Runaway

Chapter Thirteen - In the Aftermath

News of Polyhex's surrender spread quickly across the planet. It very quickly reached even the northern hemisphere, being overheard by two young Praxians.

Bluestreak stared in horror at the holoscreen in the store window at the fierce looking mecha marching down a street in what was apparently Polyhex city.

Smokescreen, Swerve, Drag Strip, Wildrider, and several other gathered passers by watched in similar shock or dismay.

"Senator Ratbat has since that orn, been unheard from, his whereabouts unknown," the reporter's voice came over the scene. "Decepticon forces now inhabit at least the southern and some southeastern sectors of the city-state and are looking to be taking up residence in the old Darkmount fortress. It remains to be seen just how long anyone else will have access to the city-state or if the Autobots will try and claim it. Or form a rescue mission for the civilians."

Drag Strip let out a snort and crossed his servos. "Does anyone really think the Autobots will do anything? They practically let this happen."

"They couldn't get into Polyhex in time," defended Smokescreen quickly, giving the speedster a glare.

"Well, I think the Autobots are dumb," Wildrider remarked bluntly.

"They are not!" Smokescreen snapped back, turning to face the pair. "They're trying to protect Cybertron! And- "

"They're doing a great job at that," interrupted Drag Strip with a roll of his optics. "How much of the Southern Hemisphere do they have now? Besides the Manganese Mountains and Swamplands that no one wants to live in."

"And don't forget the Limbranite Tundra," added Wildrider brightly. Then he frowned. "Ew, I did learn geography. What other stupid stuff do I know?"

Smokescreen bristled, his doorwings rising even higher on his back as his hands balled into fists at his sides, but he said nothing.

Swerve chose that moment to interject.

"Hey, don't you two have some packing to do or something?" he asked.

This was met by a groan from Wildrider. "I don't wanna."

Giving his friend a look, Drag Strip frowned. "Pack? Or leave?"

"Either?" asked Wildrider, blinking as he considered it. "Well, I sort of want to go home and see my creators but..."

Letting out a sigh, Smokescreen shook his helm and turned back to the holoscreen.

Drag Strip and Wildrider's creators had all decided to request their younglings to return to Kaon. To be close and at home during all the chaos going on.

Smokescreen wasn't sure how that made sense.

From his understanding, most of the chaos had started in Kaon. And hadn't their creators sent them to board in Praxus because there was better schools and to keep them safer?

Everyone seemed to be leaving Praxus these orns.

First Steel and Jazz. Then Prowl left too once the war started and Steeldust went missing. Swerve was leaving to go home before the next school term started.

Now Drag Strip and Wildrider were leaving too.

However, Smokescreen had plans, not that he'd told his creators or his friends yet.

Praxus was remaining neutral and not joining either side of the fight, but that didn't mean all Praxians had to do the same.

Prowl hadn't.

Smokescreen wouldn't either. In about two vorns, when he turned thirteen, he'd join the Iaconian Elite Guard. Or the junior version of it anyways.

While he'd been lost in his thoughts, the report on Polyhex had ended and the small crowd was dispersing.