Too Late
It has been a couple of months since Blades and Blurr went missing, and there still have been no clues as to their whereabouts. Woodrow had come by to fill in Chief Burns' position while he was away meeting someone who may have something they could use to find them. Whether it was a lead or a magical lamp that could grant wishes or some other macguffin, Heatwave didn't give a slag. Just so long as they can get Blades and Blurr home, that's all that matters. He also couldn't do what the humans call 'spam' calling Optimus because he was doing his own investigation. The CMO on Prime's Team, Ratchet, had gone missing a week after Blades. Heatwave shuddered. He remembered what Salvage said about how they found the cons that went missing. How their chest plates were sawed open and their sparks were removed. It doesn't if they were Cons no one deserves that and certainly not Blades or Blurr for that matter.
Blades.
Blurr.
Just even the thought of something like that happening to either of them. It was just-too terrible to think about.
'No can't think like that,' Heatwave thought to himself,' they're fine.'
Graham was searching the spot they found Dani in. He didn't know why Chase wanted to come here since they searched this place three times the first week Blades disappeared and found nothing. They searched the entire forest and found no leads whatsoever. However, they checked everywhere on Griffin Rock and even the mainland even going as far as investigating the ocean but there was no trace of Blades anywhere.
He just.
Vanished.
Graham looked over to Dani. Dani was..... handling it. She would dodge the 'how are you doing' question or by answering an I'm fine with a not really convincing smile. None of them could blame her though. They would be doing the same thing. In fact, he and Kade would've handled it worse.
Kade most definitely would've handled it worse. Not that he would admit it.
However they all saw how tired she was. Dad caught her sneaking out to go searching for Blades. She sometimes spaced out. Honestly, she seems close to a breakdown. Everyone was honestly.
Even the bots.
A glint hit his eye.
Graham followed the source that was trying to blind him. Where was it? Where was it?
There!
It looked like white paint.
White paint.
Oh my God!
"Dani, Dani! Boulder! Chase! Come here! I think I found something," Graham called his enthusiasm shining through. He found something! Holy shit he found something! That was what he thought.
Until he looked closer.
He pushed some of the foliage away. It was a metal foot.
He got closer.
What he saw caused his heart to sink and then break.
Blurr and Blades were laid next to each other. Their chest plates ripped open and their sparks gone! Just like Salvage and Optimus said. It was even worse than they described. They didn't say anything about optics that once had life now being dark. They didn't say anything about their expressions being frozen in terror and pain showing their last moments.
"Graham, what is it did you find something?!"
"You found a lead?!"
"OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!! GRAHAM DID YOU FIND SOMETHING?!"
As the Rescue Bots say..
Frag!!
Graham whirled around to see Dani the loudest of the three running toward him. Her expression so full of joy and hope some tears in the corner of her eyes. Dani wasn't even a big cryer. Then there was Chase who just as hopeful although without the tears which made sense since he didn't have the ducts necessary.
Then there was Boulder.
His partner.
His expression matched Dani's exactly.
Tears and all. Or whatever came close to tears.
Graham can't let them see this.
"Wait wait! H-h-hold on it was just a-just a faaalse alarm! Yeah that's it false alarm!"
All three stopped looking at him incredulously. Dani was the first to break the silence.
"Graham...that was the worst lie I ever heard. Just let me see."
Graham instantly got in her way.
"What?! Graham?!"
"It seems like Graham is trying to keep us from seeing what he found."
"Whaaaat?! No I'm not Chase!"
"Dani is correct your ability to create falsehoods is not adequate."
Chase narrowed his optics after he said that. Boulder looked concerned.
"Graham why are you trying to keep from us?"
"Yeah what are you trying to keep from us," Dani repeated her irritation coming through.
Graham sighed. He couldn't keep it from them for long especially the bots due to size. So he did the only thing he could think of doing in that moment.
Move out of the way.
Chase turned to Boulder with a look. He turned around and looked to Dani.
"Dani, it might be best if I investigate first. Given Graham's initial refusal it might be best to proceed with caution."
Dani just sighed.
"Fine."
With that frustrated admission, Chase went forward. Then he saw Blades and Blurr. He made a panicked yell and stepped back. His expression horrified and he seemed nauseous a servo covering his mouth. Boulder and Dani watched their faces filled with confusion and trepidation. Because if that was Chase's reaction...
They looked to each other and made their way over slowly. Whatever hope Dani or Boulder had was smashed. Boulder followed Chase and took a few steps back. Shaking his head trying to deny the situation.
"No."
Dani collapsed on the ground.
"BLADES!!!"
Graham hugged his sister trying to comfort her. He had to give the rest of the team the news.
"Guys we have bad news..."
