Crosshairs and Smokescreen flew through the Nevada desert, not even easing their speed as they weaved toward the looming buildings on the horizon. Before long, they screeched to a stop in front of a large military complex. The buildings were mostly metal, with four lookout towers, two gates, and a twelve foot tall barbed wire fence.

N.E.S.T Headquarters.

Crosshairs rolled down his window, the guards usually liked to identify the driver... Even if the car was known to frequent to the base.

A young N.E.S.T commando walked up to the car, he held a registration log.

"Name?" He asked, meeting Crosshairs's gaze with a bored expression.

"Crosshairs."

The commando wrote on his pad, he looked up, waiting. Crosshairs rolled his eyes.

Newbie.

"That's my full name, I'm an Autobot from Cybertron, my occupation is militant spy, sniper, and combatant, I'm around two hundred and thirty years old, I'm five foot nine, I weigh around a hundred and fifty pounds, and I had a bowl of Energon Crystals and cereal for breakfast."

The young soldier blinked, he pressed a button on his pad and the gate opened. Crosshairs nodded his thanks and sped forward. Smokescreen didn't stop to be questioned, but sped through the gate, throwing a clearance paper out the window as he passed. Crosshairs laughed.

Crosshairs's car radio channel crackled, he looked at the channel ID.

Smokescreen.

"Hey Hairs.... The Cylinder is vibrating...and glowing like a lot." He said. He sounded worried.

Crosshairs frowned; he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, then he pressed a button on the radio to turn on his mic.

"I'll call Optimus, he'll contact Ratchet and get him prepped.... And maybe let us bypass the checkpoints."

"Rodger that."

Crosshairs opened a private transmission channel, he waited for the line to pick up.

"This is Optimus Prime.... Go ahead Crosshairs." A deep, rich voice said.

"We finished the mission with little to no difficulty... but we've ran into a... hitch."

Optimus paused.

"What is your 'hitch'?"

"Well, we met up with Lockdown, had a good chat. He was on a pickup.... So we kinda took the item... ya know for safe keeping."

He heard the Autobot leader sigh.

"What was the item Crosshairs?"

Crosshairs paused for a moment. He bit his lip and glanced at the radio.

"A cylinder... with a Spark inside."

The line was silent for a long moment.

"Is the Spark glowing?" Optimus asked.

"Yes sir... and vibrating."

Again the line went silent.

"I've contacted Ratchet; he's sending his assistant to pick it up as soon as you arrive. I also alerted the N.E.S.T guards of your arrival. It is unnecessary to stop at any of the checkpoints."

"Thank you sir. Crosshairs out."

Crosshairs floored the gas. He zipped down the road toward the Cybertronian Complex's entry bay. He screeched to a stop inside the base. He pressed a button on the consol and stepped out of the Stingray. The car collapsed back into a trans-pack, he picked it up and clipped it onto his back. Smokescreen jumped out of his car and ran to meet a white-coated human. He opened a panel in his armor, took out the pulsing cylinder and handed it to the man, who dashed off down a corridor. Smokescreen walked over to Crosshairs, scooping his trans-pack off the ground as he passed. Crosshairs smiled at him, then his headpiece activated.

"Crosshairs, is everything in order?" Optimus said.

Crosshairs raised a hand to his mic.

"Yeah Optimus, Screen got the Spark to Ratchet's assistant."

"Good..."

He paused.

"Send Smokescreen to me in room 145 please."

"Yes sir."

Crosshairs deactivated his com.

"What was that about?" Smokescreen asked.

"I'm taking a break, but Optimus wants you to meet him in room 145." Crosshairs replied. He frowned in thought.

Smokescreen's right eyebrow rose, but he didn't ask any questions.