Transformers: Honor and Loyalty

Chapter 10: Loss

Moonracer finds herself very bored as they drive into a more mountainous region.

"Don't get too far ahead, kid!" Brawn calls. "Remember, we're not the only ones out here looking for Deadlock."

Moonracer slows just a little, sighing. "Yeah, yeah. I just hate long drives when I can't transform." She grumbles.

Brawn laughs. "Me too, Moonracer, but we're getting close...more or less."

Before Moonracer can reply, there's a distant muffled explosion. Moonracer adjusts her mirrors to look behind her and sees-

"Brake!" She cries, following her own advice.

Thankfully, the other two Autobots are quick to react, dodging the missile speeding past them before another explosion detonates right in front of them.

"Off the main road! We can't involve humans!" Magnus calls, noticing a side road leading into the mountains, missing a sign that the road was blocked due to high risk of avalanches in the area.

Just as Ultra Magnus is about to make the turn behind Moonracer and Brawn, he's suddenly hit and knocked clean off the side of the road by a large Cybertronian tank with a Decepticon insignia proudly displayed.

"Magnus!" Moonracer cries.

"Keep going!" Brawn calls back, not stopping. "The 'Cons are on our tailpipe!"

Tarn transforms and slides down the mountainside with ease as he watches the truck tumble end over end until it hits the bottom of the canyon on its roof, wheels spinning in the air. "I must admit, Prime," he sneers, savoring the moment, "I wasn't expecting to see you here. I would love to terminate you myself, but sadly, Megatron wants that honor to himself. I'll not deny him his prize, but he never said in what condi-" The truck in front of him transforms and Tarn suddenly freezes, optics wide as if he's just seen a ghost. "You?"

Ultra Magnus glares up at his enemy with contempt. "So glad you remember me." He growls.

A sudden explosion draws his attention, and Magnus looks up to see the other Decepticons chasing his team. Magnus hesitates slightly, looking between Tarn and the Autobots, but ultimately decides to help his team.

Charging forward, Magnus leaps into the air and delivers a powerful left hook to Tarn's face, making the surprised Decepticon spin and fall to a knee.

Magnus rolls to the ground and begins transforming.

Behind him, Tarn regains his composure, using a punch-like motion to deploy two fusion cannons from his right arm. He fires, barely missing Magnus.

Meanwhile, Moonracer and Brawn barely manage to dodge another of the tank's blasts.

This guy is good. Brawn admits inwardly. The color scheme of the tank looks vaguely familiar, but Brawn can't focus on that right now. He does his best to continue dodging and leading Moonracer away from the Cons.

However, just as Brawn gets ahead of Moonracer, she's slammed into the mountain by a tanker truck with a Decepticon insignia on its grill.

"Moonracer!" Brawn cries in worry as the young Autobot is nearly slammed again, but then, when Brawn quickly adjusts his rearview mirrors, he notices no wreckage...and no sign of Moonracer.

"Where'd she go?" Helex asks in confusion.

Unbeknownst to him, Moonracer is currently crouched on the top of his fuel tank, a smug smile on her face as she begins firing at Bludgeon.

Growing annoyed by the constant barrage, Bludgeon aims his weapon at the green bot in front of him. Moonracer grins. My plan is working!

Steadying her aim, she pulls the trigger on her rifle and fires a shot straight down her opponent's barrel. A split second later, there's an explosion and the Decepticon roars in pain and fury at his weapon is now rendered useless.