Love in the Stars

Chapter 5

Cassie had spent the morning thinking about her conversation with Jetfire. His words echoed in her mind, the way he had said that he cared about her, how he wanted to protect her not just because it was his duty, but because he genuinely felt something for her. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about it since. They had shared many moments together, quiet moments that made her feel close to him, but there was something more now, something she couldn't quite explain.

As the day progressed, the alarms blared again. The battles between the Autobots and Decepticons were becoming more frequent and more intense. Cassie found herself waiting anxiously in the Autobot base, feeling that familiar pit of worry in her stomach every time Jetfire went off to fight.

She was standing near the monitor, watching the battle unfold on the beach when Jetfire's voice came through the comm. "I'm okay, Cassie. I've got this."

Cassie smiled, his reassurance making her feel a little better. "Be careful out there."

"I always am," he replied with a hint of his usual bravado, but she could hear the seriousness in his tone.

The battle was chaotic. Tidal Wave loomed over the battlefield like a giant, his massive form towering over Optimus Prime, who took cover behind a crumbling boulder as Tidal Wave unleashed a barrage of weapons fire. The other Autobots, seeing their leader pinned down, opened fire on Tidal Wave, distracting him just long enough for Optimus to roll out of the way and find better cover.

But their plan backfired. As soon as Optimus was clear, Tidal Wave turned his massive cannons on the others. The weapons fire rained down upon the Autobots, forcing them to scatter.

Meanwhile, in the caves beneath the Autobot base, Rad, Carlos, Billy, and Fred were still searching for the newly discovered Mini-Con, Sky Blast. The Mini-Con had been found, but it wasn't exactly what they expected. Sky Blast, panicked by the unfamiliar surroundings, took a shot at the kids, forcing them to dive for cover.

"Whoa!" Rad yelled, pulling Carlos down behind a rock as the energy blast missed them by inches.

"Is it supposed to do that?!" Carlos shouted.

High Wire, one of the Street Action Mini-Cons, tackled Sky Blast to the ground, trying to subdue him, but Sky Blast squirmed free and darted behind Rad, clearly terrified. Rad, realizing that Sky Blast wasn't attacking out of aggression but fear, raised his hands in a calming gesture.

"Wait, wait! He's just scared," Rad said, trying to soothe the frightened Mini-Con.

Seeing the situation, the Street Action Mini-Cons combined into Perceptor, their combined form powerful enough to subdue Sky Blast. But before Perceptor could strike, Rad stepped in front, stopping the attack.

"Don't!" Rad shouted. "He's not a threat. He's just afraid."

Perceptor hesitated, and Rad knelt down to face Sky Blast. "It's okay. We're not going to hurt you. We're here to help."

Sky Blast's optics flickered, and he stopped trembling, realizing that Rad and the others meant him no harm. The tension in the cave eased as the kids watched the Mini-Con cautiously lower its weapons.

Back on the beach, Tidal Wave was relentless. After shrugging off the Autobots' combined firepower, the massive Decepticon laughed as he marched toward them, each step shaking the ground. Despite Optimus calling for a retreat, Hot Shot stood his ground, calling for the Skyboom Shield. As the shield materialized in his hands, Hot Shot used it to block Tidal Wave's massive punch.

But Tidal Wave wasn't deterred. Blurr rushed forward to assist Hot Shot, but before he could reach him, Tidal Wave's massive arm swung down, slapping Blurr away like a toy. The Autobot tumbled across the beach, crashing into the sand.