chapter four

The particular neighborhood they had retreated into was comprised of several alleyways littered with trash and other debris. It didn't take long for the rockets to start raining down on the six man team. Stringer cursed as fragments of the tall apartment buildings started falling around her. At least one of the Decepticons was shooting into the building trying to bury her team. The bad part was, there were simply not enough Autobots to stop it.

Now that was an embarrassing death, Stringer thought dimly. Buried by alien robots. It definitely wasn't something she wanted on her grave stone.

"Stringer!" Jones skid to a halt just in front of her. She h ad sent him ahead to scout out the other end of the alley. "There's more of them coming in from the back!"

"Decepticons?" Stringer demanded.

"How should I know?" Jones shot back. "Is there a way to tell the difference?" He was panicking now. Jones normally kept a cool head during battle. In fact, he was the one who got them out of messes nine times out of ten. Stringer couldn't blame him for freaking out at the moment. Alien robots trying to kill them was something new, and they thought they'd seen it all.

O'Connell shook his head, drawing her from her thoughts. "It doesn't matter." he said, indicating the way they'd came with his gun. "We can't go back there. We'll be killed."

Stringer sighed. "What, exactly, did you see Jones?"

"A rescue Hummer and a semi truck with no trailer." Jones reported, relief evident in his voice. Reports he could give at the moment. They were normal, and at the moment, he needed normal. Stringer and O'Connell exchanged looks. Why would a Decepticon, who according to Lennox hated humans with a passion, choose a rescue Hummer of all things for its alt mode?

Then again, why would one choose a police cruiser?

"We'll hold out here." Stringer decided. "With any luck, they'll be heading to the battle and not even notice us." Jones and O'Connell nodded, accepting her judgment. Briefly, Stringer wished that Lennox was there with them. She was the leader, not Stringer.

The particular alley that they had taken refuge in was filled with garbage bins and enough basement windows and fire escapes to make a sniper happy. Stringer slid into one of the narrow basement windows. It didn't actually lead to a basement – more like a small crawlspace that was just big enough for Stringer to lay on her stomach and aim her weapon down the alley. She could barely see Jones as he crouched down in a shallow alcove. O'Connell, no doubt, had taken advantage of the fire escapes.

The rescue Hummer rolled to a stop. The alley was just big enough for the thing to make it in without getting stuck. For a moment, nothing happened. Then it spoke.

"You may come out now." he said quietly. "I am not going to harm you."

"Identify yourself." Jones ordered. Stringer was pleased to note that the man's voice wasn't shaking. Talking cars was slightly easier to deal with than massive transforming robots.

"I am Autobot medic Ratchet." the Hummer said calmly. "My companion is our leader, Optimus Prime. He's waiting for us at the end of the alley."

Stringer hesitated. Jones and O'Connell were waiting for her decision. Slowly, she pulled herself out of the basement crawlspace. Jones took a step into the alley and straightened up. O'Connell, Stringer noticed with some amusement, was playing lookout from his vantage point. "A medic. That explains the alt form." She lowered her weapon, but did not shoulder it. There was no telling what else could come down that alley. "I'm Stringer. That's Jones, and up there is O'Connell." O'Connell waved his gun rather cheerfully. Ratchet emitted a static sound that rather sounded like laughter.

"An effective team." he observed. "Will Lennox asked us to retrieve your team from the city. With a bit of luck we can avoid too much damage."

"Sounds like a plan to me." O'Connell jumped from the third story fire escape, landed in the garbage bin, and easily climbed out. "So when do we leave?"

"Now." Ratchet opened his door. "Get in."

/----/

Jazz, Ironhide, we have three of the soldiers. Optimus reported over the secure link. What's your status?

"Slagged off and aiming slightly to the left." Ironhide grunted irritably. "Blackout and that slagging scorpion of his are blocking our access to Anna and her teammates."

"And Ironhide is taking it personally." Jazz quipped.

"And you're not?" Ironhide shot back. He could hear Optimus laughing at them over the communication link, but chose to ignore it. After all, he'd rather Prime find their bickering amusing rather than annoying. "Pit-spawned little fraggers think they own the whole slagging uni – Jazz!"

"On it!" Jazz immediately disengaged from Blackout and took off around the intersection the battle had suddenly erupted around to come between Barricade and the human soldiers. Unfortunately, with Jazz engaging Barricade and Ironhide focused on Blackout, there was nothing to stop Scorponok from attacking the humans.

Anna, Epps, and Sing had the same thought. They simultaneously opened fire on the drone. Their bullets bounced harmlessly off his armor, but it was enough to make the bug pause. After all, it was a group of human soldiers who had blown off his tail. Hissing, Scorponok activated his claw cannons and took careful aim.

Sing shot the cannon, throwing off the aim only slightly. Still, it was enough to make Scorponok target him directly. With his full attention no longer on Anna and Epps, the two soldiers took the opportunity to target the drone's optics.

Ironhide had to admire their effectiveness. Still – "Optimus, we need backup!" he transmitted desperately. Why had so many Decepticons come to destroy six relatively unarmed humans? It didn't make any sense!

Here we come, ready or not! Sides transmitted, and Ironhide almost groaned at his enthusiasm. Sunny and I will take care of Blackout and his bug.

"Which means I get the humans." Ironhide said grimly. "Don't take too long – let us get out and then you guys get out."

"Got it." Jazz said with an easy grin. "No heroics. No matter how much we want to smear them across the sidewalk."

"Slagging right." Ironhide shot back.

There was no time for other words. Sunny and Sides skidded in, transforming at the same moment Ironhide returned to his alt form. He opened his doors. "Get in!"

To his surprise, Epps was the only one to get in the cab. Anna and Sing climbed into the bed of his truck. "What are you guys doing?" he demanded. "I said get in!"

"Look, you're going to need the backup." Anna snapped. "Epps will contact the military and have them bring in air to surface missiles. We'll cover your back while you get us out of here."

Ironhide hesitated, but there was really nothing to say. "I'll go with that." He closed his doors and took off, refusing to think of how ridiculous he must have looked running from a fight with a couple of humans sniping at Decepticons as they went.

"Optimus, we have them."

Good. We'll meet you at the base.