"NO! NO!! Rodeesh… NO!!!"

Optimus spun around at Windchaser's scream. He glanced around worridly, then spotted Windchaser's white and silver form. Optimus Primal relaxed. It was nothing Windchaser couldn't handle… provided she could dance.

Optimus smiled. This was probably one of the best ideas Cheetor had had. He had mentioned that the Autobots used to have parties to help with moral and had bugged Optimus to let them start doing the same. 'Of course, considering how I jumped at the idea and put the four of them on it right away; I really can't say 'bugged me.' More like I 'bugged them.' ' Optimus chuckled as he thought back to the preparations. Skywitch had gotten to a computer, and had effectively kicked Rhinox out of that area. Optimus couldn't help feeling a little sorry for Rhinox. Skywitch had taken over the computer field, and Nightwolf was all but a total tyrant in the medical bay. Optimus gave himself a quick reminder that HE had a check-up tomorrow at Twenty One Hundred. He got the feeling that Nightwolf really WOULD make him regret being late; even if it had sounded like the black wolf-raven had been joking. Rhinox now had nothing to do but 'scientific-stuff' as Cheetor had put it, and the rhino sure enjoyed it. Rhinox had even gained the eager apprenticeship of Nightwolf.

"Come on 'Chase. Time to dance!"

"NO!!"

Optimus spared another look at Windchaser. Cheetor had managed to pull her towards the dance floor in the middle of the rec-room, but he was having some difficulty getting her any farther.

Optimus chuckled again, then looked around to check his team. Skywitch and Nightwolf were playing a fiddle - slash - drum duet, playing some fast paced dance music. (Think of the Irish dance music from Titanic people.) Optimus looked over to the 'bar'. Rattrap and Depthcharge were both leaning back and enjoying a game of cards and a drink of high grade Energon. Silverbolt had somehow gotten talked into taking this watch with Black Aracnia and Rhinox was laughing at Cheetor and Windchaser.

Optimus smiled to himself. Thanks to Skywitch, most of the Axalon's stasis-pods, if not all, would be retrieved in the morning. And as soon as Rhinox and Nightwolf could get the Drake's tractor-beam fixed, they could pull down the few stasis-pods that the Drake had carried and lost in it's aerial do-fight. With those new fighters, the Maximal numbers would effectively triple. Windchaser gave another half-laugh, half-scream as Cheetor succeeded in pulling her to the center of the dance floor.

"You're enjoying this…" Windchaser muttered with a smile.

"You bet!"

"Rodeesh, one day I'm going to KILL you!"

"Cheetor!"

"Rodeesh!"

Cheetor!"

"Rodyaaaaaa!" Windchaser stopped in mid-shout as Cheetor grabbed her wrists and pulled her into the dance.

"No!" Windchaser tried to scream around the laughter. "NO! Please, no! I hate dancing… Rod!!"

Windchaser closed her eyes and gave a laugh filled scream, then gave in and let herself enjoy the dance.

Cheetor smiled and let go of her wrists the nanoclick he felt her emotions slide. He sidestepped slightly; waited until she opened her optics to look at him in surprise, then did a dance routine that would have made Rodimus Prime proud. Cheetor gave Windchaser his trademark grin and a daring look.

Without a second thought, Windchaser accepted the unspoken challenge and launched herself into an even longer and harder dance routine than the one Cheetor had just don and finished with both a flourish worthy a master, and a 'HA!!' aimed at Cheetor.

Cheetor raised and eyebrow (not exactly, but you know what I mean!) then smiled and proceeded to out dance her. The complexity and difficulty making even Rattrap and Depthcharge forget their game of cards and joined the other spectators.

Everyone was now watching the dancers, clapping their hands and stomping their feet in time to the music, which Nightwolf and Skywitch sped up with each dance routine.

As Windchaser began her dance, Cheetor suddenly started dancing at the same time. The two danced to the furious pace of the music, then stopped suddenly with a bow to the audience.

Nightwolf and Skywitch changed the music to another song, and Cheetor and Windchaser walked over to the chairs where the two players sat; pulling their instruments out of sub-space pockets as they did. Soon Nightwolf's drum, Skywitch's fiddle, Windchaser's Irish pipe, and Cheetor's Irish flute blended together to create a beautiful harmony.

In our darkest hour, a Chosen One will arise from our ranks and use the power of the Matrix to save us all…

He has done so once, and he shall do so again…

The Chosen One.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------