Chapter Eight

"Cruiser, Surefire, keep those con busy! Chaser, let's go." Skybolt called out as he and Chaser ran down the corridor in the Decepticon base.

"Stampede, Beat, Thundercracker go after those auto…" Shadowstrike commanded before ducking behind a wall as laser fire flew past him. Slagging Autobots! This was not part of the plan! And Starscream would just love to tell Megatron how easily the base was compromised. He thought growling.

"There's no way we're letting you get to the others." Surefire said as he shot at the three Decepticons heading in Skybolt's direction. He hit Thundercracker in the wing causing the mech to fall onto a knee and glare at him.

"Oh you Autobrats are in for it now!" Skywarp fumed.

"Yeah, like we're scared of a couple of decepti-wimps like you." Cruiser insulted.

"Wimps are we?!" Starscream said highly annoyed.

"Glad to see you agree with us." Surefire chuckled.

Meanwhile Chaser ran into the holding cells room ready to free his teammate as Skybolt kept watch outside. "Tazer, we're here to…" the helicopter began but stopped when he saw the place empty. "Skybolt, its empty!" he called out to the airliner.

Skybolt looked in none to impressed, "that means he either escaped or their holding him somewhere else." He said in a serious tone. "We should get going."

Chaser wanted to object but knew better than to argue with his leader when he spoke in that tone of voice. He gave a nod and they ran to meet up with the others.

Skybolt to Cruiser

Did you manage to find Tazer, Skybolt? Cruiser asked.

No, he's not here. Get Surefire and get argh! Skybolt abruptly ended the communication as searing pain ripped through a wing.

"Skybolt, you okay?" Chaser asked firing at Stampede and Beat.

"I'll be fine." He replied trying to focus on something other than the pain.

"Surefire, something's wrong with Skybolt." Cruiser told the Ferrari with concern in his voice.

"Little busy at the moment, Cruiser!" Surefire said ducking fire from the three seekers, who seemed to be concentrating on only him since his shooting of Thundercracker's wing.

"What have you done with Tazer, Shadowstrike?" Cruiser demanded from the BMW while trying hard to focus his annoyance on the Decepticons and not on his teammate.

"Me?" Shadowstrike asked trying to sound innocent. "I have done nothing to that Autobot, it is not my fault he escaped before you got here."

"Cruiser, Surefire, let's get out of here." A voice said. Both Autobots looked over and saw Skybolt and Chaser, they could see that the airliner was in a lot of pain, they both nodded and the four headed out the way they came.

"Here's a little payback, Autobot!" Thundercracker spat shooting Surefire in the back and watching with great satisfaction as the Ferrari fell to the floor. He saw the yellow and black mech turn back to him with fire in his optics.

"Leave it, Chaser." Skybolt ordered as Cruiser picked up Surefire and continued on.

Chaser stood there fists shaking, "what's the matter Auto-wimp, afraid?" Thundercracker mocked.

"CHASER!" Skybolt shouted "NOW!" after a few more moments the helicopter complied and ran out with Skybolt behind him.

Skywarp laughed, "That's right Autobots, run, run in fear."

Starscream walked over to Shadowstrike a smug smile on his face, "this will make for an interesting report to Megatron." Walking off to see to Thundercracker's wing.

Shadowstrike growled, fists shaking down by his sides. "Don't let him get to you, 'Strike." A voice said. He looked over and saw Stampede holding his arm that looked ready to fall off.

"When I give you an order Chaser I expect you to follow it!" Skybolt reprimanded.

"You saw what they did to Surefire! I wasn't going to let them get away with it!" Chaser argued back.

"I told you to leave so we could regroup and figure out what happened to Tazer." The airliner said angrily, the searing pain in his wing wasn't helping his mood.

"Your teammate is recovering back at base." A voice interrupted gaining everyone's attention.

"Optimus…Pri…" Skybolt began to say before blacking out.

"Skybolt!" Cruiser and Chaser said in dismay.

"I see we are already too late." Optimus said seeing the injuries.

"Can the two of you transform?" Ironhide asked.

Chaser turned an annoyed look to the weapons specialist, "of course we can transform, we're not…"

"Chaser." Cruiser interrupted before the helicopter said something he'd regret. "Did you say that Tazer was back at base?"

"That's what the mech said." Smokescreen said.

"We should get back to base so Ratchet can take a look at your injured." Optimus said referring to Surefire and Skybolt. He transformed and opened his trailer for them to load the two mechs into.

As they all headed back to base Chaser was grumbling to Cruiser. How dare he think that we were unable to transform. What, does he think we can't do anything for ourselves? What the slag are they doing on Earth anyway?

If I had a take a guess, I'd say it's because Skybolt stopped sending reports on our progress. Cruiser answered ignoring the helicopter's complaint about Ironhide.

So Skybolt didn't send a couple of fragging report, big deal. Moongaze was at base, they could have contacted her.

Cruiser was about to reply when he realised Chaser was right, they could have contacted Moongaze and she would have told them…what? That her team was missing? No, Moongaze wouldn't do that. Which begged the question why was the leader of the Autobots and his team on Earth?