Code 10-00

chapter 3

It started with one flower. A single delicate white flower laid out on the steps of the hospital by Mrs. Neederlander holding Mr. Pettypaws closely as she always had, with a saddened look on her aged face. That was quickly followed by more and more flowers joining that one. Soon everyone in town was headed to the hospital with a flower to promote hope that everything will be alright, taking turns to place their precious gift on the cold stone steps that gloomy afternoon.

Shops had closed early and students had been sent home before classes were supposed to end. The gripping distress in every single citizen's heart for their Chief of police... no, their good friend Charlie. Even while the threat of an armed and dangerous man on the loose, folks started to gather together. Each and every one of them knew no one would harbor this fugitive or help him off the island. He was trapped and would be dealt with the up most animosity.

"This is Huxley Prescott reporting live from Elma Hendrikson Memorial Hospital, where the entire town has gathered on the steps waiting and praying for news on our beloved Chief Burns..." Huxley was doing his afternoon news report. "As of right now, the Chief is still in surgery. I will be doing progress reports on the hour, every hour to bring you the latest updates on this terrible tragedy."

On the other side of the building, out of the spotlight, three rescue bots huddled together near one of the two story windows. Inside the building, the four Burns' children waited anxiously for word about their father. While trying to remain calm on the outside, each of them could feel the dread and doubt tightening its suffocating coils around their hearts.

Dani had her arms around Cody to comfort and be comforted herself knowing she was there for her youngest sibling, Kade paced with a fear and anger in his expression building that he needed to keep moving or he'd start breaking, while Graham sat a couple seats away hunched over and fidgeting with his fingers with a pained look on his face. Cody sat in the same spot since he arrived, emotionally tired to the point that his sister's arms around him did not really seem to weigh on him, with his gaze staring out across the waiting room towards the window that the bots were looking through.

Outside, three bots were waiting with just as much unease as the humans. Blades was too distraught, hogging the window as he wanted to be as close to his partner as possible to be there for her physically and emotionally like she had always been for him. Boulder was busy being the solid support for his teammates while everyone around him seemed to be crumbling. Heatwave was still trying to contact Chase at the firehouse as if it were the most important thing in the world right now to make sure his rescue bots were in the same place, safe, but still he had no response back since he sent the police bot home to clean up.

"He's probably taking some alone time. Today... isn't really the best of days for him." Boulder placed a servo on his leader's shoulder plating as he assured his teammate in a gentle voice, though it still had the undertones of worry.

Heatwave narrowed his optics in annoyance as he let out a soft, heated sigh; he'd let it slide for only a little while longer in favor of giving Chase time to sort it out. Its not everyday that one of their own gets hurt and they were each dealing with the stress the best they can. He was worried for his teammate, having seen him so overwhelmingly shocked at the scene earlier. He folded his arms and turned his back to Boulder, "Fine."

Back at the firehouse, in the underground bunker where the bot sized command center was, Chase was fixated on the multitude of screens presented before him. On each monitor screened video feed from all over the island, playing in real time, and not an inch was left uncovered. His optics meticulously scanned each and every single image, leaning over while his digits tapped at the keyboards to play the next files. There was another beeping in his audio again. Heatwave was persistent in trying to get his attention but Chase's desire to see this task through was much much greater. He was going to catch the criminal who hurt his partner... his Chief. There would be no escape from justice.

Suddenly an alert popped up on his screen. One of the cameras in town flagged an individual with features he inputted in the data base to cross-match suspect. It was him. There he was, the perpetrator skulking down an alleyway behind the main street store fronts peering through back door windows; no doubt to take advantage that the whole town was attending the hospital vigil to commit another crime!

Chase's optics narrowed and his jaw clenched tightly. Something burned inside his spark, an emotion he rarely felt that became almost too painful to bear the more he stared at the screen. He saw Chief on the ground again, he heard the dire sound of the gun, he could feel the wet red life liquid on his digits again even though he had already cleaned it off the best he could... Chase practically relived it all in one blinding flash of memory and his servos gripped into tight, trembling fists.

With a new sense of urgency, Chase exited the bunker and quickly transformed to race out of the garage; neglecting the rule of going out without a driver. On his screen he had the camera feeds focused solely on the suspect who was cutting the alarm wires on the cable box outside the backdoor of the Jewelry store. The police car sped up, even pushing the speed limit in this crucial moment. He was closing in fast on the address. Soon he will catch the monster who hurt his friend.

The Chief had been by his side ever since the Rescue Bot's team had first arrived on earth, being his only partner he could ever think to have. Just the thought that he may not ever have Charlie Burns as his companion after today sent a bitter feeling through the police bot's spark and chills through his frame.

::Chase come in, where are you?:: It was Heatwave again... this time though Chase answered him.

"I am in pursuit of the suspect who shot Chief, he is currently attempting to break into the jewelry store." He finally responded, he was nearly there.

::What?! Chase, you shouldn't be doing that alone.:: Heatwave replied with a stern tone.

"I have this under control, and will not be needing assistance. The silent alarms will alert deputy Barney which will no doubt bring him to the scene... after I have apprehended the perpetrator for his safety." Chase sounded logical but there was something about his tone that made Heatwave uneasy.

::Chase! You can't go anywhere without a-!:: But Chase cut communications before his leader could finish his vituperate statement. He needed the silence to prepare himself to face his foe.

At the hospital Heatwave growled in frustration, "I need to go after him. He can't possibly be in the right state to handle this." He spoke to Boulder and Blades, his voice low as he did not want to alarm their human family.

"But you can't go without a driver...There's so many people here." Blades' metal brows knit together with worry. How could they possibly ask the humans when they're in such anguish?

"Take me." A voice spoke to them from the window. Cody grasped the frame tightly, his brow knit with worry, "If something happens, Chase will regret it forever. I can talk to him."

"What about your siblings? What about your dad?" Heatwave moved in closer. "It's okay to stay here, you know."

"I know. I want to wait for my dad just like them, but Chase is family too and my dad's closest friend. Its the right thing to do." Cody spoke, motioning to climb out of the open window quickly into Heatwave's ready hand before his brothers and sister noticed he was gone.

Heatwave slipped Cody into his chest cab before transforming and rolling away from the hospital building quickly.

The entire town still stood looking upon the hospital building in the waning afternoon light, until thunder followed by little droplets of rainfall forced them to disperse back to their homes. Rain started to drip and pour...