Daze blinked, glanced around and followed Ratchet.
Jade's comm came on. "Jade, please report to the command center." It was Prowl. She wondered what it was this time. "I'll be right there." she downed the remainder of her cube and tossed the empty container in the recycling unit.
The jet plodded into the command room, where Prowl and Prime were standing in front of Teletraan-1 "Ah, Jade." Prime's baritone voice rang out around the empty room. "Are you feeling better"
The jet glanced up. "Yes, sir."
"Good. I need you to investigate something for me." He pressed a button to bring up a display of a mountain not to far away. And a cavern entrance.
"huh?" Jade was confused.
Prowl stepped in. "We detected activity coming from the old cavern inside this mountain. We were hoping you might be able to help."
"The old Kintari base? But that thing hasn't been used in a year and a half!" Jade exclaimed. "We know. That's why we were hoping to send you. Whoever is there might be associated with your old friends. They may be our allies." Jade squinted at the screen. "Are you sure?"
Prowl pressed a button. "This video recording was taken fifteen minutes ago." The video showed a part of the mountain near the top slide back, like a double-doored hatch of some sort. Out of it came a winged craft. A small sattelite with a cylindrical body, and a radar dish underneath. Jade lifted an optic ridge. "okay. So the Drifter sattelite was launched. Could be a computer malfunction." she shrugged. "The computers were completely shut down and disconnected." Prowl countered."You're sure Razer and Dusk were destroyed, along with backdraft?" he questioned.
"Yes...most definitely." Jade replied. "I wonder..." The camera shifted back to the present, to show a trio of transformers standing on the mountaintop. The first one was a blocky mech, pale greenish-brown colored, one black with bright teal markings, and looked like he transformed into a jeeplike vehicle, or a chevy blazer, and the third one was a femmecar, white in color.
Once outside the Ark, Omega looked around.
"ALPHA"
Said femme whimpered as she felt her brother call her through their link and out loud. She wrapped her arms around her and looked at the broken glass that surrounded her. She swallowed. "Why is it I see my markings in all of these?" She asked quietly.
Jazz looked around, then said. "We can cover more ground if we transform." He transformed to car mode, and waited for Omega to follow suit.
Omega transformed into jet mode and then flew into the air. "Right. AL!! SIS, WHERE ARE YA?!?!"
"That looks like the Marauder team." Jade shivered. "Not a team you want to be in opposition with." she thought.
"The who?" Prime looked at her with curiosity. "One of the Kintari groups from Cybertron. The Marauders were a... specialized team."
Around the some rocks from Omega and Jazz, the tank snickered, and waited for his targets to come around the corner...
The two 'bots zoomed down the road, the black and white Porsche excellerating slightly. Hammertread quickly maneuvered himself so he was directly in their path.
"Going somewhere?" he rumbled.
Jazz slammed on his brakes and tried to swerve, but it was too late. The Porche slammed headfirst into the side of the tank with a crunch. He transformed, still slightly dizzy from the impact. The tank reared up, the treads turning into legs, and a head and arms appeared. The main turret turned into a quite large shotgun, being held by a very bulky, grinning bot.
"Wha-"
BLAM! The mech's huge fist connected with Jazz's chest, sending him flying. "You're nezt, wings." Hammertread canted a grin upward at Omega.
Jade eyed Teletraan-1's screen.
"Go on." Prime encouraged. "Well, they were specialized in infiltration and sabotage, mostly. I never really got to meet them. It was right before the big 3-way battle we had." she glanced back up at Optimus, remembering.
"Jade?" Prowl snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"Do you know them?"
"Barely"
she ganced at the screen again. What she was thinking was "No way in heck I am leaving this base alone!! I don't know where that werewolf could be hiding!" but it came out more like. "perhaps I should have someone come with me. To show them we're now working with the Autobots.
"JAZZ!" Omega yelled, transforming. He landed and then growled. "You'll pay for that." He said before going invisable. The mech flew into the air.
"Find me."
Hammertread's grin widened a little. "ooh. a mech with tricks. And here I thought this wasn't gonna be fun." He grinned and took a step towards his first target. Jazz scooted back, and turned on his speakers as loud as they would go.
Hammertread blinked. "Is that supposed to bother me?" could be seen being mouthed over the ear-ringing volume. The tank kept an eye on where the jet had been, figuring the concert-loudness would deafen the bot in the air, if not mess with his invisibility-field-thing.
Prime nodded. "I agree. Prowl, you will go with Jade to meet with these new allies."
"Are you sure that's wise, sir?" Prowl replied. Before he could explain further, or Prime could answer, Jade jumped in. "Taking someone of ranking authority with me is a big sign of trust. Not only are you second in command, but if they wanted to get ahold of you, they could probably force the surrender of the entire autobot army. That tells them you not only come as a representative, but you're putting your trust, and the trust of your army in them."
Jade realized she'd gone a little overboard on the explanation, and looked a little embarrased. "It means you want them to be your allies. Not your enemies." she summarized.
Omega concentraited as hard as he could. He had had these powers since birth. Almost nothing could get rid of them. The mech glared at Hammertread and then fired at his back before flying out of the way.
Alpha walked through the woods, sensing her brother. She frowned. "I can sense him, but where is he?"
The blast hit the tank, and he turned to see where it had come from. He gave the air in general an amused look. "If you want to fight me, you'll have to come down here." Jazz turned his radio off. Hammertread stomped over to him and punched him again. Jazz tried to put up an arm to block it, but the tank's armored fist went right through his defenses, knocking him off his feet again Omega growled. he landed behind HT and slashed him with his sword, still invisible.
"Leave 'im alone."
Compass knocked on Alpha's door. Rook was in the rec room chatting up with Hound and the others.
"Alpha?" He called. When she wouldn't answer, he sulked, his wings drooping lightly.
The door to alpha's room slid open, catching Compass of gaurd and startling him slightly. revealing the pieces of broken glass on the ground and her armor strown around the room as if she had had a slight temper tantrum, however, Alpha was no where to be found. Only a note on her bed.
Hound sat down and tested his leg, then frowned slightly. "I wish Ratchet knew what I did to my leg, it's rather annoying having to limp around all the time. "He chuckled. Rook smiled. "Let me have a look at it."
Hammertread tried to backhand Omega, but was too slow. The tank growled under his breath. Then smirked, reaching down and grab Jazz around the neck, bringing him back up to his feet. The tank grinned and punched him again. The car's windshield shattered.
Jade stepped out of the ark with Prowl on her left, and looked around cautiously. "I REALLY don't like this." she thought. Suddenly, a sharp cry split the air, along with the sound of shattering glass. Jade hid behind the tactician, on the opposite site of whatever just made the sound.
"STOP IT!!" Omega snarled, slashing at Hammertread. The mech became visible.
"Put. Him. Down"
Three Alphas appeared beside Hammertread, their armor off and markings showing.
"Put our friend down now"
Hammertread blinked.
Prowl crept around the rocks, Jade still behind him.
"I've never seen him before." she said, thankfull it wasn't a certain werewolf.
The three Alphas growled. "Put him down"
The real Alpha tapped on HT's shoulder.
"NOW!" she yelled.
"Listen to my sis and her copies!" Omega warned.
"Or what, you'll tickle met to death?" the tank snickered.
Jazz turned on his headlights. On bright. The entire area lit up, and Hammetread staggered back covering his optics. "You'll pay for that!" he snarled, and rushed forward. There was a whistle as Prowl fired both his shoulder missiles. The explosion threw the tank copmpletely off his feet.
"This isn't over!" he snarled, picking himself up. He transformed into tank mode and sped away
The copies and Alpha snarled. "TRANSFORM!!" They yelled, then followed HT.
"ALPHA!" Omega yelled, but sighed. She was too far wasay.
"Frag. Ya okay, Jazz"
"I think so. Who was that?" he asked, looking at the dust trail the tank had left in his wake.
"I don't know."
Alpha and her copies caught up with HT. "Pull over an' transform. NOW!!" All of them yelled.
"Go away."
"Make us." The Alphas challenged. "I was already almost killed once today, what's the worst you could do?" She growled.
Hammertread sighed and rolled on, driving somewhat erratically.
"I'm not in the mood for this right now." he growled.
"Too bad. You almost killed one of my friends so either pull over so we can talk/fight or so help me"
the tank rolled his optics. "Fine". He transformed and looked around, looking for her, obviously still blinded in from the bright light of Jazz's headlights. He thought for a second as his vision cleared, then adopted a friendlier voice. "I think we may have gotten of on the wrong foot. Tell me, do you know of an Autobot Prowl, perchance?"
Prowl turned to Jade. "We should get going. Maybe the transformers that just showed up know something of this mech." Jade looked a little nervous.
"Omega." Prowl turned to the jet. "Thank you for your assistance. Would you like to join us?" Jade glanced over at Jazz. "Are you sure you're okay"
"I'll be fine jus' a broken windshield. no biggie." he headed for the repairbay.
Omega nodded. "Yeah."
The two jets glided along, Prowl driving under them. "I just hope they don't blame me for what happened to Razer and Dusk..." Jade muttered. "Perhaps we should exercise some caution, then." Prowl replied Omega nodded.
The Alphas transformed. "Yeah. Hang on." They closed their optics and all but one disappeared.
"There we go. Yeah, I know him. Name's Alpha"
"Mine's Hammertread." the grin came back. "So, you're a friend of his?"
"Somewhat." Alpha shrugged.
"Oh, good. See, We're old friends, Prowl and I. He grinned wickedly. Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where he is right now, would you?" Hammertread could finally see clearly again. This was perfect!
Compass looked around at the glass, and then noticed the note on the bed. He stepped over and picked it up.
The note said:
"To Compass, or Omega. Or Kit.
I'm going out for a walk. Ignore the mess in here, I'll clean it up later. I just need to clear my head. Thanks guys.
Love ya, Alpha."
Prowl pulled up to a flat wall of sheer rock. Jade landed, Omega right beside her. "These are part of a group I used to be associated with. It's...kind of a long story. She went over to a small square of rock and placed her hand on it. "Let's just hope they haven't changed the access codes."
Alpha raised an optic ridge at the tank's question. "Hang on." she concentrated on her mindlink with her twin brother.
"Yo, Bro"
"Alpha?" Omega's voice said where only Al could hear him.
"Yeah. Where are ya? Prowl with ya"
"Erm...yeah...why"
"Jus' wonderin'." Alpha looked at HT.
"Bro's with Prowl"
"and where would that be?" the tank kept smiling, but his mind was on other things.
"Hang on...again..." Alpha sighed.
"Bro"
"Yeah"
"Where are ya"
"Um... "
Alpha sighed and then looked at the tank. "Prowl took 'em to some place."
Jade glanced up at the mountainside. "Don't draw your weapon, don't have your gun in your hand, and just keep your hands where they can see them, and you should be fine. Hope they don't mind me just walking in like this.
The slab of rock slid aside, revealing a dimly lit passageway tunnel.
Compass stared at the note for what seemed to him to be hours. He finally slugged himself hard enough to had into the rec room, where Hound had one leg up on the table and Rook was working away diligently. Without saying a word, he flunked himself beside Rook and laid his head down on the table. Hound cocked his head curiously. "Something wrong, Compass? You don't look so good in the sensors." Compass shook his head without removing it from the table. Rook eyed over him curiously, continuing to work on Hound's leg.
"Girl?" the jet asked. Compass dropped his hand on the table, releasing the note lazily. Rook looked it over, pausing from his work.
"Ah. I see." He chuckled.
Kit padded over in her white tiger mode and giggled as she poked Compass' leg.
Compass pulled himself back slightly and looked down at the sparkling. He smiled and patted her on the head. "Hey, Kit..."
"What place?" Hammertread was really trying to keep his smile, but playing 20 questions just wasn't on his agenda for the day.
Alpha frowned. She told HT where they were. "There, happy?"
Hammertread grinned. "Thank you." He transformed and sped away. Alpha followed.
The trio of Autobots entered the mountain tunnel, and had only made it a few meters down the hall when the rock slammed back into place, blocking the entrance they'd just come through.
"Disarm and identify yourselves!" a voice barked. Jade nodded to her companions. She took off her armcannons and placed them on the ground crisscrossed in front of her.
She took a step forward. "I am Jade, Kintari sub-commander, third level. I demand to speak with your commanding officer"
Omega got rid of his sword and his laser. "Erm, I'm OmegaFighter, aprentice to Vector Prime and servent of Primus"
There was silence for a moment, then the male voice said. "Demand?"...And why do you bring Autobots here? They are our enemies"
"After the destruction of Razer and Dusk, our faction allied themselves with the Autobots for protection."
the voice huffed "We need no protection"
There was a shuffling sound in the background, followed by other muffled voices, and the door at the end of the tunnel opened. two figures appeared, and walked towards them.
Omega glared at the figures.
Back in the rec. room at the ark, Rook continued working on Hound's leg, before the jeep yelped. Rook looked up. "I'm sorry, did that hurt?" Hound winced slightly.
"A little. You pinched me." He laughed.
Kit smiled. "Let's go find my mom, please. I'm worried"
Compass looked at her, his smile leaving his face slowly. "I.." Rook nudged him with his hip. Compass felt like mentally hitting himself.
"...Let's go find your mom." He picked her up and put her on his shoulders after reajusting the magnetic poles.
"Do you need a ride?" Rook questioned. Compass stopped. He DID need a ride, but Hound was in need of medical attention. "I.." he glaced at Hound. Rook laughed.
"You can just leave me here, I'm sure Ratchet will be back around to finish my repairs." Hound commented. Rook shook his head at the jeep. "Nonsense. You'll just have to come with us. I'm more than big enough for the three of you." He picked up Hound carefully and headed outside, Compass and Kit following behind.
Alpha frowned, sensing the sparkling.
"Kit." She kept her flying a distance from the tank below, so he wouldn't hear her.
"Mommy?" the white tiger cub's ears perked up as her comm. radio came on.
"Listen to me. Something bad's 'bout to happen. Stay safe"
"But mommy"
"Please."
Compass stopped and looked up. "Something wrong Kit"
"Mommy said somethin' was going to happen. She said to stay safe." The sparkling whimpered. "Something bad's gonna happen"
Hammertread sped up slightly, sweeping his sensors behind him to see if Alpha was following.
Alpha was indeed following.
Jade walked up to meet the two.
"Hi." the first, shorter one stuck out his hand. "I'm Cable. This is my pal Gunlock."
the taller one nodded and grunted a greeting. Jade shook his hand.
"These are my associates. Prowl, sub-commander of the Autobots, and Omega"
"hi." Omega smiled.
Jazz was headed back out after a brief visit to the repairbay. He thought he saw something small and giggly cross his path down the corridor. He turned the corner and came up the hall from another direction. Sure enough, there was a small armadillo, hiding like she was going to jump out at him.
"Sandi?"
Sandi giggled and glomped his leg.
Jazz chuckled as Sandi looked up at him.
Sandi giggled, then her ears drooped.
"I can't find mommy," she whispered. "Not seen her for days."
Well, we'll just have to go find her then, won't we. Jazz grinned.
Sandi nodded, ears still drooping
Hammertread got bored and started to beat up some nearby rocks, practicing his punches.
Alpha transformed and sat down, watching him. She wondered how long it would take him to notice she was there.
Hammertread glanced over at Alpha "Are you sure your brother gave you the right co-ordinates?" he asked.
"I told ya what he said, okay?" Alpha said, standing up. The femme duplicated.
"whatever." the tank shrugged, and went back to punching a boulder.
Alpha started to hum some tune the tank had never heard before, and he tried to ignore it. He flicked a gaze in her direction, and noticed how closely she was watching him.
while humming.
"You know, you are really starting to get on my nerves." Hammertread stopped punching the rock long enough to glare in Alpha's direction. "Why don't you run along and go bother someone else for a change."
Inside the cave, Gunlock started to reach for the Autobots's weapons.
"Nuh-uh." Cable beat him to it.
"I know how you are with weapons. I still haven't gotten my pulse-pistol back you 'borrowed' a month ago."
Cable picked up the weapons, and Gunlock gave him a look. He reached for Omega's sword, put the jet warrior placed one foot on the blade.
"Please don't touch it." he said.
"ookay... picky about other people handling your weapons?" Cable turned and started to walk away.
"I know how that is." the car added under his breath, giving the jet beside him an accusing look. Jade lifted an optic ridge at the two, then glanced at Prowl and Omega and shrugged. Omega retrieved his sword and put it back in it's sheath, and followed the two down the hall, which ended in a fairly large cavern.
The main computer was on the wall opposite the door, with a small table to the right of it. A few meters away, on the same wall as the hallway they had come through was a set of tables, and a small workshop area. When they entered, The three 'bots inside the cavern aimed their weapons at the trio. Jade glanced over to where a white figure was staring at the viewscreen.
"DriveBy."
The white femme turned. "Jade." She smiled behind her facemask and walked up.
"It's been a long time."
"too long." Jade agreed.
"So, tell me, what happened while my group was away?" the white femme walked up, glancing at the two Autobots as she passed.
"Weelll...Razer, Dusk, and Backdraft got blown to smithereens, the rest of my group joined the Autobots, and that's pretty much it. I guess." Jade replied.
Prowl added: "Jade is not being completely accurate. The other Kintari joined the Autobots because they realized we are the only thing keeping the Decepticons from conquering this planet. Without us, they would have been left to fight the decepticons alone. And they would have all been destroyed, instead of only three"
"Uh-huh." DriveBy turned to the Autobot. "So, you're accusing us of being weak?" she circled the group.
"and you." Jade turned to meet her stare, daring her to say something.
"Have forgotten our oath."
Sandi sniffed again and looked up at Jazz.
"Maybe she's in her room." Jazz suggested.
They reached Dragonsbane's quarters, and rang the doorchime. no answer. Jazz glanced up and down the hall, then typed in his security override code.
"Don't tell anyone I did that, k?" THe doors opened, and the two stepped inside.
"I don't think she's here." He glanced around.
Sandi looked around then up at Jazz again. "Where's Kit?"
"She's in the rec. room." Jazz turned and headed that direction.
Hammertread shot the femme a look, tempted to say something, but held his vocalizer. "no, I've waited too long for my revenge. I have all the world of patience to wait for him." he thought.
"What?" Jade shot back. "The oath to protect our group from outside threats? To do what is nessesary to ensure the safety and survival of our group. There was more chance of our faction continuing to exist with the allegiance of the Autobots, rather than on their own. We do not depend on them. We are not weak. And I have not forsaken our oath!"
Driveby thought for a moment, then nodded . The three bots surrounding Jade, Omega, and Prowl put down their guns. DriveBy walked back to the monitor screen.
"I suppose you came her with an invitation to join the Autobots, then?" she asked.
"Yeah." Jade nodded.
DriveBy shook her head. "We can take care of ourselves."