Three hours had passed since Jazz had gone out to find Ironhide, and Optimus Prime was not as good as Ratchet at hiding his concern.

"Where are those two?" Optimus burst out suddenly, making Ratchet jump. It is said that people, humans, mask fear with anger, and that did not seem far from the truth for these Autonomous Robotic Organisms; Optimus was proving this. He was, admittedly, afraid of what had happened to his two comrades, and certainly was expressing his fear in a rather raised and angry voice.

Ratchet, sensing the flickering of the larger Autobot's spark, looked up at the fuming Prime. Ratchet sighed, shaking his head and standing up as best he could in the small hole. He had been reviewing Optimus's spark for the past three hours, and could detect the steady of the rate at which it flickered. Apart from his medical observation, he was long enough a friend of Optimus to see through his mask of calm.

"I'm sure they're all right, Optimus," Ratchet reassured him, though he was not sure he believed these words himself. "Jazz probably just stayed with Ironhide and forgot to relay this to us. Ratchet glanced down at a small, blank screen on his lower arms, and a frown crossed his face. He was not getting any readings on either Ironhide or Jazz, but he dared not widen the range of his scan, for fear of being detected by unwanted Decepticons. Like Optimus, he was worried for what had caused even Jazz to go so far out of range.

*0*

Ironhide ran forward, ducking under a swinging arm. He jumped up behind one of the Decepticons and grabbed onto it's back. He shoved one of his cannons into the Decepticon's mouth, blasting his head to small particles. Ironhide got off the Decepticon, jumping to the next one before the dead Decepticon had hit the ground.

Jazz weaved in and out of the battle, firing the machine gun that had morphed out of one of his arms. He was small enough to duck under most of the Decepticons' legs in order to come up behind them Jazz jumped from one Decepticon to another, almost as if he were using them as stepping stones across the flaming battle. He fired at the Decepticons, careful no to shoot Ironhide in the tangled mess of hand-to-hand combat.

Ironhide was pushed to the ground. He gripped the Decepticon attached to him firmly, whipping his attacker to the side so that Ironhide was on top of him. Ironhide stuck one of his cannons to the Decepticon's head, blasting it off as he fired upon advancing Decepticons with his other cannon. A rocket launcher appeared out of the side of his right arm, while a rapid-fire energy cannon came out of his left, and a machine gun pulled itself out of his back. Ironhide looked upon the rest of the Decepticons with a terrible grin, and charged.

Ironhide fired rocket after rocket while diving and dodging blows from the decepticons. He received a hot blast to his back, but this only made him all the angrier. Grunting his disapproval, Ironhide blasted the Decepticons around him continuously with his cannons, then fired his rockets and finished them off with his machine gun.

When Jazz had seen Ironhide's grin, he had known what was coming. Out of habit when Ironhide pulled out another one of his new toys, Jazz dived down, tucking himself in one of the craters made by one of Ironhide's cannons. He waited the rest of the battle out, looking up only once to see exactly what toys Ironhide had equipped himself with. They were new additions, which added quite a bit of Ironhide's original size. Jazz momentarily considered this, and then shook his head. No, more weapons would only make him bulky and clumsy; Ironhide seemed the only Autobot he knew who could load himself up with such weaponry and still walk as quietly and as neatly as before.

Ironhide grunted with satisfaction, blinking around for Jazz. He glanced among the pieces of Decepticons; not even attempting to identify the parts lat lay strewn across the floor. This bothered Ironhide, though, when two minutes had passed and he still had not caught sight of Jazz. Frowning, Ironhide resisted the urge to call out. Blinking against the putrid air, he focused his optics, scanning for the slightest movement.

"Told you it would attract attention."

Ironhide spun around towards the voice, his frown disappearing, taken over by a relieved smile.

"I thought you had said it wasn't loud enough," Ironhide replied gruffly, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. Jazz laughed, coming up besides Ironhide, shrugging.

"Well, if your earlier display wasn't loud enough, this one sure was. I only got my hands on three of 'em before you blasted 'em all away."

Ironhide smiled, staring at his right hand as the white-hot cannon transformed back into a hand. The left cannon did the same, as the rest of Ironhide's guns were pulled into his hide.

"Sorry, Jazz,' he replied, shrugging. "Next time I'll remember to leave you a few more."

Jazz shook his head, waving his hand disbelievingly.

"Uh-huh, right," he replied. "You know you have too much fun testing your toys out on Decepticons."

Ironhide did not deny Jazz's accusation, mostly because he knew it to be true. Ironhide was about to reply when something caught his optics. He zoomed in on something in the sky, his expression in set concentration.

Jazz caught the look on Ironhide's face and turned to where Ironhide was gazing. He, too, dialed in on the position in space that had caught the weapon specialists' attention. There in the sky, due north-east, flickered a weak, white light.

"Is it--?"

"Yup," Jazz replied before Ironhide could finish his question. Hope flared in the small 'bot as his blue optics shone brighter. He turned to Ironhide.

"You wait here," Jazz ordered, glancing up at the strengthening light in the sky. "Ward off any unwanted Decepticons who may have seen Bumblebee's signal."

"Will do," Ironhide nodded, grunting as he brought out his four energy cannons; the machine gun; rocket launcher; the smaller, rapid-fire cannon; and something else that Jazz had not yet seen. Jazz stared at the elongated cannon-looking weapon that had come out the side of Ironhide's left energy cannon, and then glanced up at Ironhide questioningly. Ironhide merely smiled and held his left arm up. He pointed the new weapon at the ground, and a thick stream of orange flame burst forth from the opening. When the fire ceased, Jazz sighed, shaking his head, though a smile was present on his face.

"Flame-thrower? What else you got hidden in that big bulk of your?"

Ironhide shrugged, grunting. Though he did have a few more surprises hidden in him, he figured he ought to keep them in for now. They were, you could say, his back-up weapons—in case one of his were destroyed in a battle and he was unable to fix it on the spot. Ironhide was rather quick to change the subject.

"Well?" he asked, which caught Jazz's attention from himself and back on track.

"Right," he replied, blinking his optics and nodding temporary farewell to Ironhide. "I'll go inform Optimus."

"Mm," came Ironhide's reply as he turned his attention to scanning the area around him, zooming his optics in on further distances. Jazz was reluctant to leave Ironhide alone for, though he did not doubt the 'bot's strength and ability, he was unsure of whether the larger 'bot knew his extent. Jazz knew Ironhide could easily take five, maybe seven Decepticons, but did he know when to retreat and call for aid?

Jazz glanced temptingly at the small comm. Link on his arm, but knew it unwise to contact Optimus through the device. The comm was a simple form of communication, and easily tapped. Anything said through the device was sure to be detected by a nearby Decepticon.

"I'll be back as soon as possible," Jazz said in final parting. Ironhide merely grunted in acknowledgement. Jazz turned and, moving quickly and silently, raced back to Optimus Prime and Ratchet.

*0*

It had not been a minute after Ironhide had heard Jazz depart when movement behind Ironhide caught his attention. Ironhide turned, and then dived just in time as the ground he had previously occupied exploded and blackened rock and debris fogged the air. Ironhide coughed as dust was sucked into his vents. He blinked, looking up to see a Decepticon charging at him, cannon at the ready. Ironhide dived out of the way of another blast, hoisting his loaded arms and firing. Two cannon blasts smashed the Decepticon's chest and a rocket followed. A frown crept across Ironhide's face when the Decepticon kept charging, and then he recognized the 'bot.

Barricade.

Ironhide shot his energy cannons, then braced for impact. Barricade barreled into Ironhide, and they tumbled backwards. Ironhide brought his fist to Barricade's face, snapping the Decepticon's neck back. Barricade kicked out, slamming his knee across Ironhide's shoulder, and then slamming his foot to the side of Ironhide's head. Ironhide grunted, ducking under Barricade's swinging arm. Ironhide somersaulted out of the way of Barricade, taking a shot with his rocket launcher as he did so. Barricade stumbled backwards, but caught his footing. He wiped out a machine gun, and Ironhide dived out of the way as Barricade started firing at him. Barricade growled as Ironhide evaded him, and then stumbled backwards as Ironhide blasted his energy cannon at the Decepticon's chest. Barricade barreled into Ironhide again, knocking Ironhide hard to the ground. Before Ironhide could shove Barricade off, the Decepticon shoved his cannon to Ironhide's chest, blasting a little below Ironhide's spark. The blast shoved Ironhide deeper into the ground, and shot Barricade up and off of the Autobot. Barricade tumbled off of Ironhide, and then took off running.

Ironhide grunted as he rolled onto his chest, wincing as his singed parts grinned together uncomfortably. He looked up to see Barricade running towards a launching pad, and Ironhide finally became aware of the Decepticon's intent. Ironhide slammed his fist, hard, on the ground, growling in frustration. He jumped up and took off after Barricade, ignoring his jumbled, grinding parts where Barricade had left his mark; he had more pressing matters. Ironhide, for his bulky size, was surprisingly light on his feet; after all, he had been built for this sort of thing. But for all his speed, Barricade was faster. Ironhide growled once again in frustration as Barricade jumped onto the launch pad and readied himself quickly. Ironhide knew he would not be able to stop the Decepticon, but he was determined not to let Barricade leave without a few marks to remember him by.

Still running as fast as Ironhide could propel himself, he retracted all his weapons but the energy cannon on his left shoulder. As Barricade blasted off of the pad, Ironhide fired in rapid succession, hitting his target twice before Barricade was gone, leaving only a faint trail in the smoke above that led towards Earth. Ironhide grumbled, kicking his right foot into the ground, wincing slightly as the ends of his feet slammed into the metal pad.

Ironhide grunted, retracting his cannon and turning back to where he had taken up watch. He clenched his fists as he gazed around for any other Decepticons who had seen Bumblebee's signal. Bumblebee. Ironhide could only hope the smaller 'bot was ready for Barricade. Ironhide tried to give himself peace of mind by assuring himself he had at least weakened Barricade enough to give Bumblebee the advantage; but he still worried for the lone Autobot.