Adrien watched Marinette contently as she doddle in her sketch book. He chuckled to himself when she pouted in frustration due to failing to come up with the right accessory to pull the outfit together. His other friend, Miko, paced back and forth impatiently as Jack laid on the boulders soaking up vitamin D.

"We're going to miss the concert!" Miko complained for the billionth time. "Do you know how long I've been waiting to see Slash Monkey?!"

"Uhh..." Jack started.

"FOREVER! And today is their only U.S. date!"

"There's a shocker. Who doesn't like Shriek Metal? You and Adrien are like the only people I know who listens to that stuff."

"And Bulkhead." Adrien added.

Marinette groaned as she shut her sketch book and hit it against her forehead. "I can't concentrate with all this noise." She wined.

The teenagers heard their guardians approach and turned to greet them.

"I don't get it. This energon mine has been abandon for cycles. It's not like the Cons to leave anything behind." Arcee bemused to the Ex-Wrecker.

"Uh guys..." Jack said to get their attention.

The metal titans turned to their charges only to see Jack, Marinette, and Adrien point towards a fleeing Miko disappearing into the mine.

"CCCCOOOOOOOOLLLLL!" she screamed as the sound echoed throughout the cave.

"Miko!" Bulkhead and Adrien exclaimed at the same time.

Adrien stood at the mouth of the cave, watching the Japanese girl's figure slip into the darkness.

"She went in? Unbelievable." Arcee said.

"Really?" Marinette asked sarcastically.

"Yeah have you met her?" Jack added in an equal tone.

Arcee scoffed as she always does whenever her charges decided to sass her at the same time. Bulkhead sighed then ran into the cave, telling Miko to come back.

"It would be cool to explore if it was, you know." Jack said as he joined Arcee and Adrien with Marinette following close behind.

"Safe?" Arcee said finishing Jack's train of thought. "Energon mines are structurally unstable."

"I'll promise to step lightly." Jack held his hands up in surrender. Acree sighed.

"Just don't tell your mother."

"What do you guys say? Up for a little spelunking?" Jack asked Adrien and Marinette.

"Sure." Marinette shrugged.

"I'm...not really fond of closed spaces," Adrien stammered as he looked hesitantly into the mine. "I'd think I'll stay here."

"In that case, I'll stay with you to keep you company." Marinette said. She was really fine either way. Plus she wanted some more time to finish her design.

"Safety in numbers." She added when she noticed Arcee's skeptical look.

"There is no one around for miles. Plus you left us out here alone earlier." Adrien remarked.

"Fine." Arcee gave in. "Just stay right here and call if there is any hint of trouble. We won't be long."

She turned and entered the cave with Jack in pursuit.

"Have fun." He said to the remaining teens. "But not too much fun." He added with a wink.

The teens blushed and turned away from each other chuckling awkwardly. Whatever did Jack mean by that?

"So...uh, can I see the design you've been working on?" Adrien asked, quickly changing the topic.

"Of course!" Marinette beamed. "It's not done yet though."

The teens sat by the entrance of the mine. Marinette flipped through her sketchbook then showed the blond a drawing of a black cat theme superhero costume.

"Superheroes huh?" Adrien teased.

Marinette rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Yeah, I was just in the mood after bingeing all those Marvel movies with Raf last week."

"I think it looks purrfect~"

"You did not just make a cat pun."

"Mew-be I did." Adrien winked.

"Ugh stop," Marinette laughed and playfully shoved him. "It's still missing something."

Adrien observed the sketch carefully while admiring the craftsmanship.

"Perhaps a bell?" he said after pondering a moment.

"A bell?"

"Yeah. If I were a cat superhero, I would want a..."

Adrien's voice trailed off as loud engine noises came out of nowhere. Curiously, the two looked up at the sky where the noise seemed to be coming from. Two jets flew by concerningly low to the ground. They looked familiar...

The jets suddenly pulled up sharply, transformed, then landed with a ground shaking thud. Marinette and Adrien gasped in fear as the metal titans rose to their feet, backs facing them. The warlord Megatron and his devious second in command Starscream were the last two Cons anyone would want to run into. Reacting quickly, Adrien tackled Marinette into the mine and laid on top of her, using the shadows to hide their figures from the goliaths.

"Lord Megatron, what is the purpose of being here? This mine has been abandon for cycles." Starscream asked shakily.

Megatron entered the cave, pedes barely missing the hidden and terrified teens. He paused and addressed the seeker. "Indulge me Starscream," he called back as he continued. Starscream hesitantly followed.

After the Cons were well down the mine, Adrien opened his eyes and looked down at a frightened Marinette. His heart sank as he saw how pale and horrified she looked, eyes squeezed shut and body trembling.

"I think they're gone," he whispered as he got off her. "Sorry for tackling you."

"No no don't be sorry. You saved us," Marinette waved off as she rose to sitting position. "We have warn Arcee and Bulkhead." She pulled out her phone but discovered it had no signal. Neither did Adrien's.

"Scrap! The Cons must be jamming the signals." Marinette said frustratingly. She rose and headed outside but Adrien grabbed her hand.

"Wait, what if there are more Cons outside?" he asked. They didn't hear any more approach or see them arrive with Megatron and Starscream but it didn't rule out the possibility. Cons usually traveled in packs. The teens were no match for any of them alone and their guardians were elsewhere.

Marinette scrunched up her face as she considered this. "You're right. We'll have to go further in the mine and warn the Bots."

"Right." Adrien agreed.

He stood up beside her gazed into her sky blue eyes sparkling with fear and determination. Adrien suddenly found himself in awe of her. This tiny French girl was willing to face unparalleled danger to help her friends. Drawing strength from her courage, Adrien sucked in a breath and squeezed her hand encouragingly. "Let's go."

Hand in hand, the teens disappeared into the darkness.