Dr. Onishi watched on with interest and concern. Koji should still be in bed; after all, it had only been two days. Instead, he was giving Backstreet a run for his money. Koji had limited ability with martial arts- track was his big thing. But with the help of the microcircuits, Backstreet had no chance of keeping up. The poor Spychanger was outmatched.

Dodger whistled in astonishment at the readings from the computers. It took Ironhold's processors to keep up with him. Fearing for what would happen, he told Dr. Onishi to end things. Agreeing, Onishi called for the match to end. Koji stopped in mid-blow, and turned to see what had happened. As he did, he suddenly lost power to several of his systems and collapsed like a rag doll. Chance was there before anyone else, and the Holoform ordered the others away until Cab arrived. Weakly, Koji got up under his own power just as Ginrai ran into the room.

"What's wrong'!' Ginrai demanded.

"I think that I know,' Dodger said. "Watch these readings. When Koji halted so quickly, it caused a sudden drop in his adrenaline levels. The drop forced a drop in the power provided by the microcircuity. Remember, we keyed everything so that the circuits would adjust their power as needs be depending on the amount of adrenaline and oxygen Koji has. With the sudden drop, it caused his power to fluctuate a little below normal. Now, it's regulated itself.'

"Suggestions?' Ginrai asked.

"Bed rest. And a lot of food, his electrolytes aren't stablized yet,' Cab said. "But give him a lot of water first.'

"You heard him,' Ginrai said to Koji. "Doctor's orders.'

"I... guess....' Koji finally said, defeated. Without anyone asking, a water fountain appeared before Koji.

"It's not cold,' Ironhold said. "It would throw you into shock if it was. After that, I want you to either head home or head into the rest area.' Now Koji really was defeated- even Ironhold wouldn't let him get away with anything.

*****

Wind Sheer glared at the screen in delight. The Autobot satellite was about to come to Earth. Inputing the co-ordinates, he found that the point of impact would be somewhere in Siberia. Grinning, he left Bruticus in charge while he took Invader and Axer off to find it.

*****

Dodger led the way through the snowfall as Tai gave him the coordinates. He and the other Spychangers had been ordered to retrieve the satellite. The hope was that they'd be in and out before the Decepticons had a chance to stop them. If not, then there was a surprise waiting for them in the form of a re-activated Spacebridge. Sky Bite was waiting on the other end with Sideways. The two were wanting to kill ever since they got the full damage reports from that day. And Ginrai also had a plan. He didn't know what, but it had to be good.

Slowing, they came to the spot and transformed. Although they didn't need it, Tai and the other Holoforms had chosen to come dressed in arctic wear. He didn't blame them. If the calculations were correct, then within a few hours the satellite would enter the atmosphere. If it survived, then it would make planetfall somewhere near where they were standing. On the surface, it would make it easier to find and recover. That was, unless they got hit by it. Then, things would just suck across the board.

Sideswipe and Daytonus had slowly started to melt the snow and ice with their lasers. Backstreet was about to comment when he realized what they were doing. The steam that the hot water would create would help keep them warm. It would also help to keep their systems from freezing.

Thinking the same thing, Dodger took his hands and scooped up some water. Splashing it on his face, he shook his head dry. That little jolt had managed to turn on sensors he didn't realize had shut off. Seeing his reaction, everyone else did the same- even the Holoforms. It wasn't until they had done that that they all realized they had also become a little sleepy. They would have to take turns with the stuff to stay awake.

*****

Axer peered through his optics. With his binocular setting, he could clearly make out all the Auobots and Holoforms. "It looks like the four Spychangers, that creature Tai, and those cheesy holograms with them. I don't know how they got here before us, but they did.'

"Unacceptable,' Wind Sheer said. "We can't let them get it and re-orbit it. Invader, are there any others?'

"Not that I can tell. I am detecting faint energy traces consistent with a warp signature.'

"^^^^,' Wind Sheer cursed. "If they have their warp active, then we are at a definite disadvantage. Stay alert.'

*****

Despite the orders, Koji still practiced. Something felt good about his doing that. He didn't know why though. He discounted it as the adrenaline rush. They said that adrenaline powered the circuits. Inside, he had an idea. He wanted to see what the suit could do.

*****

Wind Sheer checked his chronometer. It was almost time. Axer could tie up the Spychangers. He and Invader would get the satellite. Silently, he commanded for the attack to begin.

Axer went over the snow banks in his motorcycle mode, firing lasers from his lights. The Spychangers took cover, and returned fire. They missed wildy, but he still had to dodge. And the snow was making it hard to do. A freak laser shot hit right in front of his tires, throwing him. As he transformed, the Spychangers disappeared into the snow. Ducking out individually they fired, never from the same angle twice. Their lasers didn't do much damage, but the sheer number of hits they were scoring posed a threat. Each ray licked away more armor. Finally angry, he activated all his lasers and fired blindly. A scream told him that he had hit someone. Now, he was getting somewhere as he fired trying to get the others.

*****

As he lay sinking into the snow, Dodger looked up at the sky as two figures were flying towards the satellite. It took him some effort, but he was able to raise his laser. His vision blurry, he pointed the barrel right in the middle of the several jets he saw and fired. An explosion told him that he hit something, which was confirmed as half the planes fell from the sky with what looked like a burning engine. Exhausted, he collapsed again.

*****

Tai shrieked as Dodger passed out again. The other three Spychangers were too busy with Axer to get around to him. Stowing her emotions, she ran crying over to him as the other four Holoforms raced behind her.

*****

Axer cursed. The Spychanger that he had just hit had shot down Invader. Grabbing his electrosaber, he was going to make sure that the Spychanger didn't cause any more problems. A surge of laser fire got him from all sides. Turning, he saw the four Holoforms standing in front of him defiantly. Their hold-out lasers were mere nuisances to him, but they were all that he had to target. Grabbing his blasters, he opened fire. The Holoforms faded out briefly before they re-appeared. In this time, the Spychangers hit him again. As he was going to react, a massive explosion behind him threw him through the air and into the hot water.

Screaming, he drug himself out of the water. Sky Bite and Sideways were standing over him now. The looks on their faces made him transform into vehicle mode and run for his life as the two Autobots pursued him.

Meanwhile, the Spychangers were firing wildly at Wind Sheer. Realizing what had just happened, he dove lower to shoot them as Invader struggled to right himself. As he strafed, the Autobots held their ground and fired. Shots bracketed his underbelly, but they didn't do too much to him. However, his cluster bomb knocked them off their feet. Time to party.

As he banked, a new radar signature screamed at him. Before he could respond to it, heavy gatling lasers tore into him. Vital systems exploding, he crashed to Earth and transformed. As Invader ran to his side, the figure revealed itself. It looked like a Terran F-23 fighter. But then it transformed, the twin heavy gatling lasers revealing themselves to be his rifles. Hovering in mid-air, he sent blast after blast at the Decepticons. Realizing that the day was lost, the three Decepticons used the last of their energy to warp out. Flying skyward, the mysterious figure caught the satellite and brought it down to Earth. Dodger had recovered and was slowly trying to walk over to him, above Tai's protests.

"Who.... who are you?'

"The name,' the new Autobot said, "...is Metalhawk. Look behind you; I think that's Ginrai's little surprise.' As Dodger turned, swarms of the mini-satellites went into space. "It looks like they figured out a way to keep Ironhold's missile launchers from crushing them. Anyway, I've got to go.'

"Wait!' By the time he shouted that, the Autobot had transformed and taken off.

*****

"Koji!' his mother shouted. "I have your lunch ready and on the table! Come on out,... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!' Screaming, she knelt beside the unconscious figure.