Ravage's weakness here is based off of my own cat, who while not robotic, can't see moths if they aren't flying. ;) If anyone's interested, I may write about those "interesting prey items" later.

Chapter 18: Hyperjump's POV

I stared at Ravage, not daring to even blink. The slightest movement would attract his attention. Most Autobots didn't realize it, but Ravage's cat-mode came with the weaknesses of any other feline; he could only see in black and white. Movement and sound were the only ways for him to distinguish prey (and yes, that did make for some…interesting prey items). Hoist had probably tried to attack Ravage, and been taken down as a result.

But as long as Skystorm and I never moved at all…

No way to communicate, no way to move…this is bad. Really bad. Really, really, really…never mind.

Hoist grunted slightly, and Ravage's head swung around to glare at the semi-conscious Autobot. As Hoist's optics flickered, Skystorm gasped.

I clamped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. Ravage looked up, growled, and pounced.

Skystorm dived left, and I ducked. Ravage just barely missed my head, landing on the far side of the berth and skidding to a halt. His claws scraped against the floor as he turned back to face us, snarling.

A click echoed in the room, and I turned to see Skystorm with a mini-cannon extended from her right arm. She managed to actually look intimidating; I wouldn't have wanted to be on the receiving end of her glare.

"Back off, cat!" she hissed, bracing her gun with her free hand. "NOW!"

Ravage growled, single optic fixed on the gun. He might be a predator, but he was smart enough to know not to take on a gun pointed right at his face. Tail swishing, he took a small step backward.

"Now what?" I whispered. "Good work for now, but it won't be long until he figures out how to get past it."

"Now," Skystorm muttered, still watching Ravage, "we grab Hoist and back out of here. Slowly."

I shook my head. "Storm, I don't think…"

Her optics widened, and I blushed as I realized I'd just used her nickname. Oops. "Uh, I mean…this guy doesn't give up."

"Right. But he doesn't know this place, and I do. You grab Hoist, I'll keep kitty-kitty here busy, and we just back up. Once you get in the hallway, turn left and run."

I could see the resemblance to her mother's problem-solving. "Okay…then what?"

She shrugged. "Will Hoist fit in your alt-mode?"

"Um…no."

"Okay. I'll figure something out. Let's go."

I suspected "figure something out" meant "make something up later", but I didn't push it. Slowly, I backed away from the berth. Ravage snarled loudly, and I almost jumped.

"Easy," Skystorm murmured. "Just go. I'm right behind you."

I scooped up Hoist and backed toward the door. Skystorm stayed just in front of me, Ravage matching her step for step. When I entered the hallway, Ravage growled and leaped forward, but not quite far enough to get the gun in the face. "Uh, Storm…"

She didn't respond, taking another step back, then another…then I saw the gun barrel swing up as she shouted "RUN!"

I bolted as she fired three times. Glass shattered and I heard the medbay door slam, followed by muffled yowling. "Skystorm!"

"Right here," she gasped, tapping my shoulder. "Take the next left."

"What'd you just do?" I shifted Hoist to the other shoulder, realizing I couldn't carry him for long.

Skystorm caught up with me, falling into step automatically despite being at a dead run. "Shot out the camera, put the medbay on lockdown. That'll get someone's attention, although it won't hold him for long."

"There was a camera?"

"Active when not on full alert." She took the lead, swerving around corners rapidly. "Pick it up, here comes the cat!"

Sure enough, I could hear Ravage's growling behind us, getting closer. "I can't run for long with this guy on my back!"

"Not much further!" she called back.

I turned the corner behind her and almost ran head-on into a large red and white Autobot. He grabbed me by the shoulder, yelling in my face. "What happened? Why the alarms? In case you hadn't noticed, we're in a battlezone here!"

"I know, I know, Red!" Skystorm tugged on his arm. "Decepti-kitty, coming our way fast!"

The Autobot – Red? – pushed us both behind him as Ravage skidded around the corner, the gun on his back firing rapidly. Red took a hit without flinching, returning fire so quickly I wondered when he'd had time to pull the gun. Two shots hit Ravage in the midsection and sent him flying into a wall. Before he could get back up, the Autobot had crushed him into the floor with a savage stomp. "And stay there!"

"Thanks, Red." Skystorm sighed with relief. "Nice timing."

"Decepticons have no place in our base," Red snapped. "Who's this? Does he have clearance?"

Skystorm rolled her optics briefly. "Yes, he does. Prime-level. This is Hyperjump. Hyperjump, this is Red Alert, our Head of Security."

"Hi." I studied Red Alert. So this was the Autobot security officer that no one ever got past. "Uh, nice to meet you?"

Red Alert gave me the briefest once-over glance. "Fine. I'll deal with him later. Both of you – "

An explosion shook the building, throwing all three of us down. I dropped Hoist to the floor and reached out for Skystorm, only to feel Red Alert grab me by the wing and see him catch her arm. He pulled both of us under his body as the ceiling gave way, dropping squarely on top of us.