Transformers: FLIPSIDE Volume 3

Issue 13 "Persevere or Perish"

"Nobody destroys Optimus Prime except me!--" "We still have hope!--" "why?--" don't worry Hellcat I'll take care of your spark-ling as if she were my own--" "what's your name?--"

A sequence of previous quotes is shown over cut images of Hellcat being rescued and repaired, she awakens after a voice is heard "H-Hellcat?" Steelcat says worriedly "Hellcat... yes that is my name, where am I?" Hellcat asks, confused and scared "open your optic lenses and see for yourself!" Steelcat says excitedly.

Hellcat opens her optic lenses but one isn't functional "w-why can't I see through my left optic!?" she panics but then remembers "I-I was—you saved me Steelcat" Hellcat says, "no- I did!" Starscream boasts as he wheels over "I'm surprised we were even able to fix you up as much as we did, considering the condition we found you in" Hellcat asks "why me? You hate me! so why did you save me?" Starscream replies "the young one won me over; now then shall we get to business?" Hellcat asks "business? I'm barely functional! --" Starscream growls "then what am I?! I've lost over half of my body and a vital organ and yet I soldier on! Do not complain about being barely functional to me!" Hellcat says "fine... what makes you—argh!" She takes a step and winces in pain, Starscream looks at her with pure disgust "go on..." he growls, Hellcat continues "what makes you think I want to fight? In fact, what's stopping me from just leaving?" Starscream smirks "her" as he points at Steelcat, who looks so innocent "the humans I was working with planted some explosives in her newly-forged chassis- for reassurance that you wouldn't run off" Hellcat looks at Starscream with her one functioning optic and says "you'll regret that..." Starscream grins and taunts "I'd watch your tone around me, all it takes is the flip of a switch. Now kneel for me" Hellcat is shocked "N-no! I won't--" Starscream threatens her with the detonator, and she furiously complies, kneeling down in front of Starscream.

"now you may rise" Starscream taunts, Hellcat struggles to stand up and limps over to Steelcat "how's everyone treating you?" Hellcat asks "they're really nice! Starscream even helped repair my tails!" Hellcat sees the patched metal, where Steelcat had obviously been burned "did he now? Well, it's good to hear that you're doing well--" Swindle interrupts "hey uh- Hellcat? Astrotrain wants to see you when you have time" Hellcat sighs "I'll be there soon! —Steelcat listen to me- Don't trust Starscream" Steelcat confused asks "why? He helped me- and he saved you!" Hellcat replies, "for his own personal gain—just trust me please..." Steelcat nods and Hellcat slowly makes her way over to Astrotrain, who's standing there with a cy-gar in his mouth "You wanted me?" Hellcat asks, Astrotrain replies "it is... good to know you are alive old friend" Hellcat says "likewise- Is that all you called me for?" Astrotrain replies "No, here take it" He hands her a blaster, more specifically her favourite type of blaster pistol the 'fang'. She takes it and asks "W-where did you get this?!" Astrotrain replies "I got from Swindle"  Hellcat is still surprised "I—thank you Astrotrain" she says, Astrotrain continues "Starscream wants his newest soldier fit for battle, we're going to depart as soon as Brawl is fixed up" Hellcat replies "alright but I'd like to talk more" they walk and talk, Hellcat's slowly getting used to her missing plating and damaged circuitry.

 Cybertron

"You sure we can trust 'em?" Warpath whispers, "he doesn't seem like much of a threat" Bluestreak replies. "Scrap get down!" Bluestreak says quietly, a seeker is standing in front of them, Steeljaw gets up and walks over to the seeker, "woah bud, this is my sector got it?" the seeker exclaims, Steeljaw continues to walk towards them, "h-hey what're you--" Steeljaw plunges his claws into the seekers voice box and slashes their neck "*garble*Gh-ack!" the seeker falls dead, Blurr rushes over and starts collecting their energon! "W-what the-- i-is that-- Y-You're collecting spilled energon!?" Cliffjumper says in shock, Bluestreak looks at him and says "energon's too low to waste it, besides when did you get all mushy over a Decepticon?" Cliffjumper tries to speak but Bluestreak cuts him off "I--" "let me guess, Optimus?" Steeljaw's audio receptors twitch "he's taught me a different way- a-a better way!" Cliffjumper explains, then Steeljaw is held at gunpoint by Elita-1 "and when was the last time he truly had to survive?" She growls "and when have all of you been careless enough to let a Decepticon get this close?!" she asks furiously, "the wolf bot is with us Elita" Bluestreak says, Elita mutters angrily "in all my days—why is it with you?! It's a Decepticon if you hadn't noticed!" Bluestreak explains "he- uh- killed an entire seeker squadron that was hunting him, we found him, broken and hopeless, he wasn't going to hurt us" Elita looks at Steeljaw and asks, "did he?" Steeljaw nods, "he- uh can't speak..." Cliffjumper explains. "Weshouldgetgoingthedecepticonswillbehereanyminute--!!" Blurr rambles, "alright, let's move!" Elita orders, "wait! There's somewhere i need to go first-" Cliffjumper claims, "fine, but we have to move quickly!" Elita says and they walk off, Steeljaw looking at Cliffjumper like he's pathetic, Steeljaw believes Cliffjumper is weak and naive but continues on anyway.