Brother and Sister
By: Miss Special
Author's note: Well this is it. I'll be the first to admit Angel's Saga ends rather anticlimactically, but frankly, there's nothing left to tell. Don't despair! My new series, Chronicles of the Doomcat, includes Angel. Stay tuned! And I'm sorry, but there is a spot in here where Angel says, "I am transformed." I despise that phrase, but I couldn't get around it and maintain the desired effect. *grumbles about lame transformation commands*
I'd also like to dedicate this to my big brother, because even though I'm seventeen, I still look up to him.
"A squirrel," Angel said.
"No, it has those sharp buckteeth," Spirit answered.
"A guppy."
"Yeah, that would be pretty bad."
"What are you talking about?" asked Nightscream, who had been listening in on their conversation. The Maximals were trooping to somewhere in the Cybertronian night. Angel and Spirit didn't know where they were going, but apparently that wasn't high on their priority list.
"We're trying to come up with bad beast modes," Spirit explained.
"Oh. A rock," Nightscream suggested.
"Nice one! Oh, even better!" Angel said. "An eyeball!"
"Now that's just stupid," Spirit replied.
"Quiet!" Cheetor hissed. "Do you want to get us caught?"
"I have a good one," Angel said to Spirit. "A cheetah."
"Cheetor's right," Optimus said, spoiling Angel's fun.
Spirit decided to take an interest in matters at hand. "What are we doing tonight?"
"We're going to shut down the spaceport," Optimus answered.
"Oh, goodie!" Angel whispered. "Then we can steal all the spaceships and have fun!"
"Angel, the spaceport was turned into a Vehicon factory."
"Oh." The rest of their trek continued in silence.
"Alright, Maximals," Optimus said as soon as they reached their target. "We'll divide into groups. Nightscream and Blackarachnia, you shut down the conveyor belt. Rattrap and Spirit" -little alarms went off in Angel's head- "you shut down the main computer. I'll shut down the primary power source, which leaves-"
"Optimus, are you aware that Cheetor and I like each other about as much as we like walking on hot coals?"
"Are you questioning my orders?"
"No, sir! It's just that-"
"Optimus," Cheetor interjected, "as second in command, I should warn you that-"
"Relax, you two. I've already thought this through. Working together won't kill you. Now, your job is to be the distraction. And you WILL have to work together. Does everyone understand their orders?"
The Maximals nodded, and left to complete their assignments.
Things between Spirit and Rattrap weren't tense exactly, more along the lines of... Well, a rat and a cat had to work together. But Spirit decided not to let that get in her way. Both cat and rat were quiet.
The more Spirit thought about it, the more sense the pairings made. Rattrap and Spirit were easily more covert than the other teams, and the computer would be more heavily watched than the other places, and it was probably hard to access. The explosive Angel and Cheetor pairing was also a good idea: they were to be the distraction, and distraction they'd be, what with their yelling and all.
Whatever the case, Spirit decided she should keep her thoughts to something more constructive, like strategy.
"Hold on, Rattrap."
"What?"
"We need a plan. We probably shouldn't just barge in and ask to see their computer."
"Good point, pussycat. Any ideas?"
"The computer's on the second story, isn't it?" Rattrap nodded warily. "I've got an idea. Can you climb?"
"Great. Just great. Of all the people on this planet, Optimus had to stick me with smelly old YOU." Angel paced around angrily.
"Shut up already. I hate this as much as you do."
"Like I care. Besides, we're supposed to be distracting. Maybe talking will attract attention."
"Hey, I'm second in command. I give the orders around here."
"And who's going to stop me if I don't listen?"
"Insubordination! I'll report you to Optimus-"
"That's right, Spothead. Every time something doesn't go your way, run to Bigbot and he'll make everything okay."
"Oh, and you never do? I've lost track of the number of times Optimus has taken your side-"
"That's because my side's the right side!"
They continued this for some time.
"So, what da we do afta' we get ta da second story?" Rattrap and Spirit seemed to be scaling the wall with relative ease.
"Hey, I'm making this up as I go. We'll figure it out when we get there." Spirit hopped through a window and into the building. "Aha!"
"What?" Rattrap asked after joining her on the very narrow- excuse the pun- catwalk.
"See over there?" Spirit pointed. "We just use that wire." The wire being discussed was connected to the catwalk and the computer in the middle of the room.
"I never went ta tightrope walkin' school."
"There's a first time for everything, right?"
"Don't tell me ya haven't done dis before either."
"Okay, I won't. Hey, it's an inherent ability in rats and cats, right?"
"Ladies first."
"Oh, gee, thank you." Spirit tentatively stepped out onto the wire. She picked up a little speed, and when she was halfway across, Rattrap followed her. They quickly crossed without getting seen.
"Okay," Spirit said, gesturing towards the computer. "This is where your expertise begins."
"You wanna say that when I'm in robot mode?"
"I'll say it anytime I want!"
"I am transformed."
"Me, too! Er... I am transformed." Both cats transformed.
"Well? You still willing to take me?"
"Anytime, anywhere."
"Argh! You're like the annoying little sister that won't go away!"
"Well you're like the big brother that teases his sister all the time!"
"I don't tease you all the time!"
"Yes you do!"
"No I don't!"
"Yes you do!"
"No I don't!"
"Yes. You. Do!!" Angel loaded her bow and let an arrow fly. Cheetor thought he was done for, but the arrow whizzed past his shoulder and into a cycle drone. Cheetor moved just in time to dodge the explosion that followed.
"Hey! You almost hit me!"
"I watch your back, and this is the thanks I get! Aren't big brothers the ones who watch out for their little sisters, and not the other way around?"
"So? Little sisters are supposed to look up to their big brothers, not shoot arrows at them!"
"Aww, how touching," a new voice said.
"Isn't it precious when they fight?" Success! Jetstorm and Thrust showed up, just as planned... except with a score or two of drones.
"What do we do now?" Angel asked. "Stand our ground, or run for it?"
"Oh, so now you're asking me."
"You ARE second in command. You're supposed to be the one to give orders."
"And you'll listen?"
"So long as you don't try to kill me."
"Well, then... I'll cover for you, and you pick them off."
"Sounds good to me!" Angel said as she sent an arrow into a jet drone.
Spirit sat sentry as Rattrap hacked the computer.
"Uh... Rattrap?"
"Slag! I think I might've tripped da security systems."
"Uh-huh. Hey, Rattrap-"
"I'm kinda busy..."
"You definitely tripped the security systems."
"Just gimme a cycle..."
"I think we'd better run-"
"Hold on!"
"-before we get surrounded."
"Huh?"
"They're here."
"Slag. Rattrap quit interfacing. The place was crawling with tank drones. Spirit's blue eyes looked the place over.
"I'm fast enough to run through them. That'll distract them while you take over one of them and sneak away."
"Weren't Angel and Cheetor supposed ta be da distraction?"
"Apparently they're not doing their job." Before Rattrap could say anything else, Spirit bounded off into the midst of the tank drones. Why hadn't Tankorr taken Angel and Cheetor's bait?
Cheetor's plan was working relatively well, and although neither wanted to admit it, it was fun. Angel was blowing up as many drones as she could, but there was a lot of them, and Cheetor could only deflect so many shots.
"Are you sure this is working?"
"Keep at it. We're doing fine."
"Okay!"
"Y'know what's scary?"
"Rattrap in a bikini?"
"......That IS scary, but I meant something else."
"What?"
"We make a decent team."
"That's pretty high on the 'scary things' list."
"There's a drone over there..."
"Got 'im! Watch that guy on the far left.."
"I see him."
Spirit hoped Rattrap had made it out okay. She looked up at the starry night.
A cold hand picked her up by the scruff of her neck. She found herself staring into red optics. She returned Tankorr's icy glare.
She didn't know how long they stayed that way, but one shouldn't pick a staring contest with a cat. Tankorr muttered something- "You're not worth my time"?- set the cat down, and silently left.
"What was dat all about?" Rattrap asked, stepping out of the shadows.
"I have no idea."
"Well, our part of da mission's a bust. Hopefully da othas had more luck."
"Why don't we see what's up with Angel and Cheetor."
"I parked the tank drone ova' dere. Let's have some fun."
"Cheetor, I hate to say it, but we're losing."
"Yeah."
"So... I don't think we can retreat."
"Nope. They've got us surrounded."
"I think I could fly away, but that would leave you here."
"You'd stay here for me?"
"Well, you're practically my brother, and even if we don't get along, it doesn't mean I should ditch you when trouble comes."
"...Thanks. And I'd probably do the same."
"Really? You would?"
"Brothers have to watch out for their sisters."
BOOM!!! Remains of cycle drones went flying. Angel lowered her bow.
"I didn't do that."
"Then what did?"
"Da cavalry has arrived!!!!"
"Rattrap?" The rat was using a tank drone to blow up large quantities of drones.
"Angel, while they're distracted, I'll take out the Thrust, and you fly up and get Jetstorm."
"Right." Angel transformed to beast mode.
Jetstorm wasn't paying attention as a black panther flew up behind him, tackled him, and drove him to the ground. The jet drones stopped what they were doing, now unsure of what they were supposed to do. Sitting ducks for Rattrap.
"Hiya, Anginator!" Spirit trotted up to Angel as the panther made sure Jetstorm was offline.
"Cyberkitty? Aren't you supposed to be taking out a computer?"
"Aren't you supposed to distract everyone, including Tankorr?"
"We had our paws full as it is. Why, did something go wrong?"
"Yeah. Tankorr got us and botched up the mission."
"Huh, I thought it was funny we didn't see him. He just didn't take the bait."
"Odd."
"Well," Cheetor, now in beast mode, said. "It looks like our part's done."
"Piece of cake!" Angel said cheerfully.
Spirit stared at the two. "You're not fighting. Is one of you sick or something?"
"I think we worked it out," Cheetor admitted.
"C'mon!" Rattrap said, blasting the last of the drones. "Let's get ta da meeting point. As much fun as I'm havin' blowin' up all dese drones, Optimus is prob'ly waitin' fer us."
"Okey-dokey!"
"Rattrap, Spirit, how did your part go?" Optimus asked when the four arrived.
"Um..."
"Not so good. Tankorr showed up before we could get much done."
"Well, this night was a waste. No one else succeeded."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it, Optimus," Cheetor said. "Hey, at least Angel and I aren't fighting."
"Now do you understand why I paired you two up?"
"Yes!" Angel chirped. "Although I'm still calling Cheetor Spothead." She grinned cheesily at Cheetor, so he couldn't get mad.
Instead, he said, "You should've seen the look on Thrust's face right before I took him out!"
Angel laughed back, "Yeah, I'll bet Jetstorm never knew what hit him!"
Aside, Spirit said to Optimus, "Maybe with them getting along, we can actually get somewhere."
"At least we won't have to listen to them bickering all the time."
"Was that the point all along? To get them to stop fighting, and not to shut down the spaceport?"
"Well, it would've been nice if we succeeded with the spaceport..."
The End.