chapter twenty-two

They settled in for the night. Ironhide was glad that, for once, Will was sleeping in the bed of the Topkick while Lennox stayed in the cab where they could talk. Their link was strong – so very strong, and Ironhide could feel her pain as clearly as if it were his own. She was sitting still in the reclined seat, pretending to recharge when Ironhide knew her mind was racing, reliving memories she wouldn't allow herself to forget. Finally, he couldn't stay silent any longer.

"Do you always remember right before sleep?"

She shifted slightly. "Not always." she said quietly. "For a while, I tried to forget. Now I just let it come and go as it pleases. It never lasts long, and everyone knows better than to bring it up."

Hesitation. "They don't blame you."

"No."

"You didn't have a choice."

"I know." Lennox opened her eyes. "Trust me, I'm aware of the situation. I know what I had to do. It was either save some of us or lose all of us. Stringer was the one to take the hit." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "That doesn't change the fact that I blame myself. Not because I made the call, but because I allowed us to get into the position where we needed to make the call. I was the one who let the situation get out of control. And Stringer paid the price for my foolishness."

Ironhide was taken aback. "It was your first special ops mission?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hardly." Lennox said with a harsh laugh. "We're good at what we do. I just slipped up when I shouldn't have." She leaned back in the seat, closing her eyes again.

"I'm not sure I understand." Ironhide admitted. "Then again, I never understand it when Prime beats himself up for something that's not his fault."

Lennox laughed again, but this time it sounded more natural. He could feel her tension and pain starting to ease away. "That's because we're leaders. Leaders always have a massive guilt complex."

It was Ironhide's turn to laugh. "I'll believe that." he said. "You need to recharge now."

"Recharge? Oh, you mean sleep." Lennox shrugged and settled into her seat more comfortably. "I will in a bit. I think Dad is taking this rather well, don't you?"

Ironhide snorted in amusement. "All things considered, I think he's taking it remarkably well." he commented. "Somehow, though, I don't think that's what you want to talk about." He hesitated a moment before broaching the subject. "Are you still mad at Prime?"

She sighed. "No, I'm not. It's not like he could have known what was going to happen. I just wish he had told us immediately, but I even understand that. Just don't like it." Her eyes still closed, she added, "Enough for tonight. I don't think Galloway or Starscream are going to give us much time before they attack."

/-----/

Above the parking garage, far from the eyes and sensors of human beings, Starscream shot through the sky. The Autobots were there, he knew. Somewhere in the city, though his scanners couldn't be sure of anything more specific. He opened a communications channel with Soundwave. "Where are they?"

"Location: Unknown. Human satellites unable to penetrate brick and cement."

"Then use your own sensors, you idiot! Find them!"

"Acknowledged." There was a moment of silence, with Starscream cursing the other Decepticon with everything he had in him. Soundwave was loyal to Megatron, even with the former leader dead. Well, mostly dead. If Hook's plan worked, then Starscream would have bigger problems than just pesky Autobots and their human companions. Megatron would be back, and then Starscream would be well and thoroughly slagged if he didn't have Optimus Prime's head to offer on a silver platter.

"Starscream. Autobots located. Transmitting coordinates now."

Starscream hesitated. That didn't make any sense! They were right –

Oh. Oh, now that was truly priceless.

"Decepticons – engage now! Follow my lead!" And with that he dove towards the parking garage.

/---/

Kanya glanced at her older brother. "You do realize this is probably the dumbest thing we've ever done, right?" she pointed out dryly. Grisko rolled his eyes.

"Any minute now Starscream is going to figure out where they are." he said just as pointedly. "We'll use them as a distraction and take out the Autobots on our own."

"Yes, with just this?" Kanya held up her sabot rifle, indicating its small size.

"More like with this." Amais said, revealing a small rocket launcher. "I don't care how tough Prime thinks he is. There's no way he can stand a few hits from this sucker."

"Forget about Prime." Grisko ordered. "Galloway told us to focus on his underlings, not him. Starscream and the other Decepticons will take care of him."

"What about Lennox's team?" Kanya couldn't help but point out. "Are we supposed to just gun them down?"

Grisko smiled a predator's smile. "Where would be the fun in that? While the Autobots are occupied with us, I want you to take a few of the others down there and kill them off. Hand to hand combat, just the way you like. They won't stand a chance."

Kanya considered that for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction. "So long as they understand that Lennox is mine. I want to be the one to kill her."

"Not a problem." Amais said. "But you'd better tell them fast – here comes Starscream."

/----/

AN: I am SO sorry for the long update time and the really short crappy chapter! No one was cooperating with me! If anything, Grisko was being nicer to me than Lennox and Ironhide, the little buggers! Well, here it is, for what it's worth, and hopefully the next chapter won't give me such a hard time. The battle has begun!