Chapter 2

A Giant Mini-con?

Arriving at Red Alerts coordinance, Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Sideswipe, and Jetfire transformed back to their robotic forms to find themselves in the middle of a large, dark, and sinister looking forest, at least that's what Sideswipe thought of it.

"Man, I can see why humans can be terrified of the dark. Just look at all this. We're in the middle of nowhere and the Decepticons can show up at any time, maybe even in an ambush." Sideswipe shivered.

"Aw, don't be such a sparkling, Swipe. All we got to do is find the pod and find out what's inside of it." Hot Shot reassured the young Autobot.

"Hey, look up there. I see the pod." Jetfire pointed up in the air. The pod was just a few feet from hitting the ground. As the pod landed, sending trembling quakes, but nothing serious, Optimus gave the orders to move. Heading straight to the crash site, the Autobots found the pod, half way turned to its side. The lid with the Autobot symbol was detached and it appeared that who ever was in it had gotten out of the pod, and ran into the forest.

"It has to be an Autobot. No other robot could be in there." Hot Shot said, examining the lid.

"Or a Decepticon." Jetfire suggested.

"You may be right Jetfire." Optimus said. " Hot Shot, you and Sideswipe will search in that direction. If it's an Autobot, report to me at once. If it's a Decepticon, take him into custody."

"Yes sir." The young Autobots replied as the headed in the direction Optimus had pointed out. Optimus then turned his attention to Jetfire, who was studying the pod, trying to figure out where the pod originated.

"This pod is from the Autobots, but it isn't very well complex. The metal cocoon isn't even strong enough to withstand the impact. See?" Jetfire reported, as he pointed to the dents the surround the pod.

"Try to find more evidence of it's origin, I'll search this way in hopes of finding the passenger. Perhaps he might tell us where the pod, and where he came from. Use the com link to report your status." Optimus spoke as he headed west.

"I don't know if there's much to report." Jetfire thought. "The inscription is very faint and I can't figure it out. Oh well. Orders are orders."

Meanwhile, Sideswipe and Hot Shot continued searching for the passenger. Both young Autobots had their optics and audio receptors on high alert. The idea of a Decepticon sneaking to earth on an Autobot escape pod was still in their processors, making them more nervous.

"Y-y-you see anything, Hot Shot?," Sideswipe asked, feeling more nervous than before.

"For the eleventh time, no."

"Y-y-you don't have to sh-shout you know."

"Sorry. I'm just as scared as you are." Hotshot replied, while raising his hand in defence.

"Scared? Who said anything about being scared?" Sideswiped huffed, trying to show his adopted brother that he was brave. He soon began to ramble on, saying that he had never been afraid in his life, so much in fact that Hot Shot quickened his pace in order to get away from the chatterbox that kept rambling behind him.

"And further more, If I was scared, I wouldn't even be here. Right Hot Shot?" Hot Shot?" Sideswipe soon found himself all alone with no one in sight. The poor cadet suddenly began to shake and whimper in fear. He knew that Autobots were supposed to be brave warriors, but how was suppose to brave in a dark forest, with no other Autobots to back you up, and maybe even a Decepticon hiding somewhere, waiting to strike you and kill you?

Backing up slowly, Sideswipe tried horribly to tell himself that he was brave, when suddenly...

"Ahhhh!"

Feeling a bump from behind him Sideswipe screamed at the top of his vocalizer, only to find out it was Hot Shot, looking with his famous grin seen on his face plate. I turned out that he had hidden himself in the foliage and snuck up behind Sideswipe to surprise him..

"And you said you weren't afraid of anything." Hot Shot smirked, and went on searching with Sideswipe following him.

"Of course I am brave, you just startled me, that's all." He argued, partially moving some tree branches aside.

"Sure you were." Hot Shot said under his breath.

"I was, too! Just you wait. I'll show how courageous I can really b..." But before he finished he pulled one tree branch to find himself staring into golden optics.

Hot Shot quickly turned at hearing Sideswipe screaming again, but his scream was accompanied with a second scream, a high pitched scream. Racing towards him Hot Shot help the shaking cadet to his feet. " What now ?"

"G-G-G-Giant M-M-M-M-Mini-con! A Giant mini-con." Sideswipe managed to say.

"A what?" Hot Shot asked.

"O-o-o-o-over there." Sideswiped pointed, and when Hot Shot look up he saw a shadow of a small figure running away.

"C'mon, we gotta catch it." Hot Shot shouted as he streaked after the fleeing figure. Sideswipe followed after them, still a little frightened.

The small robot was running as fast as it's stablizong servos could go. Faster and faster it ran, trying it's best to keep away from the two huge mechs that were gaining up. The mysterious form wanted to move quicker, but it was starting to pant hard, because its energon level way somewhat low, and its vision was becoming hazy. Yet it still persisted in its escape, when all of a sudden it bumped into a third mech. Gazing up the small figure saw a towering mass of red, silver, and blue. It's energy almost spent, the tiny form shrieked in fear, and fell to the ground in an exhausted faint.

Looking down at the robotic form, Optimus nelt down on one knee, carefully scooped it up, and cradled it close to his chest plates. Now he knew who the passenger from the pod was. He was about to radio Jetfire when Hot Shot and Sideswipe burst out of the trees and halted in their tracks.

"Optimus, you caught the giant mini-con. We were about .." Sideswipe began but was interrupted by Hot Shot.

"It is not a giant mini-con, you goof ball"

"Then what is it?" Sideswipe asked.

Optimus only shook his head. Sideswipe might have been simple minded, but he was still young and inexperienced, and apparently he had never seen another youngling of the opposite gender.

"It's a youngling. A female youngling to be exact." He corrected.

"A kid. But where did she come from?"Hot Shot asked, moving closer to look at the youngling nestled close to his leaders chest.

"From the pod. But we still don't know where the pod came from either." Optimus answered. As soon as he said that Jetfire appeared.

"Well, well, well. At least we know who the Decepticon is." Jetfire joked. "Is it alright, Prime?"

Pulling the little femme closer Optimus carefully placed two digits on her neck cables, feeling for a pulse. He did feel it, bt it was very weak. "Not too good. Men, we have to head back to the base. She needs medical assistance." Just then a soft moan could be heard from the youngling, causing Prime to hold her closer. "And fast."