randomplaces | TG 'verse. Behind Meredronian lines. Reconnaissance.

Trees with drooping branches swayed in the wind, their tendrils making very soft scraping sounds as they brushed against the wall of the massively fortified five sided building.

And then came an even softer sound, and a huge white tiger crouched to peer at the building from the branches of one of the trees, its brown feathered wings pressed close to its sides. The wind made no movement in the creature's fur or feathers, and the gritty, acrid sand that it was carrying swept around the beast with a whisper like that of the trees against the building.

-So,- thought the Tigatron half of Tigerhawk. -We are inside the perimeter. The PINpoint worked. And the shield too is doing its job.-

There was a wordless and thoughtful response.

-Now we have only to get inside.- Tigerhawk mentally called up the coordinates and inputted them into the teleportation device that they wore implanted inside a panel on their arm. As they worked they wondered again how Rodimus Prime had come by the numbers and how accurate they were.

-We'll soon find out,- murmured their Airazor half.

And then they were inside, looking through a clear door at the army of massive guards who waited to give their lives to protect what this building held.

Tigerhawk regarded them for a moment, making sure to keep their optics moving so that no one would feel the gaze, then turned to continue further inside.

And then bit their tongue to keep from crying out as they nearly walked into a white and black mech.

He looked at them with calm blue optics, then nodded and made a gesture with his hand. Come.

Wondering, the combined Maximal team followed him through a ventilation grill and then swiftly down hidden corridors. In several places they saw cameras with small devices of a different technology attached to them, and skirted traps and trip beams.

Finally, they reached a small hub where five shafts met, and their guide stopped and nodded.

"You are Skytrail," said Tigerhawk softly. "We did not know that you would be here."

"PIN broke after I sent the coordinates." The legendary Autobot hunter shrugged easily.

"So you have been trapped here." Tigerhawk shifted to mech mode and looked down at him.

Skytrail nodded.

"But you know the way into the inner places."

Another nod.

"Are we waiting for something?"

"Debriefing."

It was Tigerhawk's turn to nod. "We do not have data for any point beyond the one you sent."

"Drone guards," said Skytrail. "Can't see past the shields. No alarm on the tank."

"And the target?"

"Can breathe."

"So we do not need the tank." Tigerhawk smiled slightly as they resumed their beast mode.

Their guide gave a last nod, then turned and lead them down the ventilation shaft next to the one they had arrived by. After only a few paces he paused to look through another grill before opening it and nodding the combined pair through. Tigerhawk leaped down lightly and then looked around as Skytrail joined them.

If they hadn't been inclined to notice small things they would have never seen the small, jar-like tank that was nearly lost in billows of sterile green curtains. And the size of its inhabitant made them blink.

-He is smaller than our sparklet,- they thought wonderingly, then stepped forward at Skytrail's urging and swiftly used one claw to cut through the clear material and release the fluid that the tiny reptilian form floated in. The little thing uncurled as he came to rest on the bottom of his tank, and lifted a wobbly head to look at them with wide golden eyes.

"Nnnnnn," said Skytrail softly, using the Meredronian sound for comfort and silence as Tigerhawk gently lifted their quarry out and held him close.

"Nnnn," agreed the combined pair softly, rubbing the little creature's back.

"Ready?" Skytrail gave the room a last sweep with his sensors.

"Ready."

There was a swish and a slight flash, and they were gone.