Disclaimer: I do not own GoBots nor its characters. Just this strange plot.

Aboard Cy-Kill's hijacked Thruster...

Leader-1 had his hands full with the Renegade ship. It felt foreign and uncomfortable. As he prepared for a sharp starboard bank, warning alarms sounded.

'What now?' he muttered to himself as he searched for the button or knob that'd give him visuals or at the very least, a readout.

Another bleep sounded, slightly different in pitch than the others.

'Okay, what'd I do? Stupid ship. I didn't touch anything yet! What in the name of GoBotron are you beeping at me for!? Renegade junk!'

A few seconds later, a printout snaked out of a scanner near him. He ripped it off and read it.

'Oh. Guardian detected. Really?! I'M a GUARDIAN! Of course you detect one! Idiotic ship must be dumbed down for the ease of the simple Renegade mind.' He read further. 'Guardian detected on ground within present flight path. Hmm...where am I anyway? Ahh, yessss....that'd be Heatseeker! I almost forgot about my 'other' plan! Guess I'd better give him a lift. He might be able to fly this thing while I attend to Aurora.' Leader-1 continued to mutter as he descended and sought out his fellow Guardian jet.

Back at the volcanic Renegade base...

Snoop limped and hobbled back into the base. The closer she drew to the main control center, the more damage she saw. A battle had occurred here and it was a downright brawl. Entering the main chambers, she realized that there was some serious trouble. Control panels were destroyed, things smoking, things on fire, things making awful noises...one of which was the groan of a fellow GoBot. Snoop approached Cop-tur...

"Cop-tur? You function? Cop-tur?"

There was no response. Yet the groan continued. She glanced to her side and found her commander in a heap of scrap. He looked about as much himself. "Cy-Kill!"

Cy-Kill had regained consciousness and made his best effort to move, but he was far too weak and damaged to get beyond facial movement. "...uugghh...bomb...out...now" he struggled to say.

"Bomb?! WHERE!" Snoop spoke before realizing it was right in front of her. A quick glance of it told her there was no time to figure out how to dismantle it. Summoning all the strength she could, she grabbed an arm of Cy-Kill's and an arm of Cop-tur's and dragged the two plus herself to the docking bay. She headed for Thruster's landing pad...only there was no Thruster. "UUuuggggh!!! He's gonna pay!" she exclaimed as she rapidly and desperately looked for another option. Luck was still with her as the scout ship was still there and in one piece. Leader-1 wasn't as thorough as he would normally be. Grunting and struggling, Snoop dragged her helpless comrades aboard, squeezed them in a semi-heap in the scout ship's very small rear space, threw herself into the pilot's seat, fired up the engines, and shot the thing down the launch cavern just as the bomb detonated. A ball of fire nipped and scorched the ship's rear as the two blasted their way to blue skies. Using the scout ship's stealth device, Snoop directed the ship for space and their secret recon base on the dark side of the moon. En route, she called all other Thrusters left in the fleet to head space-bound and await further orders. With Rogue Star destroyed, Cy-Kill down, Fitor and Crasher missing, and Cop-tur only on a thread of life, the Renegade high ranks had been decimated. The plan could not continue as is without some command structure in place. A retreat to save what was left of their faction and heal their wounded to save more of their ranks seemed the most logical objective. The Guardians, afterall, would be licking their own wounds as well...what few of them were left on Earth.

Back on land...

Heatseeker wasn't sure whether to blast in vain or simply surrender to the Thruster that decloaked in a hover nearly right smack in his face. Crasher cackled jubiliantly. Leader-1 couldn't figure out how to initiate the outer speakers so he simply set the ship on auto-hover and disembarked. Both GoBots on land gaped in shock upon his exit.

"What?! Haven't you ever seen a GoBot before?" Leader-1 asked with a wry grin.

The two ground-standing GoBots remained speechless. Leader-1 would've loved to continue on this comedic spectacle, but he had urgent business to attend to. "Heatseeker, get in."

The smaller jet immediately obeyed and launched himself into the Thruster. Leader-1 watched him enter. Once Heatseeker disappeared from view, Leader-1 turned to Crasher. "I'm not sure what the future holds for you or where you'll even begin, but I keep my promises. A deal's a deal." he said almost gently as he released her restraining bolt and binds. "You're now free, but leave this planet immediately and never return. If I find you here again, I WILL have you captured and setenced to the fullest extent of GoBotic law and unfortunately for you, it could be execution." Leader-1 replied as he backed into the Thruster. Once aboard, he found the release lever for the shuttle that was still present within Thruster's cargo hold. The shuttle slid out of the hold and thunked onto the ground a short distance from a still stunned Crasher. Then, with a loud screeching whoosh, the Thruster rapidly departed, leaving the Renegade in a cloud of dust and exhaust.

"Heatseeker! Take over flying this thing. I have matters to attend to in the med bay." Leader-1 commanded while relinquishing the pilot's chair to his fellow flyer.

"Uh, will do!" Heatseeker replied. He wanted to ask what was going on, why Leader-1 had acquired a Renegade Thruster, and just what was so urgent in the Med Bay, but it wasn't his place to do so. His commander would inform him of necessary information as needed or answer questions when things weren't so 'urgent.'

Leader-1 quickly departed and entered the med bay. He looked over the various diagnostic readings and printouts. He was hoping he'd see a miracle, but instead he saw just the opposite. Returning to the bridge, he had more orders for the other Guardian officer.

"Heatseeker, hail New Earth. Priority code blue-urgent and dire. Last Engineer to expect receipt of AstroBeam transport to his lab."

Now Heatseeker could not resist. "What's the emergency, Leader-1?"

"Aurora's dying. She's aboard in a stasis pod, but she's barely clinging to life. Her body's failing her. I'm going to Astrobeam her and myself to New Earth."

"You too!?"

"Somebody has to be there to brief him on all this. I'm the only one who probably knows. You are to rig this thing with explosives, make it self-destruct over the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean, and fly back to the Command Center. Update the rest there, then await my return. I will astrobeam directly back to the Command Center. We will then completely break the back of the Renegades once and for all."

Heatseeker merely nodded acknowledgment. What more could he do aside from follow the orders given to him? He just hoped Leader-1 knew what he was doing. His own crew was a bit shaken and ruffled following the who incident with the destruction of Aurora's crew. They needed him too...to set order, reassure them, and bring forth a confidence that will allow them to survive the next battle.

Leader-1 then returned to the med bay. Heatseeker knew of his departure from the ship when the Thuster's bleep and readout stated astrobeam was activated. With a heavy sigh, he turned the Thruster towards the Pacific Ocean and set about the instructions given to him.

Elsewhere...

Crasher, still unsure what had all transpired thought about her options. Her first thought was to return to their volcanic base. But, as she flew towards it, the large plume of black smoke told her there was no reason to continue closer to it. There was no base left. Using her internal scanner, she tried seeking out any Renegade frequencies. She found one. The shuttle's limited scanners picked up no Renegade presence either. She remembered Fitor still in the hands of the Guardians, but at this point, given up for dead. There were no Renegade Thrusters left on Earth, no Renegade base left on Earth, and no reason for her to stay on Earth. With a growl of discontent, she turned the shuttle for space and left Earth.

Command Center I...

Matt and the others were growing restless and uncertain. Left to do nothing, they dwelled on the events that had transpired.

"Maybe Leader-1--" A.J. started.

"Left us completely in the dark and took off like a rogue vigilante. Let's drop it A.J." Turbo angrily interrupted. He hated being left out of the action, especially when he felt he needed to be there.

So, they sat on the bridge and continued their sulking.

Moments later, they heard the sound of jet engines. All immediately snapped alert and shot to their stations.

"Is it Leader-1?" A.J. asked.

"No, but it IS a Guardian. Heatseeker's returned." Matt informed as he opened the lower hatch to allow the smaller jet entrance within.

Converting out of jet mode, Heatseeker entered the tension-filled Command Center to brief the others who immediately crowded him upon his arrival.

"I did meet up with Leader-1. He had taken Cy-Kill's main Thruster. So my guess is he destroyed their base. Aurora was aboard too, but in a med statis pod and dying. Leader-1 astrobeamed her and himself to New Earth. I destroyed the Thruster as he instructed then returned here. That's about it. He said he'd return here as soon as he can."

"What happened to Crasher?" Nick inquired.

"I think Leader-1 released her. He had ordered me aboard the Thruster and stayed behind with her. He gave her the Thruster's shuttle then we took off.

"Released her?" Matt repeated, unsure about that whole thing.

"Sorry Matt, I don't question Leader-1's decisions. He usually has a good reason for doing what he does and it's why we trust and respect him. I may not always like or understand his decisions, but I will support them."

Matt sighed. Heatseeker was right. It's just Leader-1 didn't seem himself of recent. His decisions were rash and reckless, not calculating and thought through. But before Matt could continue, the astrobeam was wearing off on Heatseeker.

"Well guys, I guess my time's up here. Best of luck!" Heatseeker said before disappearing. The others waved goodbye then were left to ponder once again.

New Earth...

The Last Engineer was already waiting in his lab when Leader-1 and Aurora arrived.

"Place her here Leader-1." he said as the large GoBot gently laid Aurora upon the table as directed. The Last Engineer looked her over as he hooked her up to a bunch of instruments and devices. He asked Leader-1 the history of Aurora's damage jsut as Leader-1 stepped back and gave the scientist as much room as possible.

"She's in rough shape, Leader-1. Her body's pretty mangled though not beyond repair, but I'm not sure I can mend her mind and all the neural damage."

Leader-1 sighed. "Do what you can for her. I have to return to my crew. I'm sure they're struggling to deal with it all as well."

"I'm sure they are. I know how to reach you. I'll give you updates when I can."

"Uh, Last Engineer?"

"Yes, Leader-1?" the Last Engineer asked with a raise of a brow. The mighty Guardian hero seemed a bit uncomfortable and lacked the usual confidence in his speech and mannerism. He acted almost...Scooter-like.

"May I have a moment alone with her quickly?"

The Last Engineer looked the Guardian Commander straight in the eyes. There was something there beyond mere concern for a fellow Guardian.

"Thank you Last Engineer."

"Thank me when I have this GoBot up and walking again." he replied with a wry grin and entered the adjacent room to adjust a few more instruments he might need for her recovery.

Leader-1 then knelt beside Aurora and spoke softly.

"I hope you can hear me. I refuse to give up on you. And you'd better not quit on me, got that?! I guess it looks like we ended up visiting New Earth afterall. Fight and heal, for all of GoBotron...and for me. I want to fly by your wingside once again."

The sound of Leader-1 standing once again was the Last Engineer's cue to re-enter the room. Leader-1 gave him as best a grin as he could. The Last Engineer found it rather comical, but understood its hidden meaning. "Yes, now you out. Get back to your crew and leave me to do my work here." the Last Engineer said as seriously as he could, but failed upon seeing Leader-1's comical expression in return. The two read each other's joke...it felt as though the doctor was pushing the expectant father out of the room to deliver a baby.

The Last Engineer pointed to the room that housed the AstroBeam. Leader-1 nodded and with a brief bow of thanks, exited as instructed.

He beamed directly to the Command Center's bridge and startled the entire crew sulking there.

"Why the long faces? We have work to do!" Leader-1 responded with the usual air of confidence and control of his former self.

On the darkside of the moon...

The surviving Thrusters and Renegades touched down and began assembling into the base. It hadn't been used in many years. None said a single thing nor asked who was in charge. All had a common goal--get the place up and running again. They could sort the other stuff later. Without Rogue Star, they needed a place to at least temporarily call 'home.' Snoop was busy in the main control room, trying to figure out the archaic designs. She had to at least get the medical bay online and functioning. Cy-Kill and Cop-tur's lives depended upon it. To make matters worse, her own injuries were beginning to creep up and drain her energy. Surges of pain coursed through her own body...putting her in as foul a mood as she could possibly get.

to be continued...