Author's note/disclaimer: I do not own GoBots nor its characters. Just this strange plot.

Both Leader-1 and Aurora spun about. Leader-1 managed to get off a blast, but not before Cy-Kill hit both Guardians with a well aimed one of his own...knocking the two Guardians to the ground before they could even stand. Cy-Kill's blasts were aimed so that both Guardians' internal weapons systems were knocked offline. For the time being, the two Guardians were at the Renegade leader's mercy. Cy-Kill easily placed a restraining bolt on Aurora. He had wrestle a bit with Leader-1, but eventually restrained the Guardian leader as well. Once that was done and the two Guardians were rendered helpless, it was time for Cy-Kill to enjoy his victory.

"Well, well, well, what have we here? Two Guardians sittin on a tree...doing who knows what, but certainly not within Guardian regulations." Cy-Kill mocked as he strutted before the two captured Guardians. "Leader-1, I'm rather amazed at your behavior most of all--an upstanding rule-obsessive Guardian such as yourself. What to do, what to do...ahh, the possibilities are endless with this!"

If the situation was getting to Leader-1, he didn't let Cy-Kill know it. "What brings you into this neck of the woods Cy-Kill? It's not like you to take a nature hike."

"Just call it being in the right place at the right time Guardian. If this is the reward I get for being in a forest, then maybe I should make it a hobby."

"Look, you have me. Leave Aurora out of it. Let her go. There's no reason to keep her."

"How chivalric of you Leader-1, but not an option. I set her free, she goes and tells your friends, and then they come in for the rescue right? Don't take me for a fool Guardian! Hmm...so this Guardian unknown to me is called Aurora." Cy-Kill spoke as he turned from Leader-1 to inspect his other captive. "There's something about her...I know her from somewhere..."

"Why don't I fill you in seeing how your brain is on overdrive trying to think. I am familiar with both you and Leader-1 from your pasts. I used to be a top reporter for GoBotron." Aurora spoke.

"So it IS you! You've changed much Aurora, but not for the better."

"Shove it up your tail pipes Cy-Kill!"

"Still as firey as ever though. So what's your agenda with the overstuffed Guardian here? Though whatever it is, it has him off his game--just like in the past. Thank you for assisting the Renegades in that matter. It made this capture possible."

"You're pathetic Cy-Kill! Can't even accept a fair fight. Sneaking and crawling around like some earth dog with its tail between its legs."

"I'm a Renegade! I can do whatever I please! Call it whatever you want Guardian. It makes no difference to me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to call in my team to remove you bits of garbage from this forest. Wouldn't want to be fined by the humans for littering afterall." Cy-Kill replied and then turned about and utilized his internal communicator.

"Fitor, bring Thruster and Astrobeam Bad Boy and Spike onboard. I have a surprise for you all!"

{Oooooh, I LOVE surprises!} Crasher cackled.}

Leader-1 had listened intently on Cy-Kill's call. Two more jets added to the two already here. Snoop, Fitor, Bad Boy, and Spike and a copter named Cop-Tur. A mini Renegade air force. Though obviously, Cy-Kill had guessed Aurora's conversion form and was assuring that the Renegades had the advantage in the skies. "Aurora...slide closer to me so that your restraining bolts are within my blaster range." Leader-1 whispered.

"But our weapons are offline."

"I've rerouted power from my energy shield to my blasters. Cy-Kill forgets that my energy shield is not a weapons system, merely a defense mechanism. It wasn't affected by his blast. They are half strength, but online. Just enough that I can blast yours through this restraining bolt. I can't move my arms, but if you position your body to put your own near mine...when I blast through your bolt and free you, convert and fly out of here like there's no tomorrow. You know what to do from there."

"But--" Aurora started, but ceased. It was wrong to question the legendary Guardian Commander. He knew what he was doing and he had more experience than she. He'd also been held captive by Renegades before and survived. "Okay...hang on." Aurora spoke as she slowly sidled up towards Leader-1 without Cy-Kill noticing her movement. Of course, the Renegade leader was too busy communicating to his comrades at the time.

The two Guardians had finished the conversation and positioning just before Cy-Kill turned about and eyed them once again. "Getting cozy? While I'd probably enjoy a show, I'm not in the mood right now."

Leader-1 just shook his head. It was Cy-Kill's influence that corrupted a bit of the esteemed Guardian's mind in their youth afterall. Then he figured, he'd best keep the Renegade leader busy. "And what mood are you in Cy-Kill? Your lackeys fail you in some mission again?" Leader-1 taunted.

"Apparently yours do the same. Must be because their leader isn't much better."

"Good enough to best you any day Cy-Kill. Oh wait, how many of my victories to yours hmm? And I'm...just...about...to---" Leader-1 dragged when he realized Aurora was in the exact position he needed to blast her bolt. Summoning up whatever power he could to his blasters...he leaned forward so his restrained hands could angle upward and blast the bolt's locking device. With a quick burst and lucky aim, it knocked the restraining bolt of her. "GO!" Leader-1 yelled as she stood and coverted at the same time. Setting fire to some of the brush at their feet at ignition, she blasted skyward with a thunderous roar.

"WHY YOU DIRTY...." Cy-Kill yelled but stopped as he tried to blast the black jet from the skies. It was too late. Aurora's jet form sliced through the air wish so much ease, that she was out of range before Cy-Kill even got the first blast off. She was just a little black speck in the skies now. Cy-Kill turned back to his still captive Guardian and kicked him hard against his chest, knocking the Guardian from a sitting position. It left a couple of blue paint streaks upon the nearly white Guardian. "You WILL pay for that Leader-1. I promise you that."

In the skies...

Aurora fought the urge to turn back and blast the Renegade, but her blasters were still at half strength. Still, she thought about simply ramming at full speed into the enemy in her jet form...but that'd take out half the forest, herself, and possibly Leader-1. Not an option. Cursing softly to herself, she could only do what Leader-1 expected her to do...get her team and his and rally to his rescue.

In another portion of the skies, a Thruster was quickly winging its way invisibly to its Renegade leader.

"LOOK! A Guardian in the skies!" Bad Boy motioned as he noticed the black jet streaking away.

"It's that strange black jet again." Crasher added.

"Allow me..." Snoop volunteered.

"No. We have our orders Snoop. We are to rendevous with Cy-Kill. He didn't say anything about chasing Guardians." Fitor interjected.

"Party pooper." both Crasher and Snoop replied in unison. There were times that even Fitor's Renegade comrades thought him a bit of an over-loyal bore.

In a few more minutes, the Thruster disengaged the Stealth Device and hovered over their leader. They suddenly noticed their surprise...their commander had captured the enemy commander single-handedly! With a cheer of excitement, Bad Boy, Spike, and Crasher exited to assist in bringing their captive aboard. Leader-1 was placed in a holding cell and still sported the restraining bolt, but now had another new accessory...a neural lock. Cy-Kill was NOT taking any chances now.

With all Renegades aboard Thruster, the ship cloaked again and sped off into the skies.

Elsewhere...

Aurora reached the UNECOM base, panting in exhaustion from the ordeal and flight. As she converted back to her GoBot form, she was met by General Newcastle.

"Where have YOU been?!" he asked her coarsely.

"No time...summon the teams. We must..."

"They have both left on the mission YOU were supposed to be leading. They are in radio-silence. I can't contact them. You--"

Aurora had forgotten about the mission! By now, the two teams of Guardians were hundreds of miles away. With a curse in her native language, she ignored the human commander, spun about, converted back into jet mode, and launched herself once again. Her mind was racing faster than her jet mode could carry her. Find the teams or try to track Thruster before it reaches Rogue Star and disappears anywhere in the known galaxy. With another curse, she knew her path...she needed the teams. She could do nothing against a Thruster and even less against Rogue Star. And if both are in stealth mode, she couldn't track either anyway. Peeling into a hard arc, she headed for the known coordinates of mission. She'd have to find them personally and lose even more precious time. That time, could cost Leader-1 his life. While flying, her mind kept returning to the moments before Cy-Kill's interruption...the words Leader-1 had spoken. They had touched her deeper than she wanted him to know. She had to rescue him. Failure was NOT an option!

to be continued...