Author's Note: Thanks to Riptide2, 16 SilverMoon 16, I am Blueberry, and Prowls-little-angel for reviewing the last chapter and waiting patiently for me to write this chapter! I own nothing but Echo, Claret, and Shimmer

Rule of the Trines

Chapter XXII

"One million pounds! And, by the way, fire"-Sherlock Holmes (A Game of Shadows)

Being in synch with one person to whom you had never been connected with was confusing. Being in synch with a whole other trine was just like having extra voices in your head. It did help that Starscream, Echo, Skywarp, Claret, Shimmer, and Thundercracker spent most of their time together anyway and so adding a mental connection was just another level in their relationships. In only a few days they knew each other very well. That was why when Skywarp came running in yelling fire none of them looked up.

"I'm serious," he yelped, his voice rising several octaves higher than normal. "The base is on fire and the Autobots are attacking." That made everyone including his trine mates pay attention.

"You'd better not be joking," Claret muttered to him as they all raced out of the rec room.

"I'm dead serious," Skywarp replied just as a blast of heat struck each of them like a brick wall.

"Not going that way," Echo yelled, twisting to the left and darting down a thinner corridor that was mercifully flame free. Somehow they all made it out of the base just before a massive explosion brought part of the roof down.

"Let's hope there was no one in there," Shimmer said, shivering slightly.

"Don't think about that," Echo informed her, exchanging glances with Starscream. This was by far one of the most deadly attacks the Autobots had launched since the start of the war. Then a thought hit them both at the same time and they started to laugh.

"Enlighten us, please," Thundercracker said, looking slightly worried.

"Well we were considering the fact that this was so much more deadly than any of the other attacks," Starscream began.

"And we both decided we've somehow corrupted the Autobots," Echo finished. It took a moment for that statement to sink in but when it did they were all laughing. On a hill far away several Autobots were beginning to wonder if the fliers had finally gone crazy.

End Book One

The Story Will Be Continued In; Forbidden