Chapter Text
“Don't you think we're going a little too far just for a kiss?” The fembot beside him looked at him in disbelief.
“Jetmech, it's not just a kiss. It's: “THE KISS”. To have our kiss, we have to do it somewhere secluded.”
“And dark? Also away from everyone's eyes?” The fembot nodded with a playful smile. “So much so that we have to go to the outskirts of Iacon in the middle of the night? You have no idea how damn creepy that sounds, Skyroad.” Skyroad stopped and began to wonder if what they were doing was really a good idea after hearing what her conjunx thought about it.
“And that's exactly what turns me on.” The fembot jumped into the other's arms with a smile, and they finally shared the kiss they had been longing for.
Until they heard a crack behind them.
“What was that?” Skyroad grabbed him by the chin, wanting Jetmech's full attention back on her.
“It's probably just the wind, or... are you afraid it's a monster?”
“Pfft... Me, scared? Those energon beers really messed you up last night, Skyroad.” They continued kissing for a few more seconds before Jetmech heard another crack, instinctively turning his head to search for the source of the sound.
Skyroad clicked her tongue impatiently before pushing the bot away.
“Fine, since you're so scared, I'll go check those...”shadows” around that corner, since I can see we won't be able to continue with our great kiss.”
“Skyroad, don't go alone... I'll come with you.” But Skyroad had already stepped into the overwhelming darkness between the folds of that small mountain. “Skyroad...?” Jetmech spent a long minute debating whether or not to go in.
“OH MY GOD!” Jetmech gasped, clutching his spark. “...It was just a lost turbofox...” he muttered to himself as he watched the wild creature flee the area.
“Skyroad, come out. This isn't funny.” The silence that followed was overwhelming.
“Sky, I'm turning on the flashlight.” he muttered as he raised his arm. ”Then don't complain that I ruined the...” Jetmech froze when he saw Skyroad's throat-slit, dismembered body lying on the cold ground.
“Night Police Service, Prowl speaking.”
“HELP-” The bot didn't have time to finish his sentence before his helm was torn from his chassis, followed by a sickening crack and the sound of frantic, gurgling pleas before the line fell into deafening silence.
“Ratchet, get your medkit ready.” A voice could be heard from the other end of the line as they tried to trace the bot's location.
Soon, sirens and “Do Not Cross” tape covered the entire area.
“I still think it must've been some Decepticon...” Ultra Magnus muttered to Arcee while Prowl replayed the voice recording of the call over and over again.
“It doesn't make any sense!” Prowl rubbed his face and rested his elbows on the command table. “The wounds are deep, and judging by their shape, they were made by something sharp... you know, something with claws.”
“We've questioned every Maximal. They all have alibis.” Jazz added with his arms crossed, surprisingly attentive. Without a doubt, he hadn't been doing well after a homicide so similar.
“We should search the area within a 50-kilometer radius. There has to be at least some murderous Predacon out there.” Bumblebee stood up from his seat and looked at Optimus expectantly.
“You're right, Bumblebee. As much as I dislike pointing fingers, we need to make sure the killer hasn't gone very far.” That was enough for Bumblebee, along with a few other Autobots, to rush out of the precinct toward the crime scene.
Optimus sighed wearily.
“Search the area one more time. There has to be something we've missed. He couldn't have simply vanished without leaving a trace.” Prowl nodded and signaled the other Autobots with his optics to leave them alone.
“Optimus, maybe you should go yourself and help. You know perfectly well that quite a few Autobots have been disappearing lately, and because of that, the fear—and the suspicion that it might be a Predacon, a Decepticon, or even one of our own—has only been growing...” Optimus leaned against the wall in silence, his arms crossed. Prowl leaned beside him and looked at him.
“I'll do what I can. I'd tell you to distract the Autobots, but I don't want to keep anything from them. I don't think it's worth it. It would only delay the inevitable.” Prowl nodded in agreement.
There was no point in delaying it.
Not for long.
Laserbeak silently flew away from the tower.