Shout-out to Ultra_flame101 to keeping me on track. Still love this story but I always forget about update times. Thanks, my dude
Fixit's screaming still ran out through the cave and it's many offshoots. The bat bot then landed and set Fixit down "would you chill? I'm not gonna hurt you. And gimme that." He snatched Fixit's datapad out of his servos and began typing away on it "c'mon, c'mon, here we go...are you kidding me!? Of course Echo wouldn't be able to make a dent after my conviction." He sighed angrily Fixit whimpered out of nervousness "I already said I wasn't gonna hurt ya', little guy. I'm not like your average con. Frag, I'm not even a con." He snorted "not like you'd believe me anyway, no one has in awhile." The bot then handed him back his datapad "w-who are you..?" Fixit asked "you seem like a smart bot, you'll figure it out. But, I get it, I used to be nervous 24/7 too." Fixit raised an eyebrow "used to glee! See! Be!?" Fixit smacked his chassis caused the bot to laugh a little "yeah, now I'm just looking out for #1, cause in the end. You can't count on anyone else." The bat bot then returned to his beast mode and flying deeper into the cave, leaving Fixit to his thoughts, and the darkness
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The B team was trying they're best to locate Fixit, but the thick rock of the cave made it difficult. "How far do you think that guy could've flown?" Sideswipe asked going back into his bot mode Bumblebee followed suit, "he seemed around as fast as your average seeker. So pretty far maybe." Grimlock groaned at that notion "I'm startin' to see why Steeljaw hates caves. Cramp and dark" he said Strongarm then went into her bot mode "maybe we should split up, sir. Two of us go after the decepticon while the other two find Fixit?" She suggested Bumblebee thought for minute "they could still be together, but splitting up could help cover more ground, so it's a good idea. We just need to be more careful in case our comms don't work this deep in." Bumblebee said "Grim, your with me. Sideswipe, go with Strongarm." Both cadets groaned at this "you two can work well together when you try, I've seen it." Bee said "c'mon, Grim" both the Autobot leader and the dinobot then went down one end of the cave "you and me, I guess" Sideswipe gave some finger guns "here's hoping it will go well. Let's find that bat con." Strongarm said as she went down the other followed by Sideswipe
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Steeljaw was pacing across the main area of the scrap yard, Halo and Russel watched him, Windblade and Drift we're meditating together, and Optimus was reading one of Strongarm's reports, she sounded so much like Ultra Magnus. "Steeler, why are you pacing?" Halo asked "it's been dead for to long, I don't like it" Steeljaw's tail twitched "your always so antsy" Halo shook her head "they'll come back soon, Steeljaw" Russel said "some missions just take longer than others" Optimus looked up from his datapad and nodded "patience was never your strong suit, son" Optimus observed "and that hasn't changed" he said with slight amusement, Steeljaw only groaned at his father "it's to quiet, as much as I hate caves. I think we should-" "go after them?" Windblade cut him off "yes, exactly." Steeljaw replied "mh, I could go for a run" Halo said "I'm there if you all need backup" Windblade chimed in Drift only nodded, and Slipstream and Jetstorm smiled, reattaching to their Sensei. Optimus stood up, and followed his son
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Grimlock and Bumblebee were going down one part of the cave system "uh, Bee? Maybe we should head back..." Grimlock said hesitantly, Bumblebee paused, sensing his uneasiness "what's up, Big Guy?" He asked turning towards his companion "I dunno, just something isn't feeling right." Grimlock responded shifting his weight. Bee didn't respond, he stood listening, he heard a woosh on his left side, when him and Grimlock turned towards the way they just came in was a bat silhouette flying some distance above them "you should've listened to him" then ear piercing sonic waves erupted from his mouth and the caverns entrance began to crumble. The bat con flew off before the rocks fell onto him and Grimlock and Bumblebee were effectively trapped. Grimlock began trying to break the rocks with his fists and tail "argh! What gives!?" He shouted "don't worry, Grim. We'll find a way out. If not, the others will find us." Bee tried to reassure him, Grimlock groaned again "maybe Steeljaw had the right idea"
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Strongarm and Sideswipe we're still combing through the cave system "cadets!" A voice shouted, both looked down and there was Fixit "hey, Fixit" Sideswipe said nonchalantly "are you hurt?" Strongarm asked, the orange minicon shook his helm. "I do have something to report though" Sideswipe squatted down "fire away, Fixit" the minicon nodded "when the decepticon took me, he only took my datapad away for a moment to look up his file" Fixit held it up to Strongarm, who took it from him and began to read what the profile said "he also made a reference to everyone "not believing him" and after that he said that he was 'only looking out for #1'" Fixit said, Strongarm finished scanning the file, then handed it to Sideswipe "Nightscream, huh? That's a cool name." The red bot stated standing back to his full height "Lieutenant? This is Strongarm, we've found Fixit and we've found out who are con is. He's someone named Nightscream who was arrested for assaulting one of his police academy professors." Strongarm ground out the last part. Oh, she was definitely going to enjoy putting this con back in his stasis pod "Lieutenant?" She asked again, "Cadet-" "we're-" then static "yeesh, we've gotta be pretty deep now that I think about it." Sideswipe said Fixit nodded "Nightscream's beast mode is of a bat. So perhaps it effects where he chooses to rest." Fixit said, Sideswipe nodded "he's got a point." Strongarm handed Fixit's datapad back to him "we're already in a cave system. Maybe we should try and fine the Lieutenant, and then our con." Strongarm said "that seems like a good idea." Fixit agreed, Sideswipe only shrugged "it's whatever to me."
This was originally gonna be a 2 parter, but this chapter is long enough as is, so Pt 3 will be out whenever, I guess. Be safe you guys, where I am, things are crazy right now. Baiiiiiiiii 💖💙💛