Kate would've elbowed him in the gut or face if Anna hadn't reacted first. "Ironhide!" She sounded relieved, so Kate stood down.
"Are you alright?" Anna's father's guardian and 'uncle' asked, looking for any injuries. She nodded, and he looked at the three 'Cons in human form that had been chasing them. "Get behind me!" The girls complied, but Kate leaned down, putting a hand near her boot. Anna suspected she had a knife or something.
Ironhide was intimidating when he wasn't angry, but the weapons specialist was furious, which, thankfully, was enough to give the 'Cons pause. Hopefully, Kate wouldn't have to use that knife.
The rev of an engine behind the group drew Kate's attention. She turned around to see a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG parked with the window rolled down. The man inside had short black hair, brown eyes, and a scar running from his forehead to his ear. The 'Cons backed up, and somehow, Ironhide knew it wasn't because of him.
"Soundwave!" Kate exclaimed quietly. Anna and Ironhide turned around to look as well, and the spy waved them over frantically. "C'mon! Let's go!" She began to book it for the car. Anna and Ironhide ran behind her, shouting for her to stop. She turned around, figuring out why they were shouting. "Don't worry! He's on Nikki's team."
While she was explaining it to the two, Barricade had parked nearby and decided to try the holoform again. He drew his sidearm and aimed for the escaped Red Room member. Soundwave had seen this transpiring, and had gotten out of the car and ran for her. He grabbed her hand and dragged her just out of the line of fire as Barricade shot.
Kate stayed behind Soundwave - albeit seemingly reluctantly - and Anna stayed behind Ironhide. The two mechs stood in front of the girls, protecting them from any more shots Barricade or the Vehicons would take. The sound of a third car arriving - a sports car from the sound of the engine - sent the 'Cons fleeing. Barricade threw Kate a hard glare - which was duly returned - before catching up to the Vehicons.
The car was Jazz, not - as Kate suspected the 'Cons thought - Knock Out. Lennox ran over to Anna, who hugged him tightly. "I'm okay, Dad," she spoke first. "I'm okay." Lennox offered a grateful look to Ironhide, who smiled and nodded. He looked to Soundwave, who seemed defensive. 'Hide nodded, and Soundwave returned it, relaxing a bit.
Lennox looked over at Soundwave and Kate. Seeing he wasn't a threat, he nodded his thanks to the former 'Con, who offered the major a slight smile. "Wow. You shocked him silent," Kate remarked.
"He did not," Soundwave argued, turning to the teen, who offered him a lopsided smile.
"Did too," she retorted. He decided not to argue the point further. "That was kinda fun. I mean, once you look past all the 'coulda been caught' parts."
"Yeah," Anna agreed, finally breaking the embrace with her dad. "They almost got us." A smirk found its way to her face. "Almost." Soundwave closed his eyes, knowing that smirk too well. Soundwave gave Ironhide a 'Should I be concerned?' glance. 'Hide shrugged.
"But I think we'll wait before trying another adventure, right, girls?" Lennox asked. Well, it wasn't so much a question as a veiled command.
"Right," the girls replied, sharing a knowing look.