Disclaimer: TF is not mine. Sky, Metal and Alpha are.

Title: (Um...don't have one...))

Challenge Set: 99

Challenge: Friends

Rating: PG

Word Count: Sumethin'

Pairings: None

Time frame: Before G1 was set; Alpha's still a 'Con

Summery: After destroying a city, the suriving Decepticons make their escape, only to have their tunnel blocked after all but three have escaped. Can they get the door open or will the 'Bots find them?

"Aaaaaaaaaand…open it! Now! Use your powers!" The Decepticon jet, Skybomb, said as he pointed to the damaged – and completely blocked – door that led to the only way out of the destroyed city. His wings twitched in anticipation as he waited for his comrade to do as he asked.

However, his comrade just sighed and rubbed her temples nervously, "Sky." She tried to explain, "I'm not telekinetic. I can't move things." She said as she sat down on a piece of collapsed building while her teammate buzzed around in the air nervously, "I'm telepathic."

"Huh?" The seeker landed and looked at her curiously, "Tele…what?" He cocked his head to the side, but then shot up straight when someone snorted. Alpha jumped as well and looked up.

Their boss – and the leader of their small little troupe – Metalpent stepped where they could see him and plopped down next to Alpha, wiping some energon out of his optics. His gaze drifted across the city that he and his fellow Decepticons had helped destroy. Bodies from both the Autobots and Decepticons laid scattered around on the once battlefield, marking the city as a slaughter. There had been so many of them and only a few of the Decepticons. However, they had been armed – and awake. Only a few of their enemies had been conscious when the battle began.

Many of the living Decepticons had already escaped but, before his troupe could reach the door to the tunnel, an Autobot fired and destroyed the entrance to the escape tunnel. Of course he had been peeved and – because of his anger – the last living Autobot had died at his hands.

Someone touched his shoulder and he saw Alpha looking at him, concern in her emerald optics. He snorted again and she jumped, looking away from him. The pitiful little once-Autobot always had too many feelings, too much concern for others and not for herself. Her and her brother belonged with the Autobots, but for some reason they stayed.

Looking at Skybomb, he answered, "Telepathic. She can speak with her mind. And read other's minds. So on, so forth." The tank snorted as he stretched one leg out and leaned back lazily.

"But…that's channeling…" Skybomb blinked, and looked at Alpha. The psychic sighed and shook her head,

"Sorry, Sky, but that's the ability to talk to the spirits of the dead." Her optics got a mystified look in them, but then it disappeared swiftly. "One of the few I wished I had."

"Why?" Metalpent asked, but Skybomb interrupted Alpha.

"Then what's Clair…Clairvoyance?" He asked, sitting down on the other side of the fembot. His optics shown with genuine curiosity.

A slight smile crossed Alpha's face, "The ability to see what is happening somewhere else – or what can't be seen by normal people." She smiled more, "It's a very rare gift. Few Transformers have it. Even less know it and half of them who do, can control it."

"Cool…"

Metalpent snorted, "What about Psychometry?" He asked, giving Alpha a look that, quite plainly, said let's see how much you know, smart-aft.

Alpha sighed, recognizing the challenge, "The ability to receive information – such as visions, sounds or feelings – by touching an item or person." She smiled a $hi+ eating grin at Metalpent, who laughed heartily.

"Clairaudience?" Skybomb peeped.

"Hearing what can't be heard by normal people. Even more rare that Clairvoyance." She leaned back and smiled at her teammate, who looked as giddy as a schoolgirl at all the new information he was learning.

"What's Retrocognition?"

"Seeing what happened in the past."

"…I thought that was Clairsentience." Metalpent blinked his lovely dark blue optics.

"Naw! That's the ability to feel sensations and emotions related to a place and/or event." The pickup grinned, "You're slipping, Metal."

"Oh, go interface with a toaster."

Alpha and Skybomb both snorted in laughter, "Why don't you give me some tips, eh?" The femme challenged and Metalpent suddenly looked angry. He glared at her, but then busted out laughing.

"Okay, okay! Hang on!" Skybomb looked over and then asked one final question, "Tell me what pyrokenesis and Precognition are." He demanded, flying in the air again.

"The ability to control fire with the mind and the ability to see the future. There." Alpha sighed and laid down on the ground, "Anything else?"

"Nope." He paused, then, "Well…how d'ya know all this?"

"She's a psychic. Idiot." Metalpent wacked his head with the back of his hand not-too-lightly.

"Actually, my master taught me the different psychic abilities. He wasn't sure which I would have, so he taught me the symptoms of all." She nodded and then sat up. A wary look passed over her face, "How are we goin' to get out of here? Not to get off topic, but when the Autobot reinforcements get here…"

"We'd be better off in a slag pit with Megatron laughing at us." Metalpent filled in. When both of his teammates nodded, the leader stood and looked at the door. "I'm gonna try to knock it down…" He took a few steps back and ran, yelling. His shoulder hit the door and he fell back, yelping.

"Metal!" Skybomb yelled and dipped down. "You okay?" he asked as Alpha shuffled over.

"I'm fine…" He sat up, "But that door…it's stubborn."

"Telekentic…hmm…Sky, you've given me an idea."

Skybomb looked at Alpha, "Huh?"

"I think I can do this…" Alpha walked over and ran her hand over the door carefully, "It'll take a lot of energy and there's no guarantee it'll work, but…it's worth a shot…" Her voice faultered and she looked at them, "If the Autobots get here quicker than expected and I'm still out, leave me and run…I think I can at least weaken this door so you can knock it open, M."

Metalpent nodded and Skybomb looked wary, but knew better than to voice when the two of them were for a plan and he against. He watched the psychic put both hands on the door and her optics defocused. "Do you think this'll work, Metal?" he asked his partner.

"I'm not sure. From what I know about psychics…they can't change their powers without consequences."

"Then why'd you let her-"

"Because she's as stubborn as a turbo-bull. I ain't about to get her fury on me when it's worth a shot…"

Skybomb didn't answer that. He knew his leader was right, but he still didn't like the plan.

Alpha took a shuddering breath as she defocused her optics and slid inside of her own mind, channeling the powers in her spark to get them to their peak. Her spark pulsed and a great warmth spread throughout her body and made her smile. She waited for the next beat and then concentrated greatly to send the next wave to her fingertips. When the next wave of warmth came, it was cut off instantly as it went to her hands. Her body shivered and her spark suddenly felt empty; her body felt cold and barren at the lost of the waves of warmth. Oh, she hoped this would work…or at least it would be over soon.

With a grunt, she put all of her might – body and mind – into the push and the warmth in her hands grew – then extinguished. The floor slipped out from under her and she fell, loosing consciousness before she even hit the ground.

"You're kidding." Metalpent's voice was the first thing she heard when she came back online. He sounded distant, but she knew he was near – and she knew he was carrying her on his back.

"Nope." Skybomb's voice said proudly, "In her room."

"Primus…"

"Okay, if you guys are talking about me. Shut up. Or I'll tell everybody about the…less than manly things I found in both of yours." Alpha moaned, holding her head up as she cut on her optics. She gave them a weak smile, which Skybomb returned. However, Metalpent was less-than-happy and he showed her so by purposely jumping so she bit her glossa. "Ow!"

"That was stupid, femme!" He barked at her, "You know what would've happened had it not worked?"

"Yeah. Captured. Deactivated."

"…Yeah."

A lopsided grin crossed her face, "Bingo. Now…put me down." Even as she said that, though, her world started to spin. She clutched Metalpent's shoulders and moaned softly, closing her optics tightly.

"Now way, Jose." Skybomb answered for their leader, "You're still weak."

"Shut up! I ain't weak." Alpha tried to smack him, but everything went dizzy again and she fell out of Metalpent's arms and onto the ground behind him. "Oh…"

"Oh shut up and except the help." Metalpent snorted, picking her up. He held her bridal-style and looked down at her. "He didn't mean it the way you took it."

"I can walk! Put me down!" She struggled, but he held her tighter. "Oh, c'mon!!" She crossed her arms, "Now!"

"Shut up!" Both snapped and Alpha winced.

"Fine." She looked away and huffed as her teammates continued their walk through the hidden escape tunnel.

Sighing, she gave one of them a look and shook her head. They were Decepticons, yet they treated her as if she was a friend. Heck, in their minds, maybe she was. After all, not all Decepticons wanted death and destruction; some wanted peace, but used fighting to get it, not able to become an Autobot. Maybe that's what Skybomb was. He was like a child – kind, innocent, shining – yet he was a Decepticon.

She leaned her head against Metalpent's chest and shook her head. "You're such a bastard, y'know." She murmured.

"Yeah, I know. And I'm proud of it." He grinned wryly and Alpha flipped him off. When he laughed, she smiled slightly.

Yup, they were insane – and they were Decepticons – but, slaggit all, they were her friends. Probably the only friends – not counting her brother – she had in the Decepticon ranks.Dil nodded, smiling, and then looked up. "Who's dere? Show yerself!" She yelled up into the treetops.