What?! A new chapter? I'm back! Also I had several chapters on an old computer that died. I am trying to remember what I had happing. I think I hat hot Rod get drunk and "kidnap" a sleeping Sarah for a bit and something about a new paint job but then I was like, forget it, I'll just make a new story. Also this appears to be turning into a cross over.
******************************Forest***************************
"I don't believe this." Bee said frustrated, angrily kicking at a rock. "We lost Sarah, can't find our way back to the ship and can't reach Optimus and the others through the comm. links. Why didn't we ever think to give her a location tracker?"
"I'm sure we came this way." Hot Rod assured, trying to convince both of them, as he pushed onwards.
"Rod we would have seen our own foot prints by now." Bee said watching Hot Rod break through more brush, sending birds and other small animals rushing away. "Rod just stop. We need to come up with a plan."
"This is the plan. Keep hacking till we find where we are or we find Sarah." Hot Rod took another whack cutting several vines. "Besides you're her guardian Bee, shouldn't you be more…guardian minded right now?" Hot Rod knew there was a bit of venom in his voice and he didn't care.
Bee narrowed his optics a fraction. Primus, give me strength. "I've survived as a scout as long as I have by not making such noise or panicking wildly every time something bad happened. I am just as worried as you are but we need to focus on what we know if we are going to find Sarah and the others."
Hot Rod stopped his attack on the forest. He turned to Bee. "So what do we know?" His voice was still accusing.
Bee flushed air through his system. "We know Sarah wasn't taken by those cyborg pirates and right now that is the only thing giving me hope." Bee sat on the dirt and crossed his legs "Now if you would be so kind as to shut up for a bit I will see if I can find anyone." Bee said clicking his optics off.
Hot Rod huffed but did as Bee asked. Being a scout Bumblebee was gifted with sensors that had a much better range then what, front of the line, Hot Rod had been given. Hot Rod tapped his foot impatiently. Bee frowned at the new sound but said nothing as he continued his long range scan to seek anything that might be helpful.
"Well?" Hot Rod asked as Bee stood up.
"Two clicks south-west, large metallic signature, most likely our ship given the undeveloped nature of this planet." Bee said as he changed directions from the path Hot Rod had been hacking and lead the way more delicately though the bush. Hot Rod followed.
"Once onboard we should be able to track Sarah with the spark tracker; it's how we found her in the first place." Bee added seeing the confused look on Hot Rod's face.
Hot Rod stepped in a puddle of mud. "Ugh…this place could use some roads."
*******************************Small Village**************************
Bright skies above enchanted the look of the colorful market stalls. Exotic fruits, meats and sweets lay all around. Some stalls had tools for sale, other stalls had home items or ready to eat hot food. Another stall displayed dresses of fine silken brocade along with shirts and cloaks. And one stall in the back seemed to have energon.
Optimus picked up the cube. "How very strange finding energon here." He placed it back down.
"I don't like this Optimus, it's too quiet." Ironhide whispered guns at the ready as they entered the little village. It was a bountiful little village; little huts with gardens dotted all the dirt streets. Kids toys still lay out in the sun but seemingly abandoned.
"I am getting several strange readings." Ratchet said scanning the area as they walked. "Perhaps this place is not as abandoned as it seems." Movement seemed to dash in a blur from one roof to another making Ironhide turn with his cannon charging. But his optics saw nothing.
The group turned a corner when a voice called out from a side path. "I knew you'd find me on day decepticons but you're not taking me without a fight." A gun powered up and aimed right for Optimus Prime…
*************************Mumm Ra's Dark Pyramid************************************
Something was different. Mumm Ra was sure of it as he slowly pushed opened his sarcophagus. The demon sorcerer Mumm-Ra, the self-proclaimed "ever-living source of evil" on Third Earth, despite having powers of sorcery and an apparently unlimited lifespan still looked terrible in the mornings.
Bandages hung loosely as he shuffled his grey form forth to his great and every bubbling cauldron of black ooze. He waved his hands over it and the surface changed. "Hm..metal machine giants? Bah, useless. No, I would have not awoken for that, what else…what else…" The picture changed to show Sarah being cut from the net by Hammerhand. Then it showed her on a bed next to the…ugh... snarf creature. "So the Thundercats have a guest, do they? Hm...What a queer looking creature."
As Mumm Ra stared deeply, the picture changed to more of a close up. The snarf apparently said something funny and the girl laughed. Though there was no sound, the flash of light that followed, made Mumm Ra shield his eyes, in an instant another vision was there, the same girl but not the same, bright shining like the stars. "Such Power!" Mumm Ra shouted trying to recover from the light as once more his cauldron became black ooze, the visions fading.
"I must, I must have her. I must feed on that power. Then I can destroy those infernal Thunder cats and remold this planet as I see fit." Moving as quickly as he could Mumm Ra sat upon his stone throne. Normally he would just command the mutants to kidnap the girl but as she already appeared to be in the cat's lair. He would have to bide his time. Wait, watch and plan. She was powerful, but he was sure she had no access yet to the power she had inside.
Mumm Ra leaned on his hand. Yes he would wait.
**************************************Cat Lair***********************************
Lion-O had to admit, his old nurse maid Snarf always had a way of making people feel at ease. He watched from the side of the room as the little human let out another laugh of delight. Though some of the jokes Snarf told were more punny then funny in Lion-O's opinion.
"Here we are." Cheetara said coming back into the room with Tygra. "You're about the same size as Wily Kit so this dress should fit while your other clothes are being cleaned."
Cheetara handed the dress over and Lion-O and Tygra turned their backs. "Ahem, Snarf." Cheetara said with a slight cough.
"Oh right." Snarf stood on the stool and turned away as Cheetara helped Sarah get dressed into the unusual but practical garment.
"Who's wily Kit?" Sarah asked, the fabric muffling her voice.
"Wily Kit and Wily Kat are twins, probably around your age. You'll meet them later. Right now that at the Berbils village. It's the first day of the moon festival and traders from all over the world gather to sell things. Some from even off world… There a perfect fit." Cheetara said, giving the boys permission to turn back around.
Sarah looked at her dress. It was brown with black tiger like stripes. The fabric was very soft, like fur maybe it was fur, Sarah really couldn't tell. It had small woven strands that crossed over the shoulders. The dress was like a tube top that hung at an angle. Shorter on the right side and longer on the left ending at a point with a kind of ripple look in the middle of her calf.
Panthro entered the room and gave a quick whistle. "You look good in stripes kid. Ready for a tour of our base?"
"Yes please." Sarah smiled and came over Snarf on her heels. As the others went to exit Tygra saw Lion-O trailing behind.
"Are you coming brother?" He asked.
"You go on ahead Tygra, I'll catch up." Lion-O promised, Tygra shrugged and followed after the others.
As the door closed Lion-O spoke into the empty room. "Jaga, what is it?"
A ghost like spirit form appeared in the room. An old cat warrior still in armor, still looking ready for battle but with a face that had seen too much. "The girl, I sense a great power coming from her."
"What sort of power Jaga?" Lion-O asked knowing his mentors time to be seen and heard was short.
The spirit sighed. "It is a power evil will stop at nothing to obtain. Guard her footsteps well Lion-O and may the sword of Omens protect you." With that the spirit of Jaga faded once again into nothing.
******************************Berbils Village***********************
Ironhide had his duel cannons ready for a fight, taking a step. One step too far as several strands of rope seemed to appear from nowhere, entangling the three robots.
"Hurry Jazz! This won't hold!" A boy called out from the roof, he and another very similar in color and size held the ropes.
"Why you blasted kids! Get off!" Ironhide grumbled struggling against the twins trick lariats.
The bot in front powered up his gun. And Optimus put his hands up in surrender. "Jazz, old friend. It's me, Optimus." Optimus said. As he spoke he sent a confirmation subsonic pulse to Jazz.
Jazz dropped his gun instantly. "Primus, can it truly be. Optimus!" He cried out going to embrace his leader it had been orns since he had seen another autobot, let alone his leader and dear friend.
Optimus looked at Jazz. One optic completely off line, the other only half working. His one leg was gone, having been replaced with a solid trunk of metal that caused him to limp. Scratched and mismatched replacement metal plates dotted his body here and there. "Oh Jazz, what happened to you?" Optimus asked softly.
"It's a long story, but to sum it up. First Aid, Hound and I crash landed here several orns ago. Hound didn't make it. I was badly injured, kept fading in and out of it. Last thing I remember was First Aid telling me he was going for help. He never came back. The Berbils found me a few days later, patched me up and have been letting me live in there village ever since. I looked for First aid for orns but my injuries limited me." Jazz said forlornly.
So unlike himself, Optimus thought. Jazz was always a cheerful bot, even in the most serious situations.
Jazz's reaction and following conversation caught both cat twins off guard and seeing this Ironhide gave one rope a very good pull sending both of them with a yelp right into Ratchet's waiting hands. The trick lariats falling away and vanishing once more.
"Hey! Let go!" Wily Kat shouted wiggling. "Put us down!" Wily Kit added. "Jazz!" both called at the same time.
"Whoa Ratchet careful now, those are my friends." Jazz said taking the two cats from the medic. "Wily Kat, Wily Kit, I would like you to meet Ratchet, Ironhide and Optimus Prime."
"Wait Thee Optimus Prime?" Kit shouted as she turned to look at Jazz. He nodded.
"The Optimus Prime who on Kato 6 took down an entire band of Deceptions by himself?" Wily Kat asked. Jazz nodded again and in that instant the twins were enamored with then new autobots.
"Everyone!" Jazz called out "It's alright! These are my friends the autobots."
Optimus, Ratchet and Ironhide became away for many different smaller beings beginning to peek out of windows and come out of doors. They came closer all curious.
One in particular walked right up to them. A half bear half robotic organism. "Greetings, a friend of Jazz's a friend of ours." It said in a very mechanical sounding voice.
Jazz smiled as best he could with his prolonged injuries. "Everyone this is Robear Bill, he's the village chief and the one whose been keeping my sorry aft functional."
Ratchet scanned Jazz. "Stable, but still in need of repair work. I can fix you back at the ship."
"You have a ship? We had a ship! We came here on a ship. Scrapped it to make our new base. Can we see your ship?" Wily Kit and Kat talked quickly to the new bots.
"Our ships pretty far a good five clicks away over the mountain." Ironhide said. Like pit he was going to take strangers to the ship and the all spark. He sent Jazz a quick communication silently saying they had much to discuss and the ship is currently off limits.
Jazz understood. He was just about to speak when Robear Bill spoke up once more. "Perhaps you would allow us to throw you and your companions a party Jazz? If I understand correct from what you have said, there arrived would indicate your departure soon."
"We would not wish to ask you to go to any trouble but we do need a few days to gather supplies." Optimus said, and the all spark could use a few days of fresh air and sunlight. He thought.
"This is the best time of year to gather supplies, whatever you need shall be found in the festival." Robear Bill stated and as they had been talking festivities seemed to pick up again. People returning to their store and stalls, buying and selling. Children playing. Music filling the air.
"Then we will plan the party for the end of the festivities in a week. It will be wonderful. The Thunder cats must join us as well." Robear Bill said looking at the twins. Both of them leapt to the ground.
"We'll got tell Lion-O and the others. I am sure they would want to meet you Optimus, sir." Kit blushed a little before the twins took off.
"Might as well tell Bee and Hot Rod to bring the ship to this side of the mountain." Ironhide said as several robear cubs seemed to enjoy poking his legs. "Stop that." He growled down at them sending them running in fake fear. Ironhide snorted, kids always seemed to see through his gruffness.
"Optimus to Bumblebee." Optimus called on the communicator…
****************************Edge of the forest*****************************
Bumblebee took the lead and was disappointed as they broke through a grove of trees. It was not there ship but a large metal structure that appeared to be some kind of cat base.
"Great job Bee, does that look like our ship?" Hot Rod whispered sarcastically.
Bee frowned. "I only said a large amount of metal. Think we should see who lives here?"
Hot Rod leaned against a tree. "Maybe, it could be where Sarah is being kept."
"Optimus to Bumblebee."
"Bumblebee here sir." Bee said out loud before continuing the conversation silently. Hot Rod put his face in his hands. Optimus was going to be slagging pissed at them.
"And that's what happened sir." Bumblebee reported on the happenings since they had left the ship.
"Converge on my signal and both of you get here as fast as you can. Optimus out."
"Come on Bee, let's get going. Maybe we can still pick up some sign of Sarah on the way." Hot Rod said heading back into the forest following Optimus signal.
Bumblebee suddenly stopped a few paces into the woods. "Bee what's the matter?" Hot Rod asked seeing the sudden change in demeanor.
Bee shook his head. "Nothing just a weird feeling. It's getting dark, we better hurry."
****************************Berbils village********************************
Optimus sighed and Ironhide looked at him. "Don't tell me they left the ship?"
"Worse I'm afraid." Optimus felt almost faint. "Sarah's gone missing. She wandered off, they found her in the forest but she was already captured and in the ensuing battle she seems to have vanished."
"It's getting dark Optimus. Shouldn't we roll out and look for her?" Ironhide worried.
"We will as soon as Hot Rod and Bumblebee get here." Optimus assured looking at the sun as it continued to sink into the horizon.
"Sarah?" Jazz asked from where he sat on the ground Ratchet already working on him. Robear Bill was near by taking notes. "I don't know that designation….human?" Jazz knew humans; he had known Sam, Carley, and Daniel. As well as a handful of other humans over the years.
"She is a human Jazz, but much more than that. She is a child of all spark. Come, let me tell you everything." Optimus said softly to his second in command.
******************************Cat's lair**********************************
Sarah stepped out onto the balcony just under the cat's neck. The sun was going down but she could still see all the way across the massive field dotted with trees until the thick forest. This was a lovely base. Has she been just a few minutes sooner she might have just made out the two metallic giants stepping back into the woods but she had not seen them.
"Like it kid?" Panthro asked with a laugh. He was the last one with her, the others having duties to attend too. "I designed it and built most of it."
"It's amazing, but this view. I think I like this most of all." Even as Sarah spoke the stars in the blue above the pinks of twilight began to twinkle. She leaned her hands again the railing and Panthro joined her.
"Anything coming back to you yet?" He asked his human guest.
"Stars…" Sarah said pointing to the ever darkening sky above them. "I remember stars. So many stars, a sea of stars."
They said nothing else and for a while were content to watch the last light of day sink out of sight, until Sarah shivered a bit in the cooling night air. Panthro put his arm around her bare shoulders, his fur almost instantly warming her. "Come on kid, let's get some grub." And with a gentle nudge they walked back inside.
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