Chapter Nine
Astrotrain's guidance system registered that he was flying close to the Ark. Above the soot ridden clouds he knew he had some level of protection from Autobot sensors, however, Silverbolt and his team of addicts were known to risk engine damage flying through the mess they'd created. While Silverbolt's reasoning for this action revolved around his superiority and importance in domination of the skies above their base, the rest of his team often did this more for stupid dares, puerile games and lost bets. The triple changer cut his engines down to their lowest possible throttle. Astrotrain shut off his radio as well, the last thing he needed was a well meaning Decepticon contacting while he was in Autobot air space and that damn opportunist Blaster picking it up.
Internally a blip appeared on Astrotrain's radar. The blip was an Autobot. The filth in the cumulus, while not damaging to his engines or systems, did lessen the capacity of his sensors to get an identity of the Autobot. Even though it was just one and earth bound, it was still a danger. No Autobot was to ever be underestimated. Something else appeared on his readouts, a human life form… It was no secret that humans were kept at the Ark for research. It was hard not to pity those poor creatures, and it angered a great deal of his Decepticon colleagues. Humans were amazing individuals and as a species they could create the most beautiful structures, arts and television shows! While they had their own despots, their own wars and their own horrors, they surely were not deserving of a visit from the Autobot Empire. The value one human life held was beyond pricing. Astrotrain felt a surge of anger, cut his engines and descended through the mucky skies. He landed metres in front of Hound, transforming.
"A Decepticon so close to the Ark? Are the Constructicons that incompetent in their workmanship that they cannot even programme your scanner?"
"Give me the human, Hound".
Astrotrain well knew that Hound would not give the human up so easily, and could be problematic as the Autobot could easily contact reinforcements. He was particularly chummy with Prowl and Perceptor, and while Perceptor wouldn't bother to leave his lab with intent to engage one Decepticon, he would be happy to have the writer join his menagerie. Prowl would respond with intent to further ensure the integrity of their immediate perimeter.
Astrotrain glared at the Autobot with the chillingly cold fuel pump, knowing that these beasts only respected strength and spite. Hound stood still, holding the fleshling in his fist, not flinching and not prepared to back down. Astrotrain bought his rifle from subspace, an obvious sign to his opponent he meant business. Even though Hound was a savagely vicious Autobot, he was physically no match for the much larger and heavier triple changer, but Astro knew there was no way the feral would back down, so he was going to have to provide an opportunity. Astro fired at Hound's feet. The ground while charred to the point that it was unnaturally firm sprayed upwards, the Autobot, somewhat surprised by the 'con's audacity fell backwards, dropping Marie. Thankfully for Marie, the way in which her captor collapsed didn't result in an increase in force or any significant change in his grip. She was free, again. The other robot came at her, scooped her up, transformed – throwing the girl in the air – she fell through an open window on the cockpit and he was off. The profanities and various curses from the Autobot below continued to reach her ears until they had passed through the heavy cloud cover.