Meanwhile Tracks was with Hound as both were in a large cave with water dripping from the dripstones and the area was pitch-black. It was very quiet with the only noises being heard was bats squeaking and their own footsteps. Tracks looked quite displeased at the silence while Beachcomber was curiously analysing the animals around the cave. Track spoke up drawing the attention of Beachcomber "So remind me again. Why did Optimus assign us here?"
Beachcomber turned around and said "Well, Optimus said he wanted us to retrieve a couple of energon cubes and a new invention that the Decepticons made. Turns out that they are up to something again." Beachcomber said as Tracks followed behind looking quite disturbed from the cave. As they walked deeper into the cave, it was starting to get darker and less light was coming through. Tracks optics adjusted to the darkness as Hotshot turned on his headlights to see through the darkness.
The two of them continued walking through the rather tight path of the cave until they reached a open area of the cave. It was very large with bats flying around and the feeling of caution was high up in the air as they looked at each other. Beachcomber said rather nervously "Well this place is giving the creeps." Track soon said to himself "And the dirt is getting all over my paintjob."
Beachcomber sighed at Tracks before saying "Well we better get going." Beachcomber said trying to put his focus on more important stuff meanwhile. They soon heard footsteps as they stopped and took out their guns with caution. They stepped forward listening to anything that might appear. They soon heard some noises and quickly decided to check for them as they began running to where the noises were.
Both of them entered a large shallow area where there was a large body of murky and deep water. The water had a lot of fishes inside of it. There was a couple of fallen items inside of the body of water such as leaves, sticks, some small rocks and a couple of little branches. They also noticed that some cave walls had moss stuck to it and a couple of rocks were laid to the bay of the large lake. They noticed a bridge made out of stones in the middle of the lake and they decided to carefully tip-toe to get to the other side. Track spoke up "Well thanks a lot for making my pedes wet!" As Beachcomber said "Come on it's a bit of water. After all, it's a bit fascinating about the creatures who live here" Beachcomber tried to cheer Tracks up who huffed.
They came across an area that had all sorts of crystals and gemstones. There was a couple of uncommon ones, some common ones and even some rare ones! Beachcomber used his sonic pick to cut through the rock and was careful not to touch the crystals. There was a couple of bugs living underground as Beachcomber looked intrigued by the site of those organisms. Tracks however was busy glancing at the crystals, admiring the colour. They soon turned to each other "No wonder the Decepitcons had chosen this place. Must be a luxurious mine for them to do so." Tracks said quite smoothly as Beachcomber nodded and replied afterwards "It must have all sorts of resources here to attract the Decepticons. Those crystals are an example over there."
They decided to go deeper into the cave hearing some of the noises starting to sound louder. After a while, they reached a craved out tunnel where there was starting to be cobwebs around and the stone dust had fallen all over the floor. Tracks looked appalled while Beachcomber was starting to look curious about the state of this cave "Looks to be very old hence the cobwebs and it seems to be giving the smell of rust. It seems like the Decepticons had explored deeper than usual." The two of them decided to go deeper until they started hearing mouse noises.
"Ugh! I hate those things." Tracks never really liked the sites of mouses while Beachcomber said "Come on, they can't eat us. We are Cybertronians remember?" Tracks sighed hesitantly as both of them continued. They came across a more smaller cave room. There wasn't much mice around expect for a couple of rats but mostly mice in the room. Most of the rodents were in the corner but a couple was running getting to small holes and places. Beachcomber curiously came closer as Tracks looked appalled at the site of rodents.
"Huh, they must have been living here for a while to be so many." Beachcomber analysed them curiously noticing the more lighter grey fur and wet furs that they had. Tracks soon interrupted Beachcomber "Can we get a go on?" Tracks said with disgust in his tone as Beachcomber was a bit frustrated that his observation was ruined but continued on with Tracks.
They started to smell of energon but there was the weird smell of rust and there seemed to be the old smell of rags. Tracks grabbed his nose ridge as Beachcomber looked a bit weirded out "What do you think is going on there?" Tracks shrugged and said with slight snark "I don't know but it better be good."
They came across a large purple automatic door as they went inside. The dark room was large with a invention making Energon cubes but they turned hearing a dripping noise. Their optics widened as they couldn't believe what they seen. Beachcomber looked a bit frightened while Tracks looked queasy.
There was energon spilled on the right side of the room. There was black cloths covered in energon and produced a strong musty smell while bugs crawled around the energon liquid. There was a machine in the middle that was in disarray, it was a large grey and purple machine made out of old materials. But it felt like the machine didn't exactly fit in place as a couple of wires had been stuffed in unnaturally and a few rusted bolts fell out of the machine. Tracks picked up the bolts and gave them quickly to Beachcomber who started to examine the area.
"Who or what could have been here? I'm detecting Cybertronian energon so it's either some of the Autobots or Decepticons have been killed here. But why so has this happened?" Beachcomber looked worried as Track shrugged his shoulders "Beats me. At least they didn't get me-" Beachcomber hushed him as this was a serious situation. They continued analysing around the area as they couldn't find much.
"Alright let's go tell the others what we found." Beachcomber said picking up the rusted bolts as Tracks grabbed some of the energon cubes as they transformed and decided to drive back to base.
45 minutes later they arrived as some of the Protectobots were there. Streetwise, Groove and Firstaid were there. Blades and Hotspot were probably somewhere else right now. Soon Streetwise turned around with his smirk "So how did it go?"
"It went alright but we found something strange..."