parting the red sea

[Deleted]

Characters: Toolbox, Soundwave
Location: 'Decepticon Island'
Content Warnings: References to slavery, physical abuse, and death.
Plot Summary: A brave little minicon makes his escape attempt, and runs into someone that is as unfamiliar to him as they are to his captors.

[Deleted]

Being a slave -- and being a minicon -- had its few advantages, however, though Toolbox was loathe to admit or acknowledge it. It was utterly humiliating to be forced into unwilling servitude, Such bitter irony was not lost on the minicon guards of the Alchemor-turned-slaves of the former prisoners they had stood sentry over. Their very function and purpose of their existence was to serve… but never in this capacity. There was no dignity in having transformation inhibitor collars fitted around their necks, nor was there dignity in being constantly degraded and threatened with bodily harm by Decepticon overseers.

There was one advantage that he had, and only one: as a lowly slave, and as a minicon, no Decepticon on the so called ‘Decepticon Island’ paid any attention him (nor to any other members of their ‘labour force’), and thus they did not ever think to mind their words. A few Decepticons had complained about having their missions interrupted, and spoke of other bots getting recaptured and placed in stasis pods. To the Decepticons, such things were gossip and small-talk, but to the minicons… it represented hope. It was not long before the rumor spread that there was an Autobot outpost not far from here, and no one was more elated to learn of this than Toolbox. Surely they would be saved!

Day after day they toiled, forced to labour away and repair the wreckage of the ship for their Decepticon masters, and no rescue came. Hope began to dwindle, but not within Toolbox’s spark. Others began to believe that the Autobots would not expend such resources just to rescue hundreds of lowly generic prison guards, but he knew there had to be a better explanation. If there had been no rescue thus far, then it must mean that the Autobots upon this planet simply did not even know they were there. Why else would a rescue team not have come for them by now?

Day after day after day. Any of their number who dared slow in their work due to exhaustion or hunger was shot through the spark casing, a gruesome reminder of what awaited them should any of them disobey. Toolbox, like his brethren, began to flinch and shy away whenever a larger passed too close. It was only natural to be fearful of the physical abuse that was all too commonly dealt by Decepticons, who thought it great sport to kick or swipe or shoot at the defenseless minicons that worked to fix the Alchemor. Flinching and cowering amused their tormentors, and made one less of a target than if one stood up and stood out.

Toolbox knew he had to plan. It did not take him long to memorize the patrol routines, for his observations were keen and his mind, though dulled by tiredness, was still clever enough to work out the patterns. As the days passed, it became increasingly obvious to him that if any of them were to survive this, and if the were to warn the Autobots of the growing Decepticon threat before it was too late, one of them would have to make an escape attempt.

He knew he would have to stage his attempt soon, for repairs upon the Alchemor were close to being completed. The fate of his kind as well as the Autobots on this planet now rested on his scuffed little shoulders. There would either be success in his escape, or there would be failure. He would not lie and say he was not afraid, for never before had he felt such fear in his life, but his resolve could not fail now. Slowly, slowly, after the patrol (right on schedule, as he’d predicted) disappeared around the corridor, Toolbox inched forward. Finding the exit from the ship was only the first part of his plan; the second part involved finding some way to cross the water to the mainland, and all of this would precede the task of searching for the Autobots themselves! On top of everything, he had to do this without being spotted, which would be the hardest task of all.

Toolbox gulped hard, feeling jittery, and crept along in the shadows. Slowly, slowly, with hope in his spark.

[Soundwave]

Time was lost, forgotten or misplaced. The sense of time was distorted if one entered and came out of the shadow zone. A zone that few have escaped. As such, the wanderings in these halls of the Alchemor felt at times it lasts forever and other times it was a short walk. Even the experiences aboard this section of the Alchemor were both new and old. Soundwave was no stranger to punishing those that did not do their jobs. Yet seeing who was punished, killed, or worse yet... It felt irritating.

One would expect all this irritation to have a source. Look closely upon his visor and you can see the slight funhouse mirror effect of a Minicon behind you. When others were not looking, his head was turned and focused upon those that worked with such collars. Yet when others were nearby he would keep his head turned to the appropriate direction while peeking, with his eyes behind that impenetrable mask, at the Minicons nearby.

Laserbeak, his Minicon was often times sent out to scout the area or even rest away from main work areas. The tall deployer felt a bit of connection to other Minicons not his. Laserbeak was his partner and he could understand him when others did not. At times he found his hands curling into fists when the overseers punished or did worse to the workers at hand when Soundwave was nearby. This had caused a few Decepticons to comment around him like things of, "Yeah. I'd be angry too. Those underlings are slacking when we have given them enough time to do it." Other times his hands would barely move while he watched two of three Minicons gain a new hole where their Sparks were. Jaded to such a scene.

The thoughts of the other Decepticons aboard this ship had slipped his mind while he traveled along the halls of the Alchemor, patrolling and figuring out what doesn't need fixing. The whole ship crashed into a body of water. There will be a million and one things that need to be fixed in the crew quarters, and don't even try to count the number of things in need of repairs at the crumplezone. Nothing in need of repairs in this length of hallway, or anything out of the ordinary. Yet this dark seeker stopped in his tracks to have a reflection of a particular Minicon stalking about. Silently, before his own eyes his display began to read.

Minicon Presence Detected
Number Of Minicon Units: One

Beginning Scans To Confirm Location

Location Found... Strange Behavior Not Corresponding To Avoiding Punishment From Overseer Deceptiocns

Analyzing Behavior... Stealth To Avoid All Detection... futile efforts sadly...

Course Of Action To Determine Minicon's Destination: Follow And Remain Hidden

The mech stared at the creeping Minicon before deciding on a distance to follow at. His smooth faceplate reflected this Toolbox.. If any Decepticons approached, he'd simply place a single digit to where his mouth should be before waving them off. So far, he hadn't done that motion as he stalked the dirt covered Minicon.

[Deleted]

Poor Toolbox! Even at his most observant, he would have had no hope of spotting the Decepticon’s Chief of Communications. Soundwave was a very capable (and dangerous) bot, a master of the quiet step and the keen eye, and even some of the best Autobots had been no match for him when it came to the art of espionage. He had no idea that he was being followed, or that his escape attempt had likely been doomed from the start.

The weary little minicon felt the burden upon his shoulders most keenly. The implication of what would become of the minicon slaves once their work had been completed hung over them all like the blade of a guillotine: they would have outlived their usefulness to their cruel overseers, and would likely all be deactivated. The very thought made him shudder in fear as well as harden his resolve. If he did not find a way off this wrecked section of the Alchemor and find help soon, all hope would be lost. He would have to find a way.

The first few corridors he crept down did little to ease the tension in his frame. Every shadow made Toolbox flinch, for he expected a guard to step out from around a corner and shoot him on sight. Logically he knew that the patrols were not due yet in this part of the ship for a while, and that no one would miss one single minicon out of hundreds, but it was now second nature to expect someone to swipe at him. His orange paint was covered in scuff marks and scratched paint, a lustrous finish now dulled by dust and rough treatment, evidence of the abuse he always half-anticipated now.

“-Oh dear…” The first obstacle he came up against was a locked door that barred any who did not have the correct clearance from passing through. It was the closest thing to a disaster that he could imagine. Toolbox fidgeted and wrung his hands, running through his options. He could turn back now, but he would then run the risk of running into the patrols he knew would be coming through this area soon. He could try to find a way around, but, again, he risked crossing paths with guards who would not hesitate to put a blaster shot through his spark casing should they discover him where he was not supposed to be.

There was no choice but to get through that door by any means necessary, and so Toolbox set to work opening up the wall underneath the control panel for the door. Though the inhibitor collar around his neck disabled his transformation abilities and all of his weaponry, workers would be useless without their tools. He had access to a small set of tools, and with these he pried the wall open and quickly overrode the control panel’s electronic locks. He was nothing if not clever and resourceful, and it wasn't long before the door slid open with a soft whoosh. Toolbox had to bite back a delighted little sound at his triumph. He quickly welded the wall shut, and scooted through the open door, completely oblivious still to the fact that he was being tailed.

[Soundwave]

This peculiar Minicon had the gall to wander around by himself, out of the workzones that Soundwav had memorized. This section of the ship needed no dire repairs. Matter of fact, it had functioning doors that could lock. Meaning something was of value and this little one desired it.

Statistical Analysis: ...Seclusion And Stealth To Locate An Unknown Goal Locked Away From General Public

Too Early To Make Predictions Of Goals.

New Course Of Action: Observe Until Minicon Stops For A Duration Of Time

Minicon Has Stopped Moving, Now Working On Panel

His visor reflected what was happening. The sparks just visible enough to help show the outline of Toolbox on that darkened visor. Yet the Decepticon made no movements to draw attention. He only observed. What about this peculiar Minicon that compelled him to explore. His thoughts began to wander before coming to a halt once that door slid open. He will have to return to those thoughts later.

The door closed after Toolbox and Soudwave decided to follow... Knowing full well that the door will make noise when it opens once more. The door slid open as he stepped through. He had lost track of the Minicon as that door had closed earlier, taking his visual off.

Initializing Scans

Just like that, his head turned slowly to scan the halls until he found that one, dusty, orange Minicon.

[Deleted]

If his memory of the undamaged Alchemor’s layout was correct, he was getting ever closer to the launch bay in this section. With any luck, he could find a way out through the main doors or through an air lock… and then he would have to come up with some way to cross the water to the mainland. This, of course, all depended upon whether or not he managed to evade detection that long! So many variables still left up to chance, but Toolbox had made his choice to make the escape attempt today.

The door lead to another long corridor with several offshooting hallways and rooms. A minor corridor according to the floorplan, but the tired little minicon knew that it must lead somewhere important if the Decepticons had put a lock on the door. A lock to keep any wandering slaves from having any chance at freedom, most likely, but his captors had not factored in a terribly desperate and terribly clever little bot with everything to lose and the fate of his people upon his shoulders.

Behind him, suddenly, the door opened with a quick ‘shhhk’. It was lucky enough for him that he had just enough time to scoot around a corner and fling himself out of sight down one of the offshoot hallways, his little wheels spinning in his panic. Toolbox’s mind spun in horror and confusion. The patrol wasn’t expected to pass through for another several kliks! Had someone spotted him and followed him? He dare not risk peering out to see who it was. The only option he had was to keep going, and so that was what he did: as quickly and as quietly as his treads could manage.

Now that poor Toolbox knew he was being tailed, he felt the pressure that much more. His servos trembled and his hands fidgetted as he scooted along at a much swifter pace, but still he refused to stop. He would not stop until he had found a way out and found his way to the Autobots, or died trying. There was no going back now.

[Soundwave]

In silence he stepped through the halls slowly, trying his utmost to recapture his target visually. Yet he knew the Minicon focused on the minute sounds and sights within this area... So him stepping through that door only alerted this deft Minicon some time.

Something was telling him that this was necessary, for him. To help one who stood out. His walking ceased and his head lifted. No no, he couldn't be like that. Yet Soundwave replayed the footage of him recording this Minicon, which the screen on his face flickered on to display the footage. Why? Why did this Minicon had him following instead of snatching up immediately?

The footage ceased and Soundwave knew that this special case needed some extra time. Be it small amount of time or something. That faceless visor turned towards the control panel next to the door.

Formulating Plan To Extend Safety Of This Minicon:

Go Through This Door And Tell All Proceeding Patrols That It Is All Clear: Unlikely To Stop All Patrols, New Plan

He stared at the panel, waiting to lift a slender digit to open this sliding door. Yet he stared at it before his mask looked around. Scuff marks on the walls, still damage to be seen. A memory of the construction nearby was happened came to him.

Without warning, his upper body rolled while his long, slim arms sliced through the air. A harsh metal scraping against metal was heard and what was left behind of this vicious sound? A set of parallel trenches carves with his bladed arms, stopping abruptly past the control panel. If he followed his slash through, it will look like sabotage. Yet... It stopped so soon. Like an I beam for support accidentally ran into it. The door refused to open at this point.

[Deleted]

There was a terrible screeching sound originating from whence he came, one that made him cringe instinctively and clap his servos over his audio sensors. He tamped down on the dismay which rose up in his spark. He could not afford to be caught now! He could not afford to be distracted from his task! If there was any doubt in Toolbox’s mind that he now had a follower on his trail, this only confirmed it… but if he was being tailed, why make such a racket and announce to the unaware prey that a predator was around? It hardly made sense to him.

Needless to say, Toolbox did not afford himself the luxury of sneaking now with a Decepticon so close -- he bolted down the corridor as fast as his wheels could carry him. It wasn’t long, however, before his pace was forced back to a slow crawl, for he was getting closer to more populated areas of the ship.

“Where is it, where is it?” he breathed, blue optics gazing wildly around in search of the door he sought. Luckily, he did not need to look for long: there, just ahead, was the entrance to the docking bay where many bots came and went from Decepticon Island. It was large, and, unfortunately for him, had several Decepticons milling about and sorting through debris and objects for useful materials. He’d have to find a way past them somehow.

He scooted through the doorway as soon as he was assured no one was looking and dove for the relative safety of the storage containers in the corner. Just beyond the handful of Decepticon workers he could see the reflection of sunlight off the bay waters, filtering in through the open bay exit. It was the first touch of light he’d had in… he could not even remember how long it had been! The little minicon was momentarily transfixed by the warmth that gently caressed his cheekplates.

[Soundwave]

He had prepared for such a harsh noise for it didn't make him him cover his audio receptors in agony. Just make his back strut tingle. The mech yanked his arms free to reveal scratched paint on the metal portions that struck the panel and wall. This made him worry about the cost of a new paint job. Yet he could secretly tell this Minicon it was him that did it.

Speaking of Minicons! The sound of a wheeled one rolled out and in haste. Quaint, it sounds so comical to him. Determination, and fear fueled this little one while he followed his tracks. No reason to let an unkept Minicon roam so freely. Now the Decepticon stalked after such a bot down the lengthy halls, tuning in to that noise before it grew fainter and fainter. A door was heard, his footsteps echoing, his spark pulsating, the waters smacking the hull, boxes being moved around, a multitude of footsteps. He had entered a trance and all this noise would be a cacophony to others, yet... yet it felt like he was at home. It helped him feel that there was life, action. Memories of just listening to Cybertron's noises came to him.

That stoic mask of his hid everything below, forcing others to guess what his expressions were as he stood there in the docking bay of the Alchemor. Such as the case with some bots coming up to him and questioning his motives for being there. He simply turned to them before dialing down this orchestra.

Tracking Of Minicon Has Led Communications Officer Soundwave To Docking Bay


Possible Escape Route For Escaped Minicon

Water Way Looks Ill Advised, Will Be Spotted Easily

Recapture Minicon And Ponder What To Do With...admirable little thing

Must Collect This Individual Before Other Decepticons Do

What came next was him making a two finger gesture to his eyes at a pair of bots who were staring. Then he pointed to the exit of the docking bay, ordering them to stand sentry. It took a moment for them to move their somehow heavy pedes along. He knows they are MUCH lighter than that! Get a move on! He grew agitated as his shoulders hunched and his head lowered... Yet he stayed at this entry way to the docking bay before searching the perimeter.

The slow tuning in to all these sounds resumed. Instead of searching with his own optics, he allowed his subsystems to track any old and any /new/ movement while he listened. Breaths, steps, the clanking of metal came to him. All was there for Soundwave to pick up.

[Deleted]

So entranced by the sight of sunlight, poor Toolbox didn’t even realize his folly in pausing. By the time he did notice, it was much too late -- there were Decepticons already positioned to stand guard over the entryway. The minicon’s gaze flicked around, instinctively scanning for potential threats, before his frightened blue optics landed upon the newcomer who had not been present when he’d arrived. There, prowling the perimeter of the docking bay, was the bot that had to have been tailing him. Toolbox ran his appearance through his internal database of the Alchemor’s prisoners but was unable to get a match.

“Oh, no!” He made a soft sound of dismay and ducked back behind the shelter of the storage container. What could he do now? Freedom was but a mere hundred yards away, and yet he was still barred from it by the looming threat of recapture! Toolbox took another peek to assess the situation, noting each of the Decepticons’ positions relative to his own and to the open entry way.

He would have to try to get past them all somehow. It was even riskier now, for surely the Decepticons knew there was something wrong, but he could not go back. He would not go back. Toolbox was so very scared in that moment. The weight of what he had to do lay upon his scuffed orange shoulders heavily, and the fate of everyone like himself rested upon him… and he was afraid to fail.

Toolbox took a steady breath of air in in order to gather his nerves, and then prepared to cross the final stretch. Slowly, slowly, he began to creep, moving from storage container to storage container, taking care not to let himself be seen. It was too bad that he likely had already been detected, and that his quest was doomed.

[Soundwave]

He was entering his own little zone of focus. All those noises came to him in a cacophony. It was all a mess here yet he needed to find this Minicon before anyone else did. With watchful eyes at the exit of the docking bay and his hearing searching. Things will only get harder for Toolbox who made a noise. Strange, that voice didn't belong to anyone active at this area.

Excitement rose, then his onboard systems brutally curbed it. Do not get ahead of yourself with emotions. The job is not done. His helm turned towards the gathering of boxes. A logical choice to hide in and around. They always move and no one hardly pays attention to what hides behind big piles of them... Until now.

Carefully he stalked, allowing his pedes to barely make any noise as he stalks around these storage containers. That faceless mask curved around the corner to reveal numerous boxes and a dusty orange. Suddenly that mask reflected twin snakes that sneaked their way through the maze of boxes, staying low and hidden. Their speed started slow before speeding up once that Minicon started his movement.

Those wheels were no longer rooted to the ground anymore while those snakes slithered back to it's owner, turning this little bot around to see who had captured them.

[Deleted]

Poor Toolbox thought he actually had had a chance at making it to the door, and had little inkling that his short-lived escape attempt was about to come to an end. All his focus was now upon slipping past the notice of the Decepticons, and upon reaching the freedom. He kept the sunlight within his gaze, and thought to himself, ‘Soon I will be there.’

Suddenly, something grabbed him from behind.Toolbox let out a short static squeal of terror as he was lifted completely off the ground. His servos flailed, grasping desperately at anything he could possibly hold on to to stop what was about to happen, but it was in vain: there was nothing for him to grab, and he would have been too weak to get a grip on anything anyways.

‘Nononono,’ he thought frantically, making the tiniest noises of fear as the snake-like appendages leisurely slithered back to their owner with his little orange frame in their grip. The ‘owner’, as it turned out, was the bot that he had not recognized, the Decepticon that was not on the list of prisoners from the Alchemor. Baby blue optics reflected off an impersonal and unfeeling glass mask as he was turned around, and Toolbox distinctly felt as if he were being inspected. He shuddered. If Toolbox had known who this Decepticon was, he might have been even more frightened. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately), the identity of his captor was an absolute mystery.

The Decepticon workers in the docking bay sneered and jeered as Soundwave re-captured what they perceived as a mere runaway slave. It was impressive indeed that a minicon had gotten so far without being detected, but they had little appreciation for such things; they likely now waited to see what terrible punishments would be bestowed upon the minicon, as such cruelty had become something of a sport to most bots upon Decepticon Island.

“Little glitch, thinkin’ it was smart enough to get past us!”

“Those minicons are only good for one thing: target practice!”

Perhaps if they knew who the strange Decepticon amongst their ranks was, they might not have been so eager to voice such opinions. Regardless, poor Toolbox trembled and shook in Soundwave’s grip at their cruel words, believing that he was indeed about to be used as target practice or worse.

[Soundwave]

Baby blue optics reflected on that dark visor of his. An unknown entity who's face was erased from records long before it became relevant to the Autobots. This sealed his prior identity while he constructed himself anew identity. Someone who could listen and hack into intel to gather information. Information that drove him to the extremes.

The extremes here, or lack of were not needed for this Minicon. Instead he just remained silent as always while watching it, him. Then he turned with it in his grasp still, high above the ground while walking. He wanted to know a little bit more of this Minicon, without these pesky Decepticons nearby. Though if he doesn't do anything besides carrying Toolbox, they will question him.

Fellow Decepticons Will Question Motives When Minicon

Formulating Distraction To Remove Those Pests...

Creativity shown here as he reached a slim arm out to snatch a crate that was barely bigger than Toolbox, hoisting it up while his tentacles hovered the Minicon over the opening to this confining space. This will please the Decepticons here as they may guess that outright killing him wouldn't send a clear message to the others if they attempt. Removing ones mobility and putting them into darkness serves a fine tool to wreck havoc on one's processors.

Those tentacles could easily lift him clear of the ground, so shoving this Minicon into a box will pose no problem. THUNK! Those slim hands slid the top over this coffin and locked Toolbox into his void. This will appease those pests at the Docking Bay while he meanders through the corridors to "return" his captive. Then he stopped moving once in a clear hallway.

Analyzing Minicons Path...

He Was Heading To The Waters And Was Planning An Escape

He Would Never Make It Out That Way...

His gaze fell upon this coffin once more before he began to think. What do the Cons not inspect? They inspect items coming in and going out. So he made a mental list of items most important for checking... But what do they not check?!

His mask turned up when he saw a yellow Vehicon with trash heading through the halls. His load looked rather light and the Vehicon even asked if Soundwave needed his package dumped. Yet the silent mech stood there, slowly creeping the Vehicon out before swiftly evacuating this corridor before he became Soundwave's new toy.

Junk Is Rarely Checked...

This Minicon Is Now Junk

Follow That Vehicon To Learn of Nearest Disposal Chute

The screen before his optics only made them widen. Yet, it felt like the right thing to do to this Minicon who he began to feel attached to. Soon that Vehicon was walking much, much faster as he could hear Soundwave following him.

The Vehicon lead Soundwave to this odd chute, big enough for a whole heap of trash to be dumped into the waters below. He left once he saw Soundwave, figuring that he will be trapped. Instead the silent, stoic mech cracked open the sarcophagus juuuuust enough for water to rush in as he sets it in the trash heap.

The control panel was used and then... Toolbox was in a short free fall before hitting the waters and sinking.

[Deleted]

The captive minicons were no strangers to cruel and unusual punishments, as their captors delighted in cooking up more and more elaborate things to inflict upon them as torture, and so being locked in a small confined space was not one of the more unique experiences. Toolbox let out a soft, “Oof!” when dropped unceremoniously into the box, trapped on his back with very little room to move.

It was dark. The only light the minicon had was that which radiated from his optics, the abnormally dull blue glow betraying the severe energon deprivation his brethren collectively suffered. The fear that gripped his spark did not abate once the lock clicked shut, for being trapped in a small confined space was no better than being in the grasp of a Decepticon - perhaps it was even worse, for now poor Toolbox could not see what was about to happen.

Did the Decepticon intend to make an example out of him, like most other overseers did when a minicon dare stumble or step out of line? He was making tiny fearful sounds again, quiet wheezes that were the precursor to panicked hyperventilation as his mind helpfully supplied all the cruel and unusual ways that his captor might destroy him. Would he toss the box with him in it into a smelting pit? Would he open fire upon it, skewering the poor unsuspecting minicon within, kept blind and helpless? Would he be trapped forever in this crate, doomed to stay within this tomb until his energon reserves depleted and he went offline for good? Or was the box but a temporary prison?

Toolbox had no way of knowing. Perhaps being kept in the dark (figuratively and literally) was the worst punishment of all.

Long minutes passed where the only thing that indicated they were moving was the gentle sway of the box. The minicon listened hard for any inkling as to what was to come, but there was nothing but silence from the outside.

Suddenly, the lock disengaged and the lid slid open just enough to let the smallest amount of ambient light in. Toolbox flinched and held his breath, waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop, but… nothing came. The box then jostled, and the poor minicon let out a yelp of fear as it went into freefall. He let out another yelp when seawater suddenly began to flood into the space, quickly closing off his external vents so as to prevent any of it from getting into his own internal systems. Down, down, down the box sank.

The minicon wedged his stubby digits into the space between the lid and the box and worked it open just enough so that he might wiggle his way out. He emerged to find himself... at the bottom of the bay? Toolbox was momentarily puzzled, gazing around at the piles of refuse that had also sunk to the sea floor.

It took him some time to work out how to even maneuver himself underwater. It took him even longer to haul himself to the shore, but eventually he managed it, exhaustedly dragging his weary little body from the water and up onto the sandy shore. There he collapsed, huffing and puffing and hoping he hadn’t sucked in any corrosive saltwater and damaged his delicate internal circuitry.

It was also there on the beach that Toolbox pondered all that had happened. Here he was, finally free from captivity… but not by his own doing. It made him wonder about the strange Decepticon and their potential motivations. Had he been intended to stay forever in his little tomb at the bottom of the bay? If so, why had the lid of the box been opened? It did not make sense, not in the slightest. It did not even occur to him to consider the possibility that he had been shown mercy.

Regardless of the mystery, he could not afford to think too long about it. The longer he stayed here, the greater the chance that he would be discovered and recaptured. He let out a tired little groan as he pulled himself to his tires. With one final look over his shoulder across the bay, he turned and scooted off into the bushes; it was now up to him to find the Autobots, to warn them, and to bring freedom to his brethren.