Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. Blah, blah, blah.

Plot and OCs are mine. So yeah. Don't take them. It's not nice.

Thievery is also frowned upon by a certain little yellow youngling, and we can't have an upset youngling. That never ends well for anybody. Plasma cannons are usually involved.

So.

How ya guys been? Good? That's good.

I missed an update again.

Yeah. School. End of the year.

Craziness.

It's not much of an excuse and I'm sorry about this chapter being late, but better late than never right?

Right. Okay.

Once again thanks to all of you who reviewed, you are amazing, and I love you all. You're the reason this even got finished today. I put everything else down for a few hours and got it done. Just because you guys are awesome. Thank you.

Hope you enjoy and don't hate me to much by the end of it.

Chapter 10

Not even the dreary aftermath of the downpour was dampening Bumblebee's enthusiasm this orn. He really doubted anything could at this point. This giddy mood was not something that could change so easily.

Because he was going outside and he wasn't going to get in trouble for it!

Giggling like nothing Cybertron has ever known the little yellow mechling was doing figure eights as fast as his clumsy feet could pull off around Hide's and Optimus' chairs as they sat in the rec room watching him with quiet chuckles along with Ratchet and Hot Rod as the mechs waited for the twins to show up and head to the mysterious tunnels Bee had been wondering about since they got here.

He was gonna get to see them!

Did any mech around him know how awesome this was!?

He was on what had to be his eighteenth lap when bight hands snatched him up mid giggle fit and only intensified it as he wiggled in Roddy's grip until he was plopped down on the surface of the table and found himself getting tickled by the commander that never really got to spend any time with him.

Laughing even louder he struggled playfully kicking and squirming until he had laughed himself out of breath and Hot Rod showed him mercy letting him suck in some much needed air while the bright red, yellow, and orange mech grinned down at him propping his chin on his knuckles.

"You're a mess you know that, little one?" He chuckled while Bee popped up right on the table grinning with brilliant innocence while he pulled at his own wiggling toes.

"Yep." He bobbed his little head up and down his antennas flicking with mischief.

Hot Rod barked a laugh at that before he knuckled the little youngling between his antennas earning him another bought of giggles before Bee fled to the safety of Ironhide's thick arms on the other side of the table. Hide chuckled as he watched him peak over the top of his arms grinning while Hot Rod stuck his tongue out at him. Ratchet and Optimus were no more immune to the soft love filed laughter than the slightly younger commander was. There was just something about Bumblebee that drew up the brightness and smothered the darkness.

Crouching down behind Hide's arm again Bee twisted around giggling to himself at his foolish game of hide and seek as he turned to smile up at the massive black mech that smiled softly in return. His spark pulsed happily reaching out for the mech that he considered Sire poking and giggling over the cosmic field that linked them together. In return he got an answering prod that wrapped him up like a fuzzy blanket around his spark to which he laughed lightly before he scampered over to the cube of bright purple energon that was almost as tall as him that sat in his guardian's hand. Peaking his head over the rim he blinked down to his reflection in the smooth surface watching his little antennas flick up and down as he wiggled them.

For some unknown reason he found the sight highly entertaining.

The rumbling chuckle behind him drew his bright optics up again though and he once again smiled at the dark blue optics of his adopted Sire who reached forward rubbing a finger between the wiggling appendages.

"You can't seriously be telling me you're hungry again." Ironhide said.

Bee just clinked and nodded happily.

"You ate a breem ago."

To that Bee just shrugged.

"He did have a growth spurt not long ago, Hide." Ratchet reminded him.

The WS snorted as he pulled Bee's smaller energon cube out of subspace and poured some of his own dinner into the little mech's cube. "I've not forgotten."

Short, wiggling, yellow fingers snatched the cube from Hide before he even really got the words out and Bee plopped down next to his guardian's cube. "Thank you." He told him before he went to sipping at his second helping for the night.

Smacking his lips as he sipped at the static feeling liquid Bee looked over the top of his tipped up cube. He was close enough now to Optimus that when he reached out with his left foot and stretched his toes as far as they would go he nudged the commander's arm from where it was laying on the table while the mighty mech leaned on the flat surface to Hide's side.

Optimus had a soft half smile on his lips before he even really knew it was there as he gave the little mech his full attention. "Yes, young one?"

Bee mumbled around his mouthful of energon. "Hi."

"Hello, Bumblebee." Optimus laughed, sipping at his own energon. "What did you do this orn?"

"Hop scotch." He answered setting his half empty cube in his lap as he started telling Optimus and the rest of the table about the game Jazz was teaching him. About how much fun it was, how Swoop stopped him from falling, and how he made it all the way to the pebble and he only hopped. His caretakers listened with riveted interest—as they did with everything the mechling had to say—until the door across the massive open space that was the rec room swung open and in walked the twins.

Bee stopped mid sentence of how weird it was to see Hide pink—the weapons specialist cringed and just took the recap—when he say the brightly painted forms of the two frontliners.

"Sides! Sunny!" He half way chirped the names he was so excited to see them and with a shared grin only Bumblebee could pull from the two hardened warriors they elegantly hauled aft across the room and snatched the little yellow mech from between his guardian and the Prime.

"What's up, Half Pint?" Sides beamed as he bounced the little creature up and down before him. Bee giggled the whole time not even bothering to answer while he twisted around in the air each time Sides tossed him up. Until Ironhide's growl rumbled low in his chest reminding the red mech just how thin the tightrope he was walking right now was. So with self preservation instincts kicking in added to his golden twins glare of if-he-kills-you-and-I-die-too-there-will-be-no-corner-of-pit-you-can-hide-from-me-in Sideswipe caught Bee and let him perch in the crook of his arm.

"You're late." Ratchet lifted an optic ridge at the pair of brothers.

"Blame Prowl." Sunstreaker grumbled.

Optimus chuckled. "And why should we do that?"

"He's a glitch." Sideswipe answered as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

Bee pouted. "No he not."

Sideswipe's dark blue optics fell to him.

"Yeah he is." Sides argued.

Bee's pout grew. "No not."

"Yes is."

"No not."

"Yes is."

"No not."

"Yes—OWW PIT BRO!" Sides scrambled away from his twin rubbing at his audio horn with his free hand as he balanced the giggling youngling in his other hand. The red warrior's gaze fell to his might-as-well-be little brother. "Are you seriously laughing at my pain?"

Bee bit his lip trying to keep the chuckles at bay, but they vibrated his frame anyway when he wouldn't let them out of his mouth. He received a narrow glare before he was deposited on the table and Sideswipe turned away crossing his arms.

"I am so not talking to you for the rest of the orn."

Bee broke down in even more giggles.

"I'm really not." Sides argued with the laughter.

"You do realize that you're still talking to him, right?" Sunstreaker rolled his optics.

"I'm not talking to you either!"

"Oh thank Primus!" Sunstreaker smirked. "A night of peace like which I have never known."

Bumblebee fell backward on the table rolling back and forth laughing. The mechs around the table were chuckling by now too.

"Oh please," Sides spun to his twin with a glare. "You wouldn't fraggin' know what to do without me."

"I could think of a few things."

"You'd die of boredom!"

"You do realize you're still talking to me too don't you? This isn't really how not talking to a bot works, Sideswipe."

Sides' mouth opened to retort before he thought better of it and clamped it back shut glaring at his twin and the rolling yellow form on the table before he turned away in a huff.

Sunstreaker waited, tapping a finger against his crossed arms and made it up to forty whole nano-klicks in his head before his twin spun back around and fumed.

"You would get bored without me! You would! You wouldn't know what to do! And you hate being bored as much as I do!"

"Technically he'd be dead without you." Hot Rod put in helpfully.

Sides threw a hand out at him nodding quickly. "Yeah! That too!"

Sunny shrugged in fake seriousness. "Eh you know, can't have one thing without the other and all that."

Sides' jaw dropped open before he clamped it shut again and glared. "I really hated you sometimes."

"But you'd be so bored without me." Sunny shot back.

Bumblebee's laughter reached that level at which he stopped breathing as the sound died away and he was just wiggling around on the table vibrating in humor slowly starting to slightly suffocate because he was laughing so hard. It was at that point Ironhide scooped him up and brought him to rest in his arms trying to coax the little mechling to calm down and breathe before he passed out. Bee still thought it all pretty hilarious though and was more than happy to laugh at them until he blacked out. Not that Hide was going to let that happen.

"Goin' outside! Goin' outside! Goin' outside! Goin' outside! Goin' outside! Hi Grimy! Me goin' outside! Goin' outside! Goin' outside! Goin' outside!"

Pause.

Glance back.

A roll of bright baby blue optics.

"Weeeeeeeellllllllll cooooooome oooon, Hide! We goin' outside! Goin' outside!" Bumblebee was currently running along with his escorts' massive steps since he refused to be held as they ventured out of the ship and headed to the old mineshaft that lead down into the tunnels. On his way Bee had seen the massive form of Grimlock hauling in gigantic boxes of things he made a mental note of to go check out later and then he went right back to springing along trying not to stumble over his own feet as he ran in front of Ironhide who was measuring his steps and keeping a close optic on the little form before him while the others did the same.

The twins and Hide along with Optimus, Ratchet, and Hot Rod couldn't help that their frames tensed up when he fumbled his way onto the soft gray dirt and scampered on along leaving little foot prints behind showing just how many times he stumbled over his own toes. It was true that Bumblebee never really ventured of the ship he called home—it was safer that way—it might not be the most ideal of situations, but Primus knew the trouble he got into when he did.

For Pit sakes, he just came home dragging the Dinobots after him! What was he going to come up with the next time they let him out of their sight!?

So the blue optics that danced toward the horizon and the darkening sky as Cybertron's two moons began to rise in the distance as early evening settled down upon them were understandable. It was not unreasonable that they listened a little harder for the sound of jets engines or powerful thrusters. It was not in any way at all overprotective that they triple checked every shadow and every faceplate around them.

Because this was Bumblebee.

And he was worth it.

"This is so awesome!" Bee squealed hopping up and down and looking every direction possible. Sure he'd come this way when he'd run off in search of adventure, but he hadn't really been looking around. He'd been way more concerned with where the bots where that would scoop him up and take him to Ironhide. Now he had a chance to stare at the seemingly meaningless hole in the ground that Hound and Trailbreaker were currently shoving a giant grey box out of.

Trail's bulky frame made the entrance to the hole look even smaller, but not the slightest bit less interesting and with a happy click Bee hurried forward mindful of Hound's large feet since the mech was backing toward him dragging the box while Trailbreaker shoved.

"Whatcha doin'?" He chirped making the brothers seize up going completely still as Trail leaned around the box fixing his light blue optics on him while Hound spun around and did the same. For a moment they blinked at the sight of the youngling that was now climbing up Hound's leg until they glanced up to find the Prime, Hot Rod, Ratchet, Ironhide, and the twins walking up behind him.

With that they assumed they didn't need to snatch him up and race him back on ship where he belonged and the pair of brothers relaxed. . . slightly.

"I could ask you the same question little mech." Hound chuckled as he stared down at Bee while the mechling blinked those innocent blue orbs up at him in return hiding his smile against the thick green armor plating of Hound's leg.

"Sunny gonna show me stuff." Bee said quite sure that would explain everything that needed to be said.

"Oh is he?" Trail lifted amused optics to the golden frontliner who just narrowed his own in response. "Sounds fun. Just be mindful of those data-bats down there."

Bee tilted his head against Hound's leg. "Data-bats?"

Hound laughed. "Stop trying to scare him, Trail."

"What? Its true!" The larger black mech huffed. "They're nasty little glitches."

Bee's antennas folded back to his head.

"Ooooookay." Hot Rod swooped Bee up off of the scout's leg and patted the slightly larger black mech on the head as he passed touting the little mechling as he went. "You mechs have fun now."

With that the brightly painted commander left the two scouts laughing between themselves before Sunstreaker smacked them both over the head when he walked by.

"Roddy?" Bumblebee asked quietly as Hot Rod walked down into the darkening tunnels that soon surrounded Bee on ever side and he found himself staring up in wonder at the smoothly carved grey stone walls that were lit by little energon burning lamps lighting up the inkiness yet at the same time making the strangest picture show of shadows on the smooth stone tunnels that were big enough to even accommodate Optimus but not much more as the rest of the party walked just a little ways back. Bee peaked over Roddy's bright red shoulder to catch sight of them before he turned his attention back to his present caretaker.

"The data-bats won't come anywhere near you, Bee." Hot Rod assured quite sure he already knew what the youngling was wondering about. He was right, and Bee nodded to the words before settling into Hot Rod's arms as they walked.

"But what data-bat look like?" He questioned after a moment.

Hot Rod snorted. "Ugly."

"Oh," Bee's mouth formed a small little circle before he nodded again. He wondered if they would see one, but he really wasn't sure he wanted too so he stayed quite about that question. Then out of nowhere Sunny's bright frame was beside him and he was snatched up by his scruff bar then deposited in the nook of the powerful mech's other arm. "Sunny!"

The warrior grunted in answer before he cast his optics over to the Prime and the mechling's guardian. "The paintings are down near the west side tunnels. They're sturdy, I've checked, we'll be down there."

"Bye, Hide!" Bee waved dramatically making the weathered soldier's spark warm in his chest.

"See you later, Bee." He answered as Sides and Sunny gave two very mocking salutes to their commanding officers before strutting off in the opposite direction of the things the others were down here to have a look at. Once they were a good three twisting tunnels away Bee had pretty much bored himself with looking at the same dark grey walls and the boxes of things he didn't know what were stacked here, there, and everywhere. So he turned his attention back to the two abnormally quite brothers.

"Still not talkin' each other?" He questioned.

Sideswipe snorted. "Nah, Half Pint. You know me; I can't go to long without talking."

Bumblebee knew that was very true.

"So," He rocked in Sunstreaker's arms as the mech's long strides carried them through the tunnels. "What gonna see?"

"Some tribal cave paintings." Sunstreaker answered.

To which Bee grinned. "Really!?"

"Yep." Sides nodded. "Sunny found 'em and wanted to show you."

"Cool!" Latching hold of a piece of Sunstreaker's chest armor he hugged for all he was worth feeling the bond that linked him to the golden mech swell with warmth and love. He would not get a verbal response, he knew that, sometimes even when it was just the three of them Sunstreaker would stay quiet, but that was alright. Because Bee didn't need the words to know how much Sunny loved him.

He could feel all he needed to know.

"What gonna do with tribe thingy?"

"Tribal Paintings." Sunstreaker corrected gently. "They are called Tribal Paintings."

Bee nodded. "Tribey paints. Yeah. But what we gonna do?"

Sides walked beside his brother and the little one shaking his head mouthing 'tribey paints' to the wall trying to figure out where Half Pint got that while Sunstreaker let out a long suffering sigh that he neither meant nor did Bee believe.

"We are going to have a history lesson."

"Cool!"

"Yes, very cool."

"Extremely cool." Sides added helpfully.

"Just mute it." Sunstreaker rolled his optics.

"You know you love me."

"I know I'm stuck with you."

"Oh come on now."

Bee giggled quietly to himself while they fell back into one of those arguments they must have had a billion or more times by now. He knew for a fact he'd heard it more times than he could remember. It never failed to make him smile.

"Well isn't this an interesting turn of events." Flipswitch chuckled to himself from his perch high up among the catacombs of one of the huge storage caves the tunnels led down to. This was the one he and Slipknot had been using as their hideaway. Seems a good thing now that Knot got bored so easily and liked to move around a lot. They would have been in trouble had the Prime and his little gang walked in a few breems earlier this orn. Their evidence had been everywhere as they rummaged through the goods looking for something they might be able to sell while they waited for an opportunity to get what they came for presented itself.

And it seems it just had.

Touching the side of his audio the powerful purple mech replied to the secure comm link he had just received. Even now he found it hilarious that the old, outdated, and forgotten frequencies could be used right under that visor wearing special ops mech's audios and he was never the slightest bit wise. He and his little team were always so preoccupied watching out for the 'Cons they failed to remember the obvious.

There were other things on this planet they should be worried out.

Like bounty hunters after their next easy bit of credit. Especially when that easy bit of credit was anything but a small amount. If Switch and Knot could pull off this job . . . Pit they'd be set for the rest of time. Steal a ship or Pit buy a ship, and jet off this dying rock. Turn their backs to Cybertron and all of her problems.

"You're certain?" Flipswitch hailed the tall mech.

"Well he's small, yellow, and unless I'm looking at two mechs talking to a mindless drone I'm pretty sure he's a youngling. So yeah. I'm sure."

"And they brought him down into the tunnels." Switch felt the spines that ran down his frame quiver with excitement along with the sleek seeker wings pressed tightly to his back.

This was just too easy!

"They're not really making it all that much of a challenge for us are they?" Slipknot laughed.

"I'm a little disappointed." Flipswitch admitted.

"We could wait and stick with the original plan."

"Oh no." Switch shook his head as he snuck back deeper in the shadows leaving the Prime and his party unaware in the cave below him as he headed for his partner. "One must never look away when given a gift. Release the static-hounds. I'm on my way."

"Where outnumbered down here, Switch." Knot reminded him.

"Oh, Knot. Are you doubting my abilities or your own?"

He was answered with a snort.

"Then let the dear doggies lose and if we play this right we'll be gone before the call for alarm has been risen. The Prime is all the way on the other side of these tunnels and two grunts shouldn't give either of us a problem."

"This should prove interesting." Slipknot agreed.

"Just don't let them kill the runt. He's worth more to us alive."

The smirk was audible in the other mech's voice as he answered. "More fun when they scream anyway."

Rubbing his little palm across the aged stone wall with the strange symbols painted over it in a worn but not gone paint that absolutely fascinated the little one, he stared in wonder at the form of a massive beast it portrayed. It was a Cybertronian like which Bee had never see. It kind of reminded him of Grimlock's other form, but it was different at the same time. Still it was beastly and fascinating and it seemed to be being hunted by the forms of bots. The whole scene depicted on the large expanse of smooth wall lit by the energon lamp Sunstreaker held over the little youngling.

"Cool." He chirped quietly tracing its glowing purple optic. It was magical, and it called to him in a way he didn't understand. It was just a picture, though. Why did it have his spark doing such dizzying twists?

"It is kinda neat, huh?" Sideswipe chuckled taking in the picture as well. "Know what they're doing?"

Bee looked toward Sides. "No."

"Me either."

"Their beast hunters." Sunstreaker shifted his hand that held Bumblebee, moving him to some of the symbols over the drawing.

"Beast hunters?" Bee repeated.

"Yes," Sunstreaker nodded. "Way, way, way back in early Cybertron the whole planet was home to not just bots like us."

"Oh yeah," Sideswipe joined in, remembering the story they'd heard in the Rings. "They were beast mechs. Kinda like Grimlock, only he's not as old as the one in the picture. According to Jack."

"They ruled Cybertron before the Tribes came to power."

"The Tribes hunt them?" Bee questioned.

"They fought each other."

"Why?"

"Because . . . bots fight?" Sides offered not really sure it that helped or not. The roll of his twin's optics told him it probably didn't.

"It was a different world back then, Half Pint. They were primal and primitive. They fought each other because they didn't know what else to do."

"If it so different . . . then why bots fight now?"

The brothers paused before they both let out the same tired sigh.

Why did younglings have to be so good at asking the tough questions?

"Well Bee," Sides looked for an answer he didn't have before settling with. "Ask Prowl. Prowl knows everything."

"Gee that was helpful." Sunny rolled his optics.

"I'm not the history teacher here. You're the one that wanted to show him the painting."

"I like painting." Bee added quickly.

Sunny grinned.

Sides snorted.

"Well wha—" A static like hiss clamped the red mech's jaw shut as he and his twin both tensed, spinning to put their backs together while Bumblebee suddenly found himself clamped tight to Sunstreaker's chest armor in a closed fist. He sent a questioning pulse through his spark to the brothers though he didn't get an answer. So he was about to speak up and ask what was going on when another hiss drifted through the dim tunnels around them.

Bee crouched into a ball in Sunny's palm pressing himself against the thudding of the spark behind him.

What in all that was holy was that?

"Sunny?" Sideswipe growled over their twin bond while he flicked his wrist making his long blades slide into place. The slice of metal behind him told that Sunstreaker had done the same with at least one of his blades. They backed together audios on high as another hiss that sounded like static crackling over a radio frequency, joined by another, and another, and another rose from both ends of the tunnels around them. "Why the pit does it sound like we're surrounded by static-hounds?"

"Because I'm pretty sure we are." Sunstreaker rumbled out his own growl.

"Well . . . that's wonderful."

"Isn't it?"

That was when a scent drifted to the twins' as well; energon fumes and nitrogen.

Gases that shouldn't be down in these tunnels in the first place. Gases that—since there smelt like there was enough—if they got anywhere near a plasma shot or a laser bolt was going to send these tunnels up in a ball of unholy fire.

Their sparks fell to their toes.

They just walked into a trap.

"Whatever you do don't shot anything." Sunstreaker warned.

"Noted."

And then all Pit broke loose.

"Ooooooooooh what's this?" Hot Rod sounded very, very much like that little yellow bundle of trouble he was so fond of at the moment, and the brightly painted commander didn't have a problem in the world with that fact as he rummaged around in a crate of what appeared to be plasma guns of some sort. Ironhide was down here looking for a cannon he'd long since put away, so in Roddy's processor he was being quite helpful as he strew things around trying to help find it.

His fellow mechs were not so convinced.

"It's a plasma blaster you idiot." Ratchet smacked the bright mech over the back of his head though it did nothing but earn him a chuckle as he snatched the gun from him and tossed it back in the crate. "Now will you stop acting like a twenty-eight vorn old youngling!? Primus, sometimes I swear you've got to be related to those pit spawn twins."

Roddy snickered. "Nah, Ratch. I just like to mess with you."

"Something you've done quite well since the Guard." Ironhide rolled his optics as he searched for the weapon he was after. Optimus knew what it looked like and was actually some help to the big black mech as he searched through some dust covered crates not far from him, but when he was too busy trying not to laugh at the silly mech he so loosely long ago named a commander he really wasn't much help.

Why had Hide agreed to come down here with that glitch again?

"Mech! Is this it?" Ironhide looked up to find the brightly painted mech holding the very thing he was looking for.

How in the pit did he always manage to do that?

"Yeah, Roddy. That's it." Walking over he took the old grey fusion-plasma cannon from the commander before he found some way to hurt either himself or one of them with it as the weapons specialist looked it over. It had seen better orns and it desperately needed a new coat of paint, but it would do. With this he and Crosshairs would be able to finally finish that knew defense schematic with Prowl.

One less thing for the SIC to snip at him about.

"What you gonna do with it?" Hot Rod pushed himself back to his peds and examined the weapon around the massive black mech's arm. Ironhide lifted an optic ridge at him while Optimus and Ratchet joined them.

"What does he do with all his toys?" Ratchet rolled his optics. "He's gonna blow stuff to Pit."

Ironhide snickered. "Hey, that's what I'm paid to do."

"Oh yeah," Hot Rod barked a laugh. "Paid! That's rich. You know when the last time I say a paycheck was?"

"Probably not since Iacon fell." Optimus said with a mild bit of humor and sadness mixed into his voice.

Roddy nodded. "Yeah . . . not a lot of credits in soldiering anymore it seems. Guess we're all in it for the fame now."

"Of course." Ratchet crossed his arms. "It has nothing to do with the noble cause, or the fact that it's fight or die now."

"No," The bright mech grinned. "Nothing of the sort."

"Of course." Optimus agreed.

"I'm gonna need a new plasma relay. And a better spring mechanism. And a new coolant rod. And Primus the damn scrap-rats have been chewing on my damn guns!"

"Hide," Ratchet nudged him, but the weapons specialist was lost to them now.

"How the frag did the damn rats get down here!? And what use have they for a half rusted cannon!? Damn it! That is rust! It's gonna take me a good four orns to get this stupid thing clean! Stupid piece of slag!"

"I think we lost him, Ratchet." Optimus chuckled watching Ironhide pull and prod at his weapon complete oblivious to the rest of them.

"Well at least he's happy." Hot Rod shot his friends a sparkling grin.

"Give him something that goes 'boom' and he's thrilled." Ratchet sighed.

"Him and Wheeljack really should get together more. I'm sure they could come up with some really loud bangs."

"Let's not get that started." The CMO groaned. "I fix enough idiot induced accidents as it is."

"Oh come on, Ratchet. You know you—" Optimus trailed off when a scent drifted to his olfactory sensors. He went very still turning his attention back to the dim tunnels around them. It was as that point Ironhide brought his own weapons tech rant to a stop when he took a deep intake and then snorted.

"Nitrogen." He words became darker. "And energon."

Neither of those scents belonged in these tunnels, and it didn't take a weapons expert to realize that those gasses mixed together and added to any kind of ignition spelled something very, very wrong.

The massive black mech forced his cannons not to cackle into life despite his battle protocols rolling into action and his well learned instincts twisting dread in his tanks.

The heat and power held inside those weapons would make very bad things happen with this amount of fumes floating around.

"What the pit?" Hot Rod tilted his head taking in the scent of the gases. "What is that doing down—"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"BUMBLEBEE!" All four of them broke for the western end of the tunnels at a run.

With a wicked upward slash Sunstreaker's dueling blade severed a static-hound's head from its frame as the massive black creature sprang from the darkness around him and his twin, all black paint, jagged armor, razor claws, and long teeth.

They were creatures of the shadows and it severely pissed the golden mech off.

Their empty black optics didn't even glow with any kind of light.

He had no way to see them coming, only vorns of battle sharpened senses had him twisting and spinning to avoid the springing beast.

But not even the great Sunstreaker could sense everything.

He didn't see the ten foot tall beast spring from his left crashing into him with enough force to slam him back into the painted wall. A grunt of pain left him while Half Pint screamed again making him react before he even really knew he did twisting his blade up and catching the snapping creature in the shoulder. The black bot snarled in pain burying its fangs into the soft cables of Sunstreaker's elbow making him hiss not from the pain but form how close those fangs got to the terrified little yellow mechling in his clenched fist.

Oh pit no.

No fraggin' static-hound was getting its fangs into Bumblebee.

Lashing out Sunstreaker slammed his head into the canine's making it snort out a dizzy snarl confusing it long enough for Sunstreaker to twist his blade and slice through its spark. There was an eerie sound of yielding metal, the slick slide of a blade through energon, and he felt Bumblebee shudder in his hand but he didn't have time to care.

He kicked the dead beast away spinning to his feet just as two more sprang into the spot he'd just been. He hiss out a curse as they swung back leaping at him though all they met was the end of his blade in two quick slices.

He spun again away from another set of snapping jaws that hissed out that Primus awful sound the damn things made. It was like a dying radio going off in the frontliner's head that wouldn't end. It came from everywhere at once distorting his senses and processor.

Just like it was meant to do.

Static-hounds were an ancient creature of Cybertron. Hailing from the Sea of Rust itself. Hunting in huge packs they could kill and eat just about anything when they had full range of the planet. Long ago though a Tribe among the endless red sands captured a few packs of the vicious creatures and used them as tools. They were domesticated, but they were not tame. They were still energon thirsty monsters that were very, very capable of—if in numbers large enough—killing just about anything.

Including a golden frontliner with only one hand to fight with, no use of his blasters, and a sobbing youngling held to his spark.

He and Sides were in trouble.

The damn things just kept coming.

"Sunny!" Sideswipe yelled alerting the golden mech to the black mass leaping behind him. He twisted catching the thing in the throat making a hot spray of energon explode all over him.

"I just fraggin' waxed you damn pest!" Sunstreaker bellowed kicking out at another hound that latched onto his leg and bit down. Pain arched through his frame before he buried his blade in its back and then used it as a hammer to beat another one that leapt at him.

A flash of black caught his attention just to his left and he leapt around to face it only to find Sideswipe's two blades buried in not one but two hounds that had jumped for his exposed back.

"Paws off my fraggin' twin and little brother!" Sides snarled, spinning until he and Sunstreaker were back to back again moving in an uneasy circle as they both let their optics dance around the growling circle that had surrounded them. There had to be sixty around them and even more stalking in from the tunnels.

Bumblebee choked a sob and Sunstreaker wrapped his spark tightly around the little one's just as Sideswipe did the same.

"Easy, Half Pint." Sunny whispered. "It's okay."

It wasn't okay though.

He couldn't see a damn way out of this tunnel. They couldn't fight them all off like this. The space was too narrow, there were too many hounds, there was no way they could do what they needed to do with Bumblebee trapped in his fist.

That wasn't his biggest fear right now.

No.

What had him and Sides twitching as they circle stepped was the thing bubbling in their sparks. That berserker rage that could grip them and turn them into killing perfection. It could get them out of here, but they fought it off with everything inside them.

Bumblebee had seen them like that once. So lost in their lust for energon that they hadn't even recognized him. They'd sworn after that orn Bee would never see them like that again. The fear that had been in those big baby blue optics had scarred a part of their split spark like nothing else ever had.

He had been afraid of them; at least of what they had become.

That would never happen again.

Period.

"Sunny," Bee squeaked in terror as the static snarls grew around them. It hurt his little audios, all the sound coming from everywhere. There was so much meaningless noise, so much darkness clawing at his spark. It terrified him and left him shaking as he clutched at Sunny's armor staring in terror at the clenched fingers that kept out all that was around him.

Sunny would protect him.

He knew that.

Sunny and Sides were unbeatable. No bot stood a chance against them. They could beat anybot—well maybe not Hide and Optimus, no bot was stronger than Hide and Optimus—but they were up there on his list of bots that nothing could ever hurt.

They were unstoppable.

He trusted them to keep him safe, but that didn't mean he wasn't scared out of his little processor.

The sound hurt his head, and the darkness was almost swallowing him. He wanted out of it! He wanted Hide! He wanted it all to just go away!

"Sunny! Make it stop!" He cried clutching at the huge mech's armor. He felt a growl rumble through the mighty bot as both he and the red twin tried to wrap their warm, strong sparks around his own to keep him calm.

It didn't work though.

There was so much bad in these tunnels now.

It terrified him.

"HIDE!" He screamed when suddenly Sunny twisted again and the world came alive with fighting. He heard the snarls, the growls, the slice of blades through metal, and the sick sound of gushing energon. Bee felt his tanks protest to the sounds, the smells, and this never ending twisting.

But he was so not purging his tanks on Sunstreaker's armor.

Oh no.

He'd rather take his chances with whatever was trying to kill him than do that.

A pain filled snarl left Sunstreaker and Bumblebee felt them both slam into the ground. Something big and heavy crashed into the fist that held him safely and the sound of ripping metal filled the air all around him, but it wasn't like the sound of Sides' and Sunny's blades in a frame. It was like claws pealing back armor.

He screamed again when hot, sticky energon suddenly leaked through Sunstreaker's tight fingers spilling down onto him. "OPTIMUS!"

"Get the frag off them!" Sideswipe hissed tearing off the four hounds that had his brother and Half Pint pinned to the ground. The damn things tearing into Sunstreaker's armor. His brother's pain flared across their bond along with his fear of them getting to Bumblebee, but Sideswipe was not going to let that happen.

He sliced them into pieces hauling Sunny back to his feet before they both twisted together avoiding another pair of jumping hounds. The pack was taking its time. Sending in a few at a time trying to wear them down.

The trouble was, it was working and they had no way to get out of here.

Calling up his comm link Sides pleaded with the airways. "Optimus! Ratch! Hide! Pit Prowl even! Somebot answer me!"

There was only the never ending static in reply though.

"Comm links won't work, Sideswipe!" Sunstreaker rumbled as he kicked out sending another jumping hound flying back into its circling pack. "Remember? Static-hounds! They block radio ways with that damn hissing of theirs."

"I fraggin' hate static-hounds!" The red twin glared at the circling canines as he and Sunstreaker once again went back to back trying to keep every angle covered at all times.

This was battling against all odds. This was what they did best. They should be kicking the stupid things tails, but there was only so much even they could do with Bumblebee trapped down in a tiny expanse of tunnel with explosive gas everywhere and a seemingly never ending pack of static-hounds.

When they got out of this Sideswipe was going to blow something or somebot to freaking pit.

This was just plain embarrassing.

Not to mention Bumblebee's terrified cries were starting to drive him insane.

"Sides! Sunny!" Bee whimpered over the never ending static rumble.

"Hold on, Half Pint." Sides cooed as he glared at the snarling beast before him. "We'll get out of here."

"No." A dark voice echoed from the shadows making Sideswipe spin his energon covered blades and Sunstreaker snarl over his shoulder. "You really won't. Mutts! End this!"

The entire mass of hounds sprang forward.

Bumblebee trembled as some massive force slammed into Sunstreaker. He felt his caretaker snarl, crash to the ground, curse, and then he felt pain explode over his bond with the twins.

The youngling squealed in agony at the pain that rushed into his spark before the twins slammed the link shut trying to keep their pain from the little mech, but that did little good when fangs and claws tore into Sunstreaker from all angles pinning him to the ground. He felt teeth tear into his fisted hand trying to get to Bumblebee and that was when the last drop of his sanity slipped right between his fingers, along with his brother's.

With a primal roar both twins slipped into that madness that had kept them both alive all these vorns. That rage that had saved them time and time again.

Bumblebee shivered in Sunny's grip. He knew that sound, he'd heard it before. When the 'Cons had hurt Jazz and taken him away. It had been when Sunstreaker and Sideswipe hadn't known him.

He didn't want to see them like that again.

"No!" He cried out as suddenly Sunstreaker was practically flying. There were snarls, hisses, and metal tearing from metal, but all the time the fist that held him was kept close to the raging spark beating behind him. Bee twisted, pounding his little fist against Sunstreaker's chest like he had done Sideswipe all those vorns ago as he yelled. "No! Sunny! Please! Wake up! Want my Sunny! Not this one! Please!"

Sunstreaker spun slicing his energon soaked blade through a hound's back his normally vivid blue optics now pale white and flicked with red. All he knew was kill. It was the only sense inside of him fueled by a fury like pit had never known.

And yet there was something.

Something that called to him through the fog of energon and anger.

Something more important than his hatred.

Something beating little hands against his chest.

He hissed, ripping a hound's head straight from its frame before he used said frame to slam another one into a wall before he spun back around. Through hazy optics he found the sight of a ruby red tornado tearing through the mass of static-hounds.

His spark pulsed; brother.

Yes. That was his twin. He was not the enemy. He knew him.

Another dazzling slash and three more hounds that dared approach him were dead.

But his brother was not the something that was calling to his spark. His blurred with rage gaze shifted through the weary mutts that were now thinking twice before trying him.

Good.

He'd kill them all.

"Sunny!"

He flinched.

What?

"Sunny! Wake up! Please! Come back!"

Sunny?

He was Sunstreaker. What was this pathetic little voice calling him Sunny?

Weak little fist slammed into his chest above his spark.

He snarled, uncurling his fingers and turned his pale with anger gaze to whatever it was that was foolish enough to try and mar his paint. His mouth opened to bellow out a curse when he stopped short. Through the haze he found a tiny yellow thing perched in his palm beating against his chest for all it was worth while it looked up at him with the biggest baby blue optics he'd ever seen.

Optics that were filled with tears.

His spark clenched; wrong.

That was wrong.

There shouldn't be tears there. Not now. Not ever.

He wasn't sure why, but he knew that for fact.

There should never be tears in those optics while he was around to keep that from happening. There should not be fear there when they looked at him.

"Please." The little thing cried quietly as fat, fresh blue tears rolled down. "Please don't. Come back, Sunny! Don't like this Sunny. Want mine."

His spark pulsed in recognition; Bumblebee. Half Pint. His Half Pint!

The mighty golden mech shook his head as if coming out of a daze—which in all reality he was—his pale white and burning red optics faded back to dark blue before he mumbled out. "Bumblebee?"

Bee grinned as those optics he adored faded back to blue. "Sunny!"

"Half Pint." Sunstreaker smiled in return his spark flaring with love.

Pit! He could kiss the little creature.

He woke him up from the rage.

Again.

Bee squeaked happily, overjoyed to see the golden mech back to the one he knew. Now he just had to wake up Sideswipe. He was about to start yelling at him until a shadow moved behind Sunstreaker and Bee's spark dropped to his toes.

"SUNNY BEHIND YOU!"

Sunstreaker twisted, every fiber in his being alert to the sudden presence behind him, but he moved to late. Fire like agony slammed through his mid section and he gasped out in anger and pain throwing his blade forward only to find it caught by a quick hand as he looked up to find himself staring into gleefully wicked orange optics.

"Hello, Autobot." The tall green mech chuckled as he drove his jagged blade deep into Sunstreaker making the golden mech gasp in pain and the little thing in his grip scream in terror as they both found the frontliner doubled over a glowing purple sword.

Sunstreaker spit the energon bubbling in his mouth. "Fragger."

Slipknot twisted his head out of the way before he spun him and his captive slamming the Autobot into the wall behind him. "Nah, its Slipknot. But don't worry. You won't live to remember it."

"NO!" Bee screamed leaping from Sunstreaker's hand and latching hold of this strange mech's jagged armor.

"Bee!" Sunny coughed. "No!"

The youngling didn't listen though. He beat his hands into the stranger's chest.

"LET HIM GO! Stop it! You're hurting him!"

Slipknot huffed with a roll of his orange optics yanking his captive's blade from his hand and sending it clattering across the ground behind him where his hounds had the other red fool in a very literal dog pile. He ignored the curses and the rage behind him. The bot couldn't save his companion or the object of the bounty hunter's interest now.

With a sick smile Knot shoved his blade completely through the Autobot making Sunstreaker hiss in agony, grasping at the weapon now pinning him to the stone wall as Slipknot latched hold of Bee and pulled the kicking and screaming little thing up before his optics.

Bee twisted and hollered for all he was worth as tears poured down his faceplate.

"LET GO! LET SUNNY GO! LET SIDES GO! GO AWAY!"

"Alright, mechling." Slipknot chuckled. "I'll let go."

Bee suddenly found himself tumbling through the air head over toes as the ground suddenly rushed toward him. He tensed waiting for the unavoidable moment when he just knew he was going to splat against the cold ground as Sunny's voice screamed after him and Sideswipe broke from the hounds that had him pinned yelling as well.

Only Bee never hit the ground.

One nano-klick he was staring at his incoming doom in the form of cold grey stones and then he was snatched up and suddenly he was racing into the shadows swinging from the jaws of a massive black creature that hissed a static like rumble around him and Bee let out a audio shattering cry for help.

Hello, cliff hanger. Where have you been?

Yeah, it was just to tempting. I couldn't help myself.

Anyway.

I love this chapter. I've been waiting for Switch and Knot to make their move forever! Hee-hee. Things just go downhill from here. I love it!

Also. I totally made up static-hounds, and I'm not even sure how. The idea for them just came to me. They're also really weird looking in my head. Hopefully you guys thought they were as cool as I do though, along with this chapter.

Little Bee is in trouble again and this time it isn't even his fault. Little mech just can't catch a break. The next chapter is even crazier, and I promise it WILL be up next weekend. I. Am. Not. Missing. Another. Update.

You guys are too awesome to keep waiting.

So please review and tell me what you thought, it keeps me motivated!

-Jay