The next day Optimus called the team into the main room for a mission.

"Dinobot has informed me that the Quintessons have sent some of their scientists to Jungle planet." Optimus explained. "We don't know why they have gone there but whatever it is it cannot be good."

"So we are splitting into two teams one will go to Jungle planet and find out what the Quintessons are up to there." "While the other will go to Quintessa to find out what the Quintessons are up too." The Prime finished.

So they split into teams and went on their missions Optimus, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Arcee and Smokescreen went to Quintessa. While Sideswipe, Strongarm, Windblade, Megatron, Steeljaw, Starscream and Knock Out went to Jungle planet. And everyone else stayed behind to watch the base.

"I don't know why I have to go to Jungle planet my poor finish is gonna get totaled." Said Knock Out as he boarded the ship.

"We need a medic on each team in case someone gets injured." Strongarm told him. "And don't worry the rest of us are the ones who are investigating what the Quintessons are doing while you'll stay on the ship in the med bay in case someone gets hurt."

"OK that's better long as I don't have to drive through the jungle." Knock Out exclaimed now very relieved that his paint wasn't going to get scratched.
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A few hours later their ship was flying over Jungle planet when they got caught in a strong storm and Sideswipe who was piloting the ship was doing his best to keep it on course and ended up making several really sharp turns one of which ended up slamming Knock Out into the wall and knocking him out cold. Then they made it into the clear.

"Way to go Sideswipe your fancy flying just took out our medic." Strongarm scolded.

"Nice job slick." Windblade deadpanned.

"Hey I got us out of the storm didn't I." Sideswipe defended himself.

"Don't worry he's find just out like a light." Said Steeljaw who examined the unconscious medic. "No body get hurt till he wakes up OK." Everyone chuckled at that.

Then they put Knock Out on a berth in the med bay so he would be comfortable till he woke up.

They continued to fly their ship above the trees and decided to have the flyers on the team Windblade, Megatron and Starscream go out to investigate to see if it was safe to land. While the others watched from the ship.

When suddenly they saw Windblade flying fast with a giant metal centipede chasing her it was huge and stuck out over the trees. And was after Windblade. Starscream and Megatron both saw what was going on and opened fire on it to give Windblade a chance to get back to the ship but now it was after all three of them. As they hurried to get to the ship where it was safe.

Windblade was the first to make it then Starscream but right as Megatron was about to get back in the ship it grabbed him by the leg and pulled him back out.

Before anyone could stop him or even react Starscream changed back to his jet mode and flew out of the ship and opened fire on the centipede. This got it's attention and Megatron was able to get free while the monster was detracted and changed into his alt mode then the two former Decepticons started flying back to the ship.

This time Megatron made it first then Starscream got just inside the door and changed back to his cybertronian mode only to suddenly be grabbed by the wings and yanked back out by the centipede.

Now panic stricken Starscream fired a missile into the creature's face. This caused it to toss him aside and the others could only watch helplessly from the ship as he fell somewhere into the trees. And the centipede continued to go after the ship.

"We have to go back for Starscream." Yelled Megatron.

"First we have to lose this thing." Sideswipe said to him as he continued to fly the ship away from it. And fire on it anytime it got to close but nothing seemed to phase it.

"Well some good news is I think Knock Out is starting to wake up." Strongarm told them. But just then Sideswipe was forced to make another sharp turn and Knock Out ended up falling off the berth and hitting the floor hard. "Never mind." She told them after seeing he was out cold again.

Then to everyone's horror another giant metal centipede was in front of them but Sideswipe managed to fly around it and the one that was chasing them got into a fight with it ether over them or territory. Luckily they were able to use that to escape.

Now they had to find Starscream but had no idea where he landed all of Jungle planet looked the same from above.

They landed in an area that was safe and split up to search for Starscream. Everyone was being careful not to run into anymore aggressive wildlife. And were also keeping an eye out for any Quintessons that might be there.
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Meanwhile Starscream woke up somewhere in the middle of the jungle and slowly pulled himself up.

He felt pain in several places mainly his back. His wings had been badly damaged and were leaking energon his side was also leaking energon and he knew he had to find the others and get medical attention or he would bleed out.

But he couldn't fly do to the damage to his wings and couldn't even transform because it was to painful. He had to find help.

Starscream limped through the jungle but every path he took looked the same and he was losing energon fast. He ended up having to stop and rest but then realized he was starting to fall into recharge and if that happened at the rate he was leaking he might not wake up and would bleed out there. so he forced himself back to his feet but suddenly stepped on something.

It was a razor snake. And it suddenly sunk it's fangs into his leg. Starscream managed to kick it away and it hissed at him before it slithered off.

Razor snakes were similar to earth snakes only much bigger and made of metal and had dangerous cyber venom and Starscream had been bitten. Now he was in even more danger because not only was he still bleeding out but now it was only a matter of time before he'd start feeling the affects of the cyber venom. He had to find help and soon.

Starscream started forcing himself to walk he had to stay alert. He was starting to feel the affects of the cyber venom and it was making him tired and he had lost a lot of energon. Starscream was trying desperately to fight the urge to rest knowing if he stopped he wouldn't make it.

Then if he didn't already have it bad enough he tripped over a rock and now was reduced to a crawl.

"No." He moaned. "I can't pass out." "I have to stay alert." "Have to stay awake." Then he felt the cyber venom making him weaker. And his optics were getting heavy. "No wake up!" He yelled at himself trying hard to stay online. But it came out more like a whimper.

Then something tackled him and he felt himself slammed into the ground and was now being attacked by a pack of metal wolf like things that almost reminded him of a cross between Steeljaw and a more feral version of Ravage he tried to fend them off but was to sick and tired to fight them. And everything was starting to spin. And it was getting harder and harder to focus. And they were biting him and trying to tare him to pieces.

Just then Starscream heard a shot and one of the wolves fell down dead and the others ran off. Starscream saw Megatron running to where he was before the whole world went dark.

"Starscream!" Megatron yelled at him as he shook the seeker. "Starscream wake up!" But Starscream didn't respond.

Megatron quickly rushed Starscream back to the ship for medical attention. Just hoping it wasn't to late.

To Be Continued.

Another cliffhanger for you. Will Starscream survive?