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

Thank you to the lone reviewer of this fic. Much appreciated. :) I hope others discover it and will review as well since it inspires me to continue the story rather than wonder if it's even worth my while to write. But alas, this fic is rounding its turn for home. Just 2-3 chapters left I believe.

Note on this chapter...bit violent--torture. I try not to go into too much detail with the aspect of it, but, some of it had to be mentioned for effect and plot purposes.

Cy-Kill ordered immediate departure of Rogue Star once their Thruster was aboard. He didn't want any tangling with the measly Guardians who would attempt to rescue their leader. Sliding stealthily away from behind the Planet Venus, Rogue Star had a course set for outside of Earth's Solar System.

Once all had settled down aboard the Renegade flagship, Cy-Kill had a private conference with his second in command, Fitor.

"Catching Leader-1 is a great coup Cy-Kill. The Guardians don't function well without their main commander. They'll be weakened and distracted. We could strike hard and fast and they wouldn't recover."

"Perhaps Fitor, perhaps, but I'm more concerned on a different level. That Guardian black jet, Aurora...is a blast from my and Leader-1's past. She's trouble and not one to be underestimated. That dang ladybot newsreporter busted me on many an occasion back when I was a Guardian. You don't know how many times I was in the hotseat with Zeemon due to her nosy newscasts. Leader-1 wasn't immune to her either. Both of us, in our youths, faced many demerits, lectures, and other punishments because of her. She's a tactical genius. Maybe even better than Leader-1 in such respect."

"But you captured him easily yes?"

"He was off-guard. He and Aurora were alone in that forest. I didn't catch their entire conversation, but it was of a personal nature, not any private discussion of Guardian business."

"Interesting. So, what's the plans for Leader-1? Disassemble him? Or Brain Stormer?"

"Neither. Brain stormer is useless on him. We've already learned that. Disassemble, plausible, but too easy. I want him to suffer. How about some ancient earth human tactics?"

"???"

"I was intrigued by some of Earth's Medieval methods of capture and interrogation. Very beastial and primitive, but extremely effective and brutal. There was a device they simply called 'The Rack'...a sort of disassembler, but slow, brutal, and most of all, the one being tortured is awake and aware. A gruesome spectacle in terms of humans. Would be a bit cleaner for a GoBot, but likely just as painful and effective. We wouldn't exactly use such a primitive means, but I have an idea of something that will achieve similar results. "

Fitor gulped. While he hated the Guardians, especially Leader-1, just as much as Cy-Kill, there was something to be said for a bit of respect towards and adversary that has always been a worthy opponent. Fitor was at odds between his warrior's spirit and his unwavering loyalty to his commanding officer. "Would it be merely for his execution or to tap information from him?"

"Perhaps both. I'm thinking execution, but if he talks, that's bonus. This Guardian jet has rattled my last nerve and fried one too many of my circuits. He haunts me in my dreams and stalks me in my sleep. He's slowly driving me into madness. Before that can happen, he must go--permanently. A slow, brutal death for one who's caused me suffering and humiliation for so many years. He'll wish he was disassembled in the usual way."

Fitor didn't say anything. He merely looked from his commander and towards the dark celestial skies outside. All seemed very unsettling for him and he didn't like it one bit.

Elsewhere...

"Shadow Brigade, this is Shadow Alpha. I am activating code tri-8. Break radio silence NOW!" Aurora spoke on her internal comm and hoped that her team was within communication range.

"Shadow Beta here. Understood and out. Rendevous at your coordinates in five minutes. Other team will follow. Over." Tigress replied.

Aurora let out a sigh though it wasn't audible over her roaring engines. Maybe...just maybe...

Within moments the sleek ray-like ship arrived and was followed by Command Center One. They all assembled for a brief meeting on Command Center One.

"Leader-1's been captured by Cy-Kill. He made it possible for me to escape, but he wouldn't allow me to do the same for him. We need to mount a rescue operation and fast. Cy-Kill will have likely moved Rogue Star out of the area so he can enjoy his prize without Guardian interference."

"But why--how?" Nick butted in, trying to take in all the information that was coming at them so fast.

"No time to explain. Command Center One will route outbound from Earth towards Jupiter and beyond. My team will route the other way from Venus towards the Sun. Only contact if discovery is made. This IS an assult on Rogue Star. Keep that in mind. If Rogue Star is discovered the other team is to rendevous to given coordinates immediately."

All humans and Guardians nodded in agreement.

"Shadow Brigade, let's go! Matt, I wish you to join me." Aurora commanded as she led her team away from the Command Center and returned to their own ship. It sped off just as Turbo was redirecting the Command Center for its outbound flight.

Aboard Rogue Star...

Cy-Kill had ordered a change of restraints for his great captive. The neural lock and restraining bolt were removed and shackles both on his arms and legs were placed. They were electronically charged to give a surge of shocking voltage should the wearer try to pull or tug at them. Leader-1 was too weakened from the neural lock to even try anyway. But now, he was more aware of his environment. Aboard Rogue Star and obviously a lot of Renegades stirring about. No doubt, his presence was a reason for most of it. He was still in a prison cell, or was it some sort of lab? He couldn't really tell. It was larger than a normal cell and from what he could see of it from his position, there were other monitors, systems, and computers about. From the few times he was aboard Rogue Star, he couldn't recollect ever seeing this room before.

"Comfortable Guardian?" a voice asked him...it was somewhat subtle and feminine...Snoop.

Leader-1 managed to speak, though his voice was rough and raspy due to the weakened state of being. It was difficult to do anything in his condition. "Cy-Kill demote you to guard?"

"In your dreams Guardian. It really is a shame you and I aren't on the same side you know?"

Leader-1 had a brief flashback of another female Renegade at another time. He'd heard that line before. Was that some female Renegade pickup line? "We WERE on the same side once. YOU turned. Remember?"

"Guardian goodness leaves indigestion in my system. Still though...such a waste of fine GoBot." Snoop spoke. The latter half was half spoken under her breath. Leader-1 could barely make it out. It was enough for him to wonder if she could prove useful if he had any opportunity of escape.

"Snoop, why aren't you at your post?! Return IMMEDIATELY!"

"Cy-Kill- I--"

"GO NOW!"

"Yes, Cy-Kill!" Snoop replied and with one quick glance at the Guardian captive, she quickly departed.

"What is it with captured Guardians and Renegade females hmm? Or is it just you? No matter. Won't make a difference soon. You have a date with a rather unpleasant destiny." Cy-Kill muttered.

Leader-1 remained silent. He had no interest in speaking a single word to this particular Renegade. In fact, he lowered his head and refused to even give the Renegade the respect of eye contact.

"What? No retalitory remarks? No Guardian sarcasm? Fine. If you won't talk now, perhaps you will very soon." Cy-Kill taunted as he lifted the lowered Guardian's head by his chin so that they were eye to eye. "You will learn a new definition of pain today. I promise you that." Cy-Kill said softly before dropping the Guardian's head once again and strolling off.

Down the hall, Cy-Kill spoke to Fitor. "All is in readiness. Upon my return--it begins."

Deep space...

"Scooter! We have an encoded transmission from Shadow Brigade!" Turbo yelled as the small Guardian and the Earth humans ran forward.

"Decoding now Turbo." Scooter replied as he lept to the communications station and downloaded the transmission. "They found Rogue Star!"

"Wha--how?!"

"I bet that new ship of theirs can detect ships even when cloaked in a Stealth Device. That's why they made it sound almost like a routine mission." Scooter added.

"Changing course. Scooter, prepare coordinates for hyperspace jump." Turbo added.

Matt could only helplessly watch as the Guardian female GoBot team busied itself with the tasks at hand. Matt could only hope they were not too late. Still though, he asked Jazzmin if he could use another communications console aboard their ship. From there, he typed in a simple message to the Last Engineer on New Earth--to inform him of a possible situation--just in case. He actually received a reply back from the Last Engineer immediately. The GoBot creator would remain on "stand by." Leader-1 was a vital component against these Renegades...and then some. The Last Engineer would do whatever necessary to keep him functioning and alive.

Another section of deep space...

Aurora ordered their ship to land on the dark side of a small moon as they formulated a plan of attack. They ordered the Command Center to actually remain hidden two planets away since it could easily be detected by Rogue Star's scanners.

"Jazzmin, inform Scooter on Command Center One to use scrambled frequency G-101X for all communications between us. If Rogue Star is listening, they'll just think us a couple of illegal cargo ships, smuggling in the area."

"Got it Aurora!"

"Tigress, Spinner, I want you two to wait until Turbo arrives on board. He'll be using one of their Power Suits to reach us. When he does, you will all join me. Matt and I will go in advance to Rogue Star in recon mode and scout it up close and personal. I want to try and find where Leader-1 is being held. That is first and foremost. Then we'll know how and where to concentrate our attacks. Understood?"

"Fully!

At the same time, aboard Rogue Star...

Cy-Kill, Crasher, Snoop, Cop-tur, and Fitor appeared at the chambers holding their captive Guardian.

Leader-1 heard them arrive, but made no motion to move nor view them. He simply listened with his eyes closed and head down. He knew the moment of torture had come and steeled himself mentally for the onslaught. He'd already guessed that they wouldn't interrogate him with any usual means. Cy-Kill learns from his mistakes. This would likely be some new, sadistic, painful, and downright illegal means of seeking information from an enemy.

"So, my esteemed Leader-1, care to make this easy on yourself or shall we do things the hard way hmm?" Cy-Kill spoke in an almost mechanical purr. Leader-1 completely ignored him.

"I figured as much." Cy-Kill continued as he grabbed some sort of device. The sound of it activating reminded Leader-1 of a machine back on earth...a chain saw combined with the high pitched squeal of an Earth dentist's drill. The sound itself was unnerving, but Leader-1 took his mind elsewhere to tune it out. He was pulled back into the reality of the situation when a sudden searing pain surged through his right leg. Cy-Kill had sliced one of his wings right off!

"Awww, a jet with a broken wing...more like no wing. Guess you won't be flying out of here." Cy-Kill teased. "Feel like talking yet Guardian? All you have to do is give me some information on that Guardian you freed...Aurora is it?"

No response from Leader-1. And another shot of searing pain...this time from the other leg. Same result.

"A jet with clipped wings is no jet at all." Cy-Kill responded as the left wing dropped to the floor.

Fitor and Crasher exchanged looks. Neither seemed comfortable with this treatment at all. Snoop found a way to not watch by sitting behind Cop-tur's large body.

"I want to know about Aurora. If not her, then I want the security codes to the Guardian base--Scimitar. A third option---what is Operation Long Bow? "

"Still nothing? Not even a plea for mercy Guardian? Of course not. You think yourself too dignified and proud for such things." Cy-Kill remarked then turned to his witnesses. "Cop-tur, Fitor, come forward."

The two Renegades did as ordered.

"Hold him. I want the last obvious vestige of his vehicle form." Cy-Kill uttered as he stepped behind his Guardian captive and forcefully lifted the cockpit/nosecone area that rested upon Leader-1's back. With one swift motion, he severed it from the Guardian's back. It dropped with a loud metallic thunk.

Now Leader-1's body was going into shock mode. The removal of the two wings was similar to the removal of a human's fingers or toes, but the severing of nearly a quarter of his jet form from his back was analogous to a human losing an entire limb. His brain was soon going to numb the pain completely to try to keep vital functions online, but that would also mean the Guardian Commander would power down and be unconscious perhaps forever.

Both Fitor and Cop-tur could feel the Guardian's body reacting to the trauma and excruciating pain. Leader-1's proud, confident form was beginning to weaken and droop. They released their hold and allowed it to become visibly obvious and it hung somewhat limp in the shackles. The two Renegades stepped away and awaited the next command.

"Not a jet. With no conversion form, not a Guardian either. What are you then Leader-1? Not much hmm? Last chance. I want that information. ALL of it. NOW."

Leader-1 remained steadfast in his silence. They could take his dignity and his life, but they'd never get his pride nor his loyalty to the Guardian cause.

Cy-Kill shook his head slowly. "Fine then." But this time, he didn't activate his crude severing device. He reached in to where Leader-1's weapons systems lay and ripped them out. "No conversion form, no weapons...not a Guardian. Weak and wounded, not even a citizen. Nothing Leader-1, nothing." Cy-Kill replied then, strangely stormed off leaving his Renegade comrades stunned and unsure what to do next. They looked at each other, seeking direction.

"Leave him. Return to your posts." Fitor replied. All did as commanded, except Crasher.

"What are we to do with him now? With this severe of damage, he will surely die. His internal repair system cannot compensate for all this."

"Maybe that's what Cy-Kill wants...for Leader-1 to now die a slow, agonizing death."

Crasher looked at the once-esteemed Guardian Commander. "It wasn't how I envisioned his death to be."

"Do I detect an air of sympathy out of the Renegade who usually delights in torture?" Fitor asked curiously.

Crasher said nothing. She just turned and departed for her post, leaving Fitor alone with the now dying Guardian Commander. Fitor's eyes drifted down at the severed wings and nose cone. As a jet himself, it was not a nice visual. Turning away, Fitor activated the energy bars on the room once again and departed, leaving the Guardian alone to deal with his ordeal.

Back in space outside of Rogue Star...

Aurora flew silently against Rogue Star's hull. Her black form blended perfectly with the darkness of space. Her close proximity to the ship itself meant no scanners would detect her. With every one of her scanners tuned in, she scoured the ship, seeking their esteemed Guardian Commander's location. For a moment, she though she had detected his Guardian frequency, but then it began fading...to the point where she couldn't rely on it anymore. This worried her greatly. Something inside her told her that Leader-1 was in great danger. She tried to bury it deep inside her mind and focus on her mission, but it wasn't easy. Matt remained silent and watched the various screens aboard her flicker. He was also searching...his added presence, meant there were two searching rather than just one...in case anything was missed.

With an encoded signal back to her team aboard their ship, Aurora informed them that she was infiltrating Rogue Star and the others were to depart immediately and do the same, only foward of her position...as distractions. She had narrowed down the region of Rogue Star Leader-1 was likely in.

Tigress, Spinner, and Turbo departed immediately in a small shuttle, disguised as a civilian transport. Jazzmin and Scooter remained back with their respective ships to monitor communications and assist as backup if necessary. The Earth humans could only watch and hope that all would go successfully.

"Hang on Matt." Aurora whispered as she converted back to her GoBot form. She had found a garbage port. Unscrewing its access panel, she entered Rogue Star through it. In a garbage bin, she released Matt and lowered him to the ground. "We're in." she whispered as she activated the garbage chute's dumping port that opened to another room. Matt followed her out of the garbage heap. The room led out to one of Rogue Star's corridors. "This way." she spoke quietly as she homed in on Leader-1's fading frequency. She could detect it better now, but it was still fading.

While it seemed like forever for Aurora and Matt, it actually wasn't. They found the holding chambers rather quickly after entry into Rogue Star. Neither was prepared for the sight before them.

"Is he alive?" Matt asked.

"Barely. He's in shock and his body's shutting down. He'll power down completely soon."

Matt knew "power down" was almost like a coma to humans. It was a serious state of unconsciousness for a GoBot. He looked around for the familiar button that would extinguish the energy bars and found it easily. Switching off the bars, he and Aurora stepped closer to the captive Guardian.

"Matt, over there, near the wall, is a small laser gun. Get me that. It should remove these shackles from the chains. We'll worry about the cuff portion later." Aurora whispered as Matt ran in the direction she pointed to and grabbed the instrument requested. She quickly removed the leg shackles and noticed the serious damage to them from the severing of his wings.

She was in process of removing the two arm shackles when the alarms blared.

In space...

"Turbo, Spinner, main lasers NOW!" Tigress ordered as Turbo and Spinner manned the small laser gun stations. They fired directly at Rogue Star's bridge.

"Think that got their attention!" Spinner spoke as a couple of Thrusters exited the bulky Renegade flagship.

"Yeah, now what? We can't do much in this heap." Turbo commented.

"Now...we hug the bridge. The Thrusters won't fire with us so close to their command bridge. Turbo, bring us up close and personal!" Tigress commanded.

Back in Rogue Star...

"Freeze Guardian!" Snoop exclaimed as she pointed a laser blaster at Aurora.

Aurora turned to the other female black jet, battle ready.

to be continued...