Back To You

Chapter 14: New Recruit

Early the following day at the Cybertron Cube Academy, training was set to start in another half hour.

In the meantime, Hotshot sat on the sidelines of one of the many courts, lost in thought. Today marked the end of his first semester there and two months since he last heard from his Carrier. The last time she called, she mentioned something about bad reception, so he assumed it was just that. Still, he couldn't help but worry.

"Hey, Hotshot!" He perked up and saw some of his teammates waving from the court. "We need another player!" He figured a distraction from all his worrying would be nice.

The four younglings split into two teams. The buzzer went off, the Cube began levitating off the ground, and Hotshot sprung into action.

The Cube flew around the court, dodging every servo that tried to catch it, then fled from one of the younglings who'd transformed to chase after it.

Choosing to catch it by surprise, Hotshot jumped onto the hood of his opponent. "Thanks, but I'll take it from here." He kicked the Cube to the other side of the court, where he aimed his water cannon and hit it with a stream of water to shortcircuit it.

"Hotshot, I'm open!" his teammate called from behind, but he waved them off.

"Don't worry; I got this." He's played Cube so much; it was second nature to him. While his frame agilely chased after the Cube, his processor was mainly elsewhere.

'What if something had gone wrong in her mission? What if she'd gotten hur—' He saw someone from the other team sneaking up on him and immediately spun out of the way, only to see the other bot flying directly at him, aiming for his stabilizing servos. Thinking fast, he flipped over the bot, gracefully landing in a pose he's seen his Carrier assume many times before.

The Cube flew in circles a few feet away, malfunctioning due to all the water in its system.

He knew his Carrier. She was intelligent and highly resourceful.

Getting a running start, he used the wall to propel himself into the air and grab the Cube.

She could take care of herself.

"Yes!" He felt a rush of adrenaline as the energon boost filled his system.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't miss her.

"Woohoo! Oh yeah! Now that's how you play Cube!" he cheered, briefly forgetting his internal dilemma. "Who wants a rematch?" He turned to his neglected teammate and opponents.

"Oh, were you on my team?"

"Forget it!"

"What's the point?" They stalked off, annoyed at his lack of good sportsmanship.

"C'mon! I'll even tie one servo behind my back!" He bargained, but they paid him no mind. Hotshot shrugged them off, accustomed to being alone. He kicked the Cube and started doing some tricks when a large servo suddenly caught it mid-air.

Confused, Hotshot looked up and was shocked to see Optimus Prime staring back at him.

"Very impressive, Hotshot. No wonder every league on Cybertron is trying to recruit you." he spins the Cube on his digit.

"Optimus Prime?" he gasps. "I didn't know you were a cube-head! Uh, wanna play?"

"Perhaps another time." with a swift flick of his digit, he sent the Cube into a nearby bin, leaving Hotshot in awe. "I am here with a greater mission; to build up the ranks of the Rescue Bots. That is what brought me to you."

"Rescue work?" Hotshot raised an optic ridge. "Uh, I'm really more of a sports bot."

"Skill of the court may give you fame, but what I am offering can make you a hero."