Chapter Two

"That was the last we heard of them."

"What of the human?"

"No-one knows." There was a pause "it's a possibility the Decepticons got a hold of them."

There was a knock then a voice interrupted, "Prime, we're approaching the planet."

"Thank you, Ironhide. Prowl, when we reach the base I would like you and Jazz to look into what happened to both the team stationed here and the human femme."

"Yes Prime. I will inform Jazz at once." Prowl replied and headed out to find the saboteur.

"Do you think the cons got to them?" Ironhide asked.

"Skybolt is a capable leader, Ironhide." Optimus told him as he looked back over the final transmission.

"That's not what I asked." The red mech said coming up beside his friend and leader.

Optimus glanced over at the weapons specialist before looking back at the transmission after a while he said, "Whatever may have happened, Ironhide, we need to make sure that the Decepticons do not succeed."

"I hear ya, Optimus."

"Talk about a ghost town, looks like no-ones been here for weeks." Bumblebee said.

"Yeah. Makes you wonder what happened to everyone." Smokescreen agreed.

As they walked down the dark corridor a loud clang suddenly rang put through the eerie silence. Bumblebee jumped looking up and down the corridor, "what was that?" he asked panicked.

"I'd say one of two options, either someone's playing us or…" Smokescreen began as his doorwings twitched.

"Oh what?" the yellow minibot asked.

"We're not alone."

"Sure we're not alone, there's Ironhide, Ratchet, Prowl…" Bumblebee trailed off as Smokescreen shook his head indicating that wasn't what he meant. "I was hoping you wouldn't mean that." He gulped as they cautiously continued forward.

They heard a pitter-patter sound, it sounded almost…rhythmical like running but it couldn't be a Cybertronian it was too…small even for a minibot. Bumblebee and Smokescreen looked at each other and simultaneously nodded both thinking the same thing they definitely weren't alone.

Smokescreen to Ironhide.

Go ahead, Smokescreen.

There's definitely someone here but they're hiding from us. Smokescreen reported.

One of the HIT team members? Ironhide asked.

No, the sounds are too small to come from any Cybertronian. Bumblebee explained.

Could it be…Ironhide mused continue your search, I'll inform Prime. Ironhide out.

Both Autobots looked at each other slightly confused and worried by Ironhide's unfinished sentence when they heard an eerie sound come from up ahead. They both stared into the darkness of the corridor knowing they had to investigate but neither willing to move until Bumblebee finally said, "after you." Motioning Smokescreen to go first.

Ratchet and Sunstreaker walked into the medbay expecting it to be just as dark as the rest of the base. They were surprised to see it fully lit and it took them a moment to adjust their optics to the sudden change of light. As they walked in they could see that unlike the rest of the base the medbay looked 'lived in'.

"Someone's been staying here." Ratchet stated.

"But who would chose to live in the medbay? Why not somewhere like the rec room or their quarters, somewhere nice." Sunstreaker commented looking round and missing the glare Ratchet directed at him. As the two Autobots continued to look around the medbay they didn't know they were being watched from the shadows. As Sunstreaker neared their position they powered up their weapon waiting for the perfect moment to strike.