along trunks and jumping onto branches in their rapid search. Scents low against the jungle floor were strong but unreliable with all the moisture in the air. The Insecticons took in heavy intakes of air, trying to find the smell of oil and energon and metal but were coming up with little to follow. The pair knew if they didn't have some sort of information to give their immediate leader, and then to Lord Megatron, it would not end well.

Hardshell paced impatiently, creating a flattened path as he went along, and hissed into his COMM while he waited, "This is Hardshell, reporting in from island drop. The seeker has not made his presence known. We are in pursuit of the green Autobot and former Decepticon Breakdown. I will report in again once they have been either captured or slain. All hail Lord Megatron."

His COMM beeped in response that his message had been received and the Insecticon stopped in his pacing when a stiff 'crack' echoed gently through the jungle. To the bug, it sounded like soft wood splitting under a Cybertronian ped, so Hardshell stalked down on all fours to keep low and listened further to find the sound. With a patient crawl through some of the thicker underbrush, Hardshell sniffed very softly, getting trace smells of the mechs he and his two brethren were hunting. The Insecticon stopped all together when he saw Breakdown leaning up against a tree, looking as though he was trying to reestablish his bearings. Hardshell watched in predatory excitement as the other two Insecticons made an appearance higher up the large tree, crawling down the trunk quietly to get into a better position.

Hardshell waited. He waited quietly. When he finally saw his Insecticons make visual contact with him, he shrieked loudly, the three pouncing together.