Ratchet sighed and sank on his axils upon arriving at the complex, Ironhide a little further behind him.
~So exactly why are we here again? ~ Ironhide asked over the com link.
~Samuel called the base, informing Lennox over the phone about three farm kids that he'd rescued from a storm, we have to retrieve them~Ratchet replied.
~Chromia said the location she and her sisters were sent to was a cattle farm that was attacked by the deceptions~ Ironhide.
~Exactly my point~ the CMO huffed and activated his holoform before heading to the door with the weapons specialist at his side. He knocked and didn't have to wait long as Sam greeted and let them in.
"Hey guys," Sam said as he closed the door.
"Good afternoon Samuel," Ratchet said looking around, as Ironhide just nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"So where are they?" the black mech's holoform asked and Sam seemed to jump back to attention.
"This way," the young adult quickly turned on his heels and headed out of the room with the pair following him and walked down a passage, nervously filling them in on what Carly had told him. When they entered the room, they came to a standstill at the top of the stairs, looking down at the two awake and one unconscious child.
Bella sat with Darren in her lap. Feeding and dressing him at the same time with the clothes Carly had left for him. By now she had gotten the shorts on with a little help from Brains and Wheelie who were feeding, who were feeding him for her. Bella's head looked up at the stairs after a while and her whole body tensed, not so painful now that she had rested, as she was unable to recognize the two holoforms besides Sam on the stairs. She held out her hand again and the stone leopard at the end of the room came to life once more, stepping its stand. It no longer was purring, its empty stone eyes were emotionless as it stalked over and stood protectively over Billy's unconscious body, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Sam of course shrieked and leapt behind Ratchet and Ironhide who merely glanced at him as they opened their com links.
~Any ideas? ~ Ironhide asked.
~I need to take a closer look at the boy's condition~ Ratchet.
~I could always blow up the statue with my cannons~ Ironhide.
~We have to build trust with them Ironhide~ Ratchet let his weariness flow over the link and was answered by a sigh.
~I'll think of something~
Ironhide's holoform slowly made its way down the stairs. It had a tall appearance with muscular arms which sported scars from his real body. The holoform had black hair and blazing blue eyes, making Ironhide seem to be a cross between a cowboy and gangster. He slowly raised his hands into the air as he wondered closer to the girl.
"It's alright," he said, "We mean no harm. My name is Ironhide. And you?"
The girl blinked back at him, while she kept an eye on the second figure at the top of the stairs. "Bella," She whispered and Ironhide's optics seemed to soften a bit.
"It's nice to meet you Bella," he said his accent thick as he turned his head towards Billy's still form, "But I wish it were under better circumstances. Your brother is hurt. Ratchet and I can help him but you have to get the leopard away so we can see to his injuries. Bella seemed to then think it through before she pointed towards her side and the leopard moved over away from him, leaving the boy unprotected. Ratchet seeing his chance rushed down the steps and over to the boy's side. His holoform brows frowned at his condition.
"We need to get him to base," Ratchet said and Ironhide turned to Bella.
"The three of you need to come with us," he said and quickly added, "You and your family will be safe, even Sam and Carly will come along."