Chapter Eight

Sara watched as Rail Racer tried to keep Ruination from getting her. What both the combiner and human had failed to notice was Scourge coming up behind the female. It wasn't until a shadow fell across her that Sara turned and saw the tanker about to make a grab for her she screamed and started to make a run for it.

Hearing the scream Rail Racer turned to see what was going on giving Ruination the perfect opportunity to end the fight, he fired at the train combiner causing him to split into his three separate parts. Just as this happened Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and the Autobot brothers arrived. While Optimus and Magnus went after Ruination, Prowl, X-Brawn and Sideburn went after Scourge. Once again Sara stood and stared, where Rail Racer once stood was now Midnight Express, Rapid Run and Rail Spike, how could she not have noticed it before? It certainly explained why Rail Racer always referred to himself as 'we'. So surprised was she that she didn't hear or see the stray shot heading in her direction, though someone else did. "SARA, LOOK OUT!" the next thing the female knew she was on the ground lying against someone's chest, she looked up and to her horror saw Midnight Express, who looked like he was out cold…or worse.
"M-Midnight E-Express?" no answer, she got up and tried shaking the train hoping to get some kind of response. "Midnight. Midnight, please. Answer me." Her voice was starting to quiver at the prospect of what her brain was telling her. "Please." She begged "Answer me." Tears were now running down her face, she didn't want to believe it, it couldn't be true. Midnight Express wasn't…. she heard her name being called but it wasn't Midnight, it was coming from behind her. She turned to them tears now streaming down her face. "Why won't he answer me, Rapid? Make him answer me."

Rapid Run looked at the female sadness in his green optics as he shook his head. "I can't." he replied softly.

Sara turned back to the downed Autobot hitting the white chest in hopes that he would 'awake' and ask why she was hitting him, after a minute or two she stopped resting her forehead against the chest as tears continued to stream down her face. "He...can't be..." she said quietly.

"Rapid, perhaps you should take Sara home." Rail Spike suggested surprising the light grey train.

"But..."

"Rail Spike is right Rapid Run. We will look after Midnight Express." Optimus said.

Rapid Run sighed and gave a small nod, picking up the female and heading off.