CHAPTER 39

Zurg leaned forward in his throne when Shadowstar and Warp Darkmatter entered the throne room with the prisoners. "Ah, Shadowstar, I see you were able to capture Lightyear's rookies without a hitch." he made a sheepish face as if remembering something embarrassing. "Incidentally, you didn't happen to get my donuts, did you?"

Shadowstar sighed loudly. "Yes, I got your donuts," she grumbled, activating her thrusters and flying up and over. She handed him the box. "Here you are," she said sweetly, though the shaking of her body told everyone that she wasn't really happy about it. I should have put arsenic in them.

"Why thank you, my dear," he said taking it. he reached over and pinched her cheek. "Aren't you just the most generous lackey?"

"Looks like you've got a new errand boy, Zurg," Mira commented who by then had regained consciousness. She tried to move toward him but Warp held her back by grabbing her arm and aiming his gun at her head. Booster was also wake but there were two hornets with their guns trained on him and he didn't want to get shot. "So what did you tell her to get her to be so complaint?"

"That's not any of your business, Princess" he said, taking out a donut and sampling it. "Oh, these are so good!" he waved her away. "You did an excellent job. You can join the others now."

Shadowstar rolled her optics and returned to the floor. But she didn't land. She hovered in the air with her arms folded and an angry expression on her dark face. It was obvious she didn't like being reminded of that or was happy about being under his thumb. He's going to regret this!

Zurg stood up and walked down the stairs to confront both space rangers. "I see that Lightyear is not with you," he commented. "Now why is that?" he looked around himself. "He didn't by any chance send you two in as a diversion while he comes in another way and ambushes me?"

"I don't think you need to worry about that, Zurg," Shadowstar spoke up. "Judging from the recent arrival and confinement of the two robots these two are here for a completely different reason that does not involve this Buzz Lightyear."

"How would you know that?" he snapped, glaring at her.

"Trust me, I do," she stated. "I've seen this concept done before." she landed on the floor. "Or maybe I'm just guessing, seeing as they didn't really explain to me why they are here or what they're doing here."

"I believe it's obvious," Warp spoke up. "They're here to spring the robots."

"Oh of course," Zurg said. "Since space rangers would do anything to save their precious friends." he faced the rookies. "Well you won't have to worry about them, since you'll be joining them shortly." then he laughed and looked at Warp and Shadowstar. "Take them to the dungeon!"

And just as he said this the lights went out.

"Ah! What in the name of Jupiter?" he exclaimed, startled. "Who turned out the lights!?"

"I did," spoke up a all too familair voice.

Zurg turned toward the voice. "Huh?" when he saw who it was his eyes widened in shock. "You!"

Everyone lifted their heads and looked at the monotors. A grinning triangular face wearing a monocle appeared on the screen. "Hello, daddy dearest," he greeted.

"Nos-4-a2!" Zurg exclaimed, his eyes as big as saucers. He shot a look at Shadowstar. "How did he get out of his cell? What did you do?"

"Don't blame me for this!" she shouted, offended. "How should I know? After what I did to him he shouldn't be able to move much less smile!"

"Oh I can assure you I can do more than that," Nos-4-a2 responded before Zurg could open his mouth. He leaned toward the screen. "In fact why don't I show you what I can do since I have full control of the security system anyway?"

Just then they all heard the sound of doors opening. The three villains as well as Mira and Booster looked around themselves. Every door leading into the throne room was open and crowding the doorways were legions of hornets. As soon as the doors opened all the way the robots started firing, all the while moving forward.

"He hacked the hornet's mainframes too?" Warp Darkmatter exclaimed before being forced to dive out of the way of laser fire when the two hornets guarding Booster opened fire as well.

"I guess so," Mira responded, ghosting out of his hold and firing a laser beam at the nearest machine. "But that doesn't change the fact that we have to take care of them before they kill all of us."

Warp got to his feet and fired his arm gun at two hornets. They blew up, their parts flying in all directions. "They're not going to kill me," he stated, his face full of determination. "I don't know about you but I'm not going to go out that way."

The Tangean ignored him.

"Ah! Help me!" Zurg, who currently didn't have a weapon ion him, screamed, diving to the floor to avoid being hit. He found himself at Booster's feet. "Ah! Stay away from me!" he yelped, scooting backward.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Zurg," the red alien snapped, firing at some hornets. "You're not the problem at the moment so just stay where you are if you're not going to help."

Meanwhile Shadowstar had taken to the air and was using the gun she'd stolen from Zurg to fire at the hornets. Since they seemed to be intent on shooting everything on the floor she manged to take a few out before Nos turned a few of the machine's attention upward. they raised their arms and fired at her.. She took a shot in the wing and screamed.

The other vampire laughed at her.

She glared up at him, "You're going to pay for that!" she threatened.

He smirked. 'Ooh I'm so scared," he taunted. "But I'd save my energy if I was you since you have other more important things to worry about right now."

Prowl and XR had just reached the third floor of the palace when the lights blinked out, leaving them in the dark. "What in the All Spark?" Prowl asked, trying to see in the darkness. "What happened?"

Beside him XR turned on the headlights of his optics so he could see in the dark. Prowl followed his lead and turned on his night vision. The cyber ninja looked over at the smaller robot and saw what he looked like with glowing eyes. He looks like a car.

"Looks like Zurg had a power failure," the space ranger robot commented.

"Hmm interesting," Prowl mused. "But something tells me that it wasn't just an accident."

"Huh?"

"I believe that one responsible is who we're looking for." Prowl took off down the hall, not eve waiting for XR to followed.

"Hey! Wait!" the other robot shouted, speeding after him. "You don't even know where to look!"

"Yes I do," Prowl called back to him. "The control room."

"Do you even know where that is?" he demanded, folding his arms and giving him a look though the potency of it was ruined by his headlights. They just made it seem comical though Prowl was smart enough not to laugh.

As for his question.. Prowl didn't. He'd never been in this castle before.

"You're right." the Autobot stopped in his tracks. XR wheeled right into him and bounced off his legs. He flew across the room and hit the floor with a crash. "Will you stop doing that!?" the smaller robot shouted angrily.

The cyber ninja looked back at him. "You know where the control room is," he stated, ignoring what XR had said.

"Of course I do," XR replied, rubbing his rear end as he stood up. "I know where almost everything is here."

Prowl moved back to the other robot and grabbed his arm. "Then take me to it," he ordered before throwing the robot into the air. XR screamed as he flew upward. While he was in the air Prowl transformed into vehicle mode. XR landed on the seat. "Let's go." he said then took of down the hall with XR holding onto the handle bars for dear life.

"Whoa! Slow down! Are you trying to kill me?!"

In the control room Nos-4-a2 and Sari watched on the monitors as Zurg and the others fought the hornets in the throne room. When the fembot was hit by a blast of plasma and knocked screaming to the floor the energy vampire burst out laughing. "Jolly good!" he exclaimed.

It served her right. He just hoped they didn't kill her since he wanted to deal with that part personally. But why kill her? Why not just drain all her energy except for a little and repeat the process a few times? That will teach her to underestimate me!

A blinking on the screen caught his attention. He looked away from the fight and focused his gaze on the other image. Through the gloom of the darkened hall he made out XR and the Autubot. "Hmm," he said, rubbing his chin. "It seems we're about to have company." he grinned and turned to Sari. "Why don't you go out and welcome them, my dear?"

She nodded and left,.activating her blades as she went.

"We're almost there!" XR shouted. "You can slow down now!"

How he hated when the Autobot did this. Why couldn't he just walk like normal robots?

Prowl put on the brakes so fast he sent the robot, who had relaxed his grip, flying over him.

XR landed on the floor in front of him. "You did that on purpose!" he accused, pointing a finger at him.

"I'm sorry," Prowl apologized, reverting back to standard mode.

"I hope so," XR got up, frowning. "I might be durable but that doesn't mean I like being thrown around all the time."

"Shh!" Prowl hissed, putting a finger to his lip components. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"Quiet!"
"No need to shout," the other robot grumbled. "Not if you're adamant about me being quiet and all-"

The sound of approaching footsteps made him go silent. He looked toward the sound but it was too dark to see who it was. He turned on his night vision but whoever it was too far away. Prowl was also looking toward the sound but he was seeing something that XR did not. A familiar silhouette. Even if he could not see her face he could tell who she was just by her frame.

"Sari," he whispered recognizing her instantly.

XR looked up at him. "Sari?"

Just then the lights came on and Prowl's words proved to be true. The girl stood a few feet away, glaring at them.

"Sari!" Prowl exclaimed, feeling relief wash over him. She was all right but the color of her eyes told him she was still under Nos-4-a2's control. But not for long.

"Oh great," XR grumbled. "She's still a minion."

"Not if I can help it," Prowl stated, his hand resting on the hollow spot on his chest plate.. When Sari sees this key I know she'll return to normal. If XR can come back to himself seeing a document about his creation this should work since it's got such sentimental value.

But first he had toi get close enough to show it to her and that chance would come sooner than he thought. At that moment Sari activated the blades in her arms and rushed at them, screaming at the top of her lungs.

"Uh oh! Here she comes!" XR shouted, his optics widening.

Prowl didn't move. He stood in ground and faced her, his hands balled into tight fists and his expression one of determination. I hope this works.

"Prowl, get out of her way!" XR shouted, moving further down the hall. That girl was dangerous. He had no intention of winding up like Buzz. "Prowl!"

The Autobot stood like a stone. If he moved or ran he would lose his chance to get through to her. But he wasn't going to allow it to happen. He'd waited long enough to save her from the energy vampire's control, he wasn't going to wait any longer. "This is it."

Sari swung at him when she got close enough. He dodged the blow then reached out and grabbed her arm. She let out a yelp of surprise when he twisted her arm behind her back and pinned her against the wall. "Let me go!" she screamed.

"I am sorry if I'm hurting you," he apologized, keeping her still. "But I don't have a choice."

"Release me!" she ordered, struggling to free herself. "You have no right to do this to me!"

"Sari, please," he begged. "Listen to me-"

"There's nothing to hear!" she shoved her elbow into his chest plate, sending electrical pain lancing through his frame. He grunted and released her. The girl spun around and kicked him away, knocking him to the floor.

"Prowl!" XR shouted, rushing forward to assist.

Sari turned to face him. "Back off!" she yelled, kicking the other robot square in the chest. He rocketed across the room until he slammed into the wall then bounced off and hit the floor, hard. "Now stay there!"

Like he had a choice. Something told him it would be best not to disobey the order.

Sari turned her attention back to Prowl who was getting to his feet. She deactivated the blades and used her hammer instead, rushing toward him, screaming. Prowl saw her coming but didn't move. She slammed the hammer into him but nothing happened. His image flickered then blinked out. A hologram.

The techno organic girl blinked. She hadn't been expecting that. "Huh?" she looked around herself. "Where are you? Come out and fight, you coward!"

Just then the Autobot came up from behind and grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her body, pinning her arms to her sides so she could not use her blades. "Hey! No fair!"

"Hey, you got her," XR said, getting up and moving toward him. "Hold her this time."

Prowl was trying to but it was proving to be harder than it looked. Thanks to Nos-4-a2's dark power she was much stronger. "XR," he said, his voice strained. "I want you to go to the control room and see what you can do about Nos-4-a2."

"Me take on Nos-4-a2?!" XR looked terrified at the idea. "Are you nuts?"

"If I can't get through to her I might have to have him break the control himself," the Autobot responded. "But I can't do anything about him right now. So please."

"All right," Xr consented. The look on the cyber ninja's face made him realize now wasn't the time to argue. He wheeled away. "Why do I always wind up having to deal with him by myself?"

"Master!" Sari exclaimed, watching the robotic space ranger move away. "Don't you dare touch my Master!"

"Sari, calm down," Prowl ordered.

"Don't order me around, coward!" she shouted, struggling to free herself. His current hold was much more secure than the other one and she had no way of breaking it. "Now let me go or I'll blow your brains out!"

"Sari, listen to me," Prowl said, trying desperately to get through to her. "Nos-4-a2 is not your master. You're not his servant. You're my friend!"

"Who would ever want to be friends with you?" she growled. "You suck! You're a cowardly chicken who runs away when he has the chance to help people! I don't want to be friends with somebody like that!"

"Yes, it's true I did run away," he admitted, the pain from that memory coming back. "I'm sorry."

"Your sorry is too late," she snapped. 'Two days too late."

Talking to her wasn't doing much besides making her more angry and depressing him. He would have to try getting to her by using the key after all. But he couldn't reach the key while he was holding onto the girl. He would have to let her go so he could get to it.

It was a bad idea but he didn't have a choice. He couldn't keep on holding onto her like this anyway. So he let her go, knowing full well he was just asking for damage.

The instant he did she reacted. She activated her blades and spun around, driving both blades into his chest before he could do anything to stop her. He stared at her wide eyed, unable to believe what had just happened, then crashed to the floor, mech fluid gushing from the wounds and staining the floor a glowing purple color.

Why? He coughed and more robot blood came out of his mouth. He stared at it, too upset to react any other way.

"Serves you right."

Prowl lifted his head and stared up into the dark skinned girl's glowing red eyes. "Sari," he tried to say before he coughed again. She grinned and knelt down to look him in the face.

Sari reached out and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "That must really hurt," she commented, taking in the damage and vital fluids spilling onto the carpet. "Why don't I put you out of your misery?" she raised her hand which held the blade.

But before she could Prowl reached into the hollow spot in his chest and with trembling, blood stained fingers, pulled the key out. He raised his arm and shoved it into her face. "Sari, remember who you are!" he managed to say. "You're not a vampire minion. You're a good person and my friend! Please don't- Don't-" his optics flickered out and he collapsed to the floor, the key falling out of his hand and landing at her feet.

Shadowstar was slowly running out of power. While the two space rangers, Warp and Zurg fought on the ground she stayed airborne and tried to kill as many hornets as she could but they all seemed to have focused their firepower on her over the others and she wound up being hit a lot. Her frame was covered in scratches and dents that bled blue mech fluid.

Above her on the monitor's Nos-4-a2's gloating face hovered, watching her plight with a look of sick satisfaction. "What'd wrong, my dear?" he asked her. "You look tired."

"Shut your mouth you glitch head!"

"Why don't you come up here and make me?"

Oh how she longed to do so.

He's going to pay for this when I get my hands on him, she vowed, using Zurg's gun to blow up two hornets they kept on shooting at her. They exploded instantly, bringing a small smile of satisfaction to her lips. Just wait until I get my hands around that skinny little neck of his. I'll give him more than a routine torture session this time! He'll be begging me to stop but I won't. That will fix his little wagon!

A blast of energy hit her in the back. She screamed in pain as one of her wings cracked and then turned to glare down at the one responsible. A lone hornet standing off from the others was aiming his guns at her.

He'd done it.

Well he wasn't going to get away with it. She transformed into vehicle mode and flew toward him, her engines screaming. 'You're not going to make it out of here alive!" she yelled seconds before shooting off two missiles that hit their target and blew it up.